OFFERING apprenticeships as an alternative way into teaching could soon be the latest way of attracting young people to work in the district's schools.

The groundbreaking scheme, where would-be teachers are trained on the job, is the latest idea to be put forward as a way of turning around recruitment problems across Bradford district.

It was revealed at a meeting of Bradford Council’s children’s services scrutiny committee.

A-level pupils could go into school as teaching assistants, where they would be mentored. This would be followed by a foundation degree, then progressing into post-graduate teacher training.

Sara Rawnsley, recruitment and retention strategy manager for the council, told the meeting that while details needed to be ironed out, it could prove an easier way for young people to move into the profession. She added: “This way, it doesn’t cost them a fortune to get into teaching and it keeps our great talent in the area. It is a very exciting prospect.”

A report presented to the committee revealed that in the 2015/16 academic year, 485 teachers – 14.7 per cent – left district schools.

Judith Kirk, deputy director for education, said considerable innovative work was being done to address the issue.

A 'talent bank' created to help newly qualified teachers find local jobs brought 90 trainee teachers to the district last year.

Cllr Imran Khan, the council’s executive member for education, said: “We have some very good teachers in our schools, but it is important we attract more teachers to Bradford district.

"We’ll carry on with this work, that has been very successful in primary schools, but we need to do a lot more in secondary schools.”