WITH Essex facing the worrying prospect of a major shortage of school places in years to come, a recruitment drive has been launched in a bid to entice more teachers to our county.

Suggestions to solve the crisis have included targeting other areas, such as Wales and the north of England, or even looking abroad.

Last month Dr Robin Bevan, headteacher of Southend High School for Boys, revealed he did not receive a single application after advertising for two maths teachers.

But why is Essex struggling to recruit teachers, and what impact could the shortage have on our children?

Jo Palmer-Tweed, who runs a south Essex teacher training company, has warned her course may not run this year as interest continues to plummet.

She is executive director of an organisation which trains primary school teachers across the area.

She claims trainee recruitment has plunged to a quarter of the level it was two years ago, with headteachers reporting a huge shortage of staff.

She said: “It’s a huge problem for us. Two years ago we had 350 apply, last year was 200 and this year so far we are heading towards about 55, which is really worrying.

“It’s a very precarious position to be in.”

Headteachers across south Essex have also warned of the knock-on effects of failing to recruit enough trainee teachers.

Terry Flitman, headteacher at Wickford Junior School, in Market Road, Wickford, said: “A few years ago I would get a dozen applicants for any job. The last time I had three.

“What’s coming round the corner I’m quite anxious about. I know the numbers going into teacher training have absolutely collapsed this year, and going into the future it’s very worrying. I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“In a year or two we are going to have quite a serious problem.”

Nicky Haslam, headteacher of Giffards Primary School, in Corringham, added: “It’s an absolute crisis. I worry I won’t be able to fill my posts.

“If I can’t fill them, will I have to teach? I can’t teach full-time so what do I do? We are under so much pressure to achieve good grades.”

Southend Council said it has recruited 118 newly qualified teachers last year, but it is understood the borough needed about 25 per cent more.

Ms Palmer-Tweed said: “It’s not like the jobs aren’t there. When I had 100 trainees, 100 of them got jobs. Last year we trained 75 trainees and they were snapped up.

“In Southend we put out 40 trained teachers and it wasn’t enough, they needed 50. In Basildon 25 were recruited, but they needed another ten.

“If the problem isn’t addressed then we are going to be seeing bigger class numbers and more unqualified teachers in the classroom.”

They are now introducing part-time courses inabid to snare more working trainees.

Ms Palmer-Tweed said she was hoping to attract young mums to the profession, who might otherwise not have considered becoming teachers.

For more information on the courses, visit thamesprimaryscitt.co.uk

London salaries and cost of living differences are drawing teachers away from Essex

ESSEX’S close proximity to London may be partly to blame for problems recruiting teachers.

An Essex County Council investigation into the problem, which took place last year heard the London weighting allowance, which provides extra cash to teachers working in the capital, often prevented teachers from choosing posts in Essex.

A subsequent report published by the council recommended schools should share teachers to solve the crisis.

Desi McKeown, headteacher of Deanes School, in Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, welcomed the proposal.

He said: “We are fortunate to be fully staffed with qualified teachers, but we are currently sharing music teachers with a primary school and Seevic College, so it is something we are already doing.

“Moving forward, anything schools can do to work in collaboration for the benefit of pupils is a good thing.”

The East of England also loses out to other parts of the country because the cost of living is relatively high.

Ms Palmer-Tweed said: “It’s more expensive to live here and train than in other parts of the country.

“This is also the first year people have come through with student loans.”

In response to the problem, Essex County Council has launched its Teach in Essex campaign, in a bid to convince prospective teachers it is a “wonderful county to teach in”.

The council’s job website is currently advertising 148 teaching vacancies, but it faces a major challenge to stop that number spiralling.