Could you receive £31,000 to train as a Further Education teacher?
While various industries continue to cut jobs and training budgets, the UK government is offering individuals up to £31,000 to train in Further Education teaching, no strings attached or obligation to pay it back.
Why exactly? A serious shortage of teachers in colleges across the UK means real opportunities for those with the right skills.
With the need for Further Education teachers rising by the day, here’s why you should consider it as your next career step.
The Reality of Teacher Shortages
In Further Education specifically, the situation means around 40% of colleges are being forced to cancel courses due to a lack of staff, according to an Association of Colleges survey. This means thousands of students aren’t just waiting for qualified teachers, but some can’t even access the right course, as there simply aren’t enough staff to run them.
With students from 2024 to now being affected by staff shortages, future students are also threatened by this declining trend. According to the National Audit Office (NAO), Further Education colleges need between 8,400 and 12,400 more teachers by 2028/29.
The Fix
Ahead of the 2025-26 academic year, the UK government is providing tax-free FE Initial Teacher Education (ITE) bursaries to support the training of teachers in high-priority subject areas. This includes:
- £31,000 for Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Engineering, Manufacturing, or Computing
- £15,000 for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- £10,000 for English capped at 100 places.
This money is paid monthly while you train and is designed to cover living costs and doesn’t have to be paid back.
What this means for Aspiring Teachers
Further Education teaching differs from school as students want to be there and are ready to learn. You’ll work with:
- Adults learning new skills for career changes
- Apprentices who are studying while working
- Students retaking qualifications to progress
- People with clear goals about what they want to achieve
There’s a clear career path. Teaching offers progression opportunities that many industries don’t. You can move into leadership roles, curriculum development, or policy work. With the current shortage, motivated teachers can advance quickly.
More than a Salary
While FE teaching salaries start modestly but continuously rise, this career offers more than just a stable income. There’s a whole host of benefits that come with the job which you may not realise, including:
- Job security in a sector with high demand
- Regular salary progression
- Excellent pension schemes
- Genuine work-life balance with school holidays off
- Opportunities for additional income through training delivery or consultancy
The available bursary means you can train without financial stress that usually comes with a career change or additional qualifications.
Initial Teacher Education (ITE) with Bradford College
At Bradford College, teacher training programmes – PGDE and Certificate in Education – are built for people who have had real jobs and life experience.
From the beginning, students spend an equal amount of time in the classroom as they do with theory practice. With help from specialist mentors, you’ll learn tips and tricks for developing your skills in real teaching situations.
Programmes recognise that people come from all different backgrounds and possess different strengths, hence why we offer full-time and part-time routes. Existing industry experience is seen as an asset, not something to overcome.
Bradford College has strong relationships with local colleges, sixth forms, and training providers, meaning valuable placements and networking opportunities have landed the majority of students employment.
Go For It!
While the teacher shortage won’t last forever, right now it’s creating opportunities which may not be available in a few years. If you have knowledge in high-demand subjects and want a career with security, progression, and purpose, this could be worth serious consideration.
Significant government investment in bursaries shows quite how urgently teachers are needed. If the right fit, this represents genuine opportunity to build a rewarding future while being paid to train for it.
If you’re interested in studying Initial Teacher Education (ITE) for Further Education, explore our teaching courses. Alternatively, sign up to our Careers Crossroads webinar to find out more about our various training routes, taking place on 12th June 2025 (5pm-6pm).
For more information and to check if you’re eligible for bursary funding, click here for the 2025/26 criteria.