London School of Jewish Studies ‘disappointed’ by cuts to teacher training funds

Recent government funding cuts to teacher training have been criticised by the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS).

 LSJS says it is “very disappointed” by cuts removing bursaries to train religious studies teachers under school direct employment, which provides a salary while training.

Guidance from the Department for Education on initial teacher training funding for the 2021-22 academic year shows that all bursaries previously offered to trainees in shortage subjects by the government have either been reduced or scrapped.

The bursary for languages, including Hebrew, has been cut to £10,000, while bursaries offered this year in religious education have been scrapped altogether for 2021-22.

Yavneh College, which runs a training partnership with LSJS, has said the new cuts are a “terrible shame” that will make it “even harder” to attract new talent to teaching.

Spencer Lewis, executive headteacher of Yavneh Schools, told Jewish News: “We have worked over many years to ensure high-quality graduates a route into teaching. This will now become more difficult, a situation which worries me greatly.”

Based in Hendon, LSJS has been rated an outstanding provider by Ofsted, but now faces difficulties without bursaries for religious studies teachers.

Dr Helena Miller, co-head of teacher training, director of degrees and senior research fellow, told Jewish News that LSJS “are in the process of discussing how we will still be able to provide a high quality teacher training year for new candidates”.

Miller still encourages applicants to apply, saying:  “Our goal is to train as many high-quality candidates for teaching posts in Jewish schools going forward.”