Ministers want ex-soldiers in the classrooms

SERVICE personnel leaving the forces are to be encouraged to re-train as teachers under a "Troops to Teachers" programme announced by the Government.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Nov 2010, 23:05 BST

Updated 24th Nov 2010, 23:05 BST

The education paper published yesterday said soldiers had a "great deal to offer young people as mentors" and the Government would sponsor those leaving the military to take a PGCE qualification.

Ministers want to attract "natural leaders" from the armed forces into England's classrooms.

The paper states: "We will pay tuition fees for PGCEs for eligible graduates leaving the Armed Forces and work with universities to explore the possibility of establishing a compressed undergraduate route into teaching, targeted at Armed Forces leavers."