The Now Teach-NIoT Career Changers Programme

The story behind the programme

The lack of diversity in teaching has a huge impact on children and young people. When students don’t see their heritage represented at school, it impacts their feeling of belonging. They’re more likely to be stereotyped and underestimated – and to grow up facing bias they don’t yet have the language to name.

It’s no surprise that following this kind of school experience, the number of people of Black and South Asian heritage choosing to become teachers is low. Many in the West Midlands grow up never seeing a teacher who represented them. And that sends a devastating message: that school may not be for ‘people like me’.

We know these experiences might be familiar to you. And this programme is about changing things for the future. It’s not just about making sure children feel seen, heard and represented. It’s about shifting who gets to lead, who gets believed in, and who gets to feel they belong.

Having more teachers of Black and South Asian heritage in our schools will bring about powerful change. Children who might have grown up without role models to show them what’s possible, will grow up knowing their potential. Children who might have felt they weren’t heard, will grow up knowing their voice matters. And children who might have faced bias, racism or stereotyping at a young age, will have someone in their corner that understands their experience.

It all starts with creating better diversity in teaching – and that starts with the Now Teach-NIoT Career Changers Programme. 

What does it include?

From figuring out funding to your first day on the job, this programme offers everything you’ll need to simplify things and find the right path for you:

• Specialist advice on applying and preparing for teacher training
• Two years of personalised career change support
• Bespoke pre-training modules aimed at preparing you for the classroom
• An immersive, research-led training programme combining theory and practice (four days a week in schools, one day in training on campus)
• Access to a national network of career changers on the same journey as you
• Ongoing support and development opportunities for the rest of your teaching career

The programme, step by step

The Now Teach-NIoT Career Changers Programme has a few stages, starting with pre-application support, all the way through to your first day in the classroom, and beyond.

Am I eligible?

To apply for this programme, you’ll need to meet a few eligibility requirements. If you’re not sure if you qualify, still get in touch and we can help you work it out.

Black or South Asian heritage

Our aim is to increase representation in West Midlands’ schools. That’s why this programme is exclusively for career changers from these backgrounds.

Able to teach in the West Midlands

You’ll be training at a school in the West Midlands for this programme. So, you’ll either need to be living there, willing to relocate, or able to travel.

15 years of career experience

This programme is for people who are looking to retrain after a substantial career elsewhere. These 15 years can include a career break.

No significant paid classroom experience

We’ll accept applications from those with a background in higher education, but this programme is for people entirely new to teaching.

Qualifications

To become a teacher in secondary schools in the UK, you need an undergraduate degree (usually second-class or above) and a GCSE grade C/4 or above in English Language and Maths. You’ll also need demonstratable strong subject knowledge for the subject you want to teach.

Funding and pay

The Now Teach-NIoT Career Changers Programme doesn’t cost anything to join. But training to become a teacher does require funding. Depending on the subject you want to teach, bursaries, scholarships and loans may be available to help you with the cost. Our career change specialists will be able to talk you through the full range of options.

Once you’re qualified, you’ll receive a starting salary of £32,916, and an annual pay rise for the first six years. There’ll also be opportunities to take on other roles throughout the school, increasing your salary and your impact.