The number of new teachers in Wales has risen by a quarter compared with last year, according to data published today by the EWC.
The figures show that 1,231 trainees gained Qualified Teacher Status this July through initial teacher education programmes compared with 975 in 2020. This represents the highest annual number of new teachers in Wales since 2015.
As well as an overall increase in numbers, there was a year on year rise of 49% in newly qualified secondary school teachers, with core subjects such as mathematics, science and languages all seeing improvements on previous years.
EWC Chief Executive, Hayden Llewellyn said:
“We are seeing a renewed interest in teaching as a career in Wales. Wales launched new teacher education programmes in 2019 which compare with the very best in the world. They ensure that anyone wanting to train in Wales will receive an excellent grounding to begin a rewarding career.
Last year, Wales also launched its own part-time and salaried teacher training programmes run by the Open University. These programmes will further add to the number of new of teachers in Wales in coming years.”
The EWC has today published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2021.
The report highlights our achievements and operational performance throughout the financial year.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we maintained high levels of service throughout the year.
In his report, EWC Chief Executive, Hayden Llewellyn said:
“This annual report offers an opportunity to reflect on the work of the Council [...] during a year which has seen unprecedented challenges for all involved in education in Wales.
Inevitably, we have all seen our plans change this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, thanks to the professionalism, hard work and dedication of our team, we delivered all of our strategic objectives with minimal disruption.
As we move forward into 2021-22, many of us will be eager for a return to ‘normal’. However, it will be vital for us all to take some time to reflect on what lessons might be learned from the pandemic, and how these may influence education policy for the better.”
Key highlights of our work during the financial year include:
our performance in relation to our registration and fitness to practise processes and procedures
our ongoing provision of insight and advice to influence policy across the education sector in Wales
our continued support for the professional learning and development of our registrants
our role in developing a high quality workforce through ITE accreditation and the Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales
our work with partners to conduct the biggest survey of the education workforce in Wales
This year, the report has once again received an unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor General for Wales. This means our report presents a true and fair view of our financial position and our income and expenditure for the year.
This year in numbers
During the 2020-21 financial year we:
processed 10,724 new applications for registration
delivered over 250 virtual support sessions and presentations
reached 30,750 users of the PLP
were involved in over 25 national steering groups and responded to 26 consultations and calls for evidence
awarded the Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales to 9 youth work organisations.
As a regulator, one of our core functions is to investigate and hear allegations that might call into question a registrant's fitness to practise.
Our third Fitness to Practise Annual Report sets out how we have undertaken this work to safeguard the interests of learners, parents and the public.
Report highlights
Cases concluded
84.8% of cases were concluded within 8 months and, on average, they were concluded within 4.5 months.
Demographic
Whilst the education workforce in Wales is female dominated (79.0%), our report shows that gender distribution in our casework this year was 59.1% male and 40.1% female, with 40 to 49 year olds being the most common age bracket (25.8% of completed cases).
Category
There is a variation in the number of cases considered by the EWC from each registrant group / sector, with proportionally more compared to registrant numbers in the FE and WBL sectors compared to the other sectors.
Referral source
Most referrals are made by employers year on year. However, the percentage split for 2020-21 is similar to the 2019-20 pattern with 9.1% of completed referrals coming from the police in 2020-21 compared with 10.3% in 2019-2020.
The EWC has published new rules setting out how it intends to implement the Education Workforce Council (Interim Suspension Orders) (Additional Functions) (Wales) Order 2021 which came into force on 1 April 2021.
The existing Disciplinary Procedures and Rules 2017 have been updated to include Interim Suspension Orders following a month long public consultation on the draft rules between April and May 2021.
A new website dedicated to promoting careers and career progression in the education profession in Wales has today been launched (8 June 2021).
Educators Wales – www.educators.wales – will be the initial helpdesk and ‘shop window’ for the sector's workforce, providing three main services:
a careers portal, where people can find information on careers in education, including the qualifications and skills they need for specific roles;
a training portal, where providers can advertise their training opportunities and where people can search for training to enter the profession. For those currently working in education, the training portal will allow them to search for professional learning opportunities; and
a Wales-wide jobs portal, where employers can advertise their vacancies free of charge and people can search for employment.
Hayden Llewellyn, EWC Chief Executive said:
“We’ve worked closely with the sector to develop a website and service that seeks to inspire, attract and recruit the best talent to the education workforce in Wales.
The Educators Wales website will be the first port of call for anyone thinking of pursuing a career in education, and for current practitioners who are keen to progress in their career.”
Educators Wales is a service funded by Welsh Government and developed by the Education Workforce Council to promote careers in the education professions in Wales. Educators Wales has been developed in collaboration with educators, for educators.
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