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Teaching comes top of the class in new job satisfaction survey

Wednesday 2 August 2006

Forget memories of dreary geography and mind-numbing maths lessons - teaching has officially emerged as the most stimulating graduate profession, according to a new ‘Workforce Boredom Index’ produced by the Teaching Agency (TA).

And educationalists at the University of East London (UEL) have backed up this claim, as the vast majority of graduates who complete UEL’s popular teacher training programmes find stimulating work in local schools and colleges.

According to the recent survey, teachers are the least bored professionals, followed closely by healthcare, hospitality and travel and perhaps surprisingly, accountants. Administrative and secretarial staff fared the worst, scoring a maximum 10 out of 10 on the job boredom scale.

When asked why they found their job interesting, 86% of teachers questioned said they enjoy the regular interaction with other people, while 81% said that no two days are the same and that their roles are enjoyably challenging.

Ann Slater, Head of the UEL’s School of Education - one of the most successful providers of teacher education programmes in London - said: “Our teacher training programmes attract a growing number of people from other professions, and this new index helps to explain why.

“The findings demonstrate that one of the chief benefits of teaching is the sheer variety of the job – it’s true that no two days are ever the same. I’d definitely encourage people of all ages who are bored in their jobs to take another look at the day-to-day and financial rewards of a career in teaching.”

With financial support from the government as well as excellent career prospects, teaching is becoming an increasingly attractive career option. Over 10% of graduates questioned in the survey had considered changing their career to teaching due to being bored in their current jobs.

Naomi West, currently studying for her PGCE in Secondary Music Education at UEL, wasn't surprised by the survey results. She said: “I absolutely love my course and I’ve quickly learnt that, if you like kids and you’re prepared to respect them and let them be themselves, teaching's the best job in the world. I come home every day happy and looking forward to going back to work.”

UEL's School of Education is highly rated by Ofsted for both primary and secondary teacher training. The School offers secondary PGCE programmes in Music, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages, Science, PE, Design and Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), English and, from 2006, Religious Education.

Flexible primary PGCE programmes, a Masters degree in Education and Development and a range of taster and refresher courses for people returning to teaching are also available. For further details, call 020 8223 3333 or visit www.uel.ac.uk.

And for those seeking stimulating employment away from the classroom, UEL offers an expanding range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in subjects including health and bioscience, engineering, human resources management, and of course accountancy!

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For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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