The Mid Essex ITT Leadership team welcomed local MP, Rt Hon. James Cleverly to their offices at Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form today.

Mr Cleverly engaged in discussions with Sophie Allchin, our Director and Steve Fox our Assistant Director who were joined by Mark Famer, CEO of Bridge Academy Trust and Mark Barrow, Executive Leader and Maggie Ryan, Headteacher.

Mid Essex ITT were recently judged as Outstanding in their recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 and the team were keen to speak with the MP about how to encourage local graduates and career changers to train to teach in local schools in Braintree, Halstead and Hedingham.

The group discussed:

• how the current challenges faced by schools nationally, and within his local constituency
• how these challenges are exacerbated by the current recruitment and retention crisis
• what the future of teaching looks like
• the challenges of making flexible options work for the teaching profession, to keep in line with other careers
• how to make best use of the apprenticeship levy, to market teaching as a vocational degree
• the benefits that career changers can bring to the profession and the recent cuts to funding for Now Teach
• enticing former teachers to return to the classroom

Four of the Mid Essex ITT partnership schools are in Mr Cleverly's constituency - Hedingham School & Sixth Form, Honywood School, Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form and The Ramsey Academy.

If you, or someone you know could be an amazing teacher, give our friendly office a call on 01376 556 398.

Visit www.midessexteachertraining.com for more details