14 November 2025

Dear Parents,

The end-of-year rush is on us as we prepare for exams, marking, reports, farewells and all the rest. In just fourteen days children will be home and the year will be all over bar the shouting.

While time for reflection is limited right now, the following article by Helen Richardson, published in a BBC News article last week caught my eye:

“The North East has seen the biggest percentage fall in trainee teachers in England, with numbers down by 56% over the past five years. But, according to government data, the over-40s are the largest growing trainee group for the third year running. Could older teachers be the answer to shortages?

Government figures show the over-40s are now the largest growing trainee group for the third year running.

Among them is Amelia Joicey, who decided to train as a teacher in Ashington after a long career in museums and libraries.

"Covid really made me re-assess my priorities," she said. "It was quite a brave, nervous thing but luckily my family was supportive."

She said the job could be exhausting, but she felt she had "more energy than I would have being in the office all day" and had no regrets.

"It's really full-on. There's never a dull moment," she said. "The kids I've worked with here are some of the most lovely people I've met ever in my life and it's really inspiring."

So, for the mature members of the community who are still full of life and young at heart, there are opportunities to join a real and fulfilling profession…retrain as a teacher. If you need convincing, just spend some time with Clifton children. They are real gems.

It was wonderful to see the Grade 4s flying the kites they made in class, some soared beautifully, while others took a little longer to catch the wind.