It is with great disappointment that we have learned today that subject bursaries for PGCE art and design trainees will be removed 2021-22. For the first time, this year only (2020-21), our subject trainees were awarded a bursary. Today, the DfE has announced, that no bursary will be given for art and design trainees applying to join the profession and train 2021-22.
This will be a huge blow to our subject trainees and to the next generation of teachers. This year's trainees were awrded their bursaries, after a long campaign led by NSEAD’s Special Interest Group for ITE. Our subject, in 2019-20, had only able to recruit 69% of its teacher supply target – meaning without the bursary we had a nationwide 31% shortfall of art and design NQTs.
Now, in this pandemic, today's news will be a blow to many potential students. Training to teach without a bursary will disadvantage our trainees, many will simply not be able to pay to train.
This ruling applies to all arts, all humanities subjects (apart from Classics), D&T and English.
We implore the Government to rethink this policy and to put in put in place adequate and fair bursary allocations – not only for our subject – but for all subjects disadvantaged by today's news.