June 11, 2026 - 155 views
Aspiring teachers training in some of the most in-demand secondary school subjects will be able to access a £20,000 incentive from September, as the Welsh Government seeks to strengthen recruitment and retention across Wales, including in North Wales.
The Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Priority Subject Incentive will increase by £5,000, from £15,000 to £20,000, for eligible postgraduate teacher training students studying priority subjects in Wales.
The announcement forms part of the Welsh Government’s 100-day plan and is aimed at encouraging more graduates to enter the profession in areas where schools continue to face recruitment challenges.
The subjects covered by the enhanced incentive are biology, chemistry, design and technology, digital technology and computer science, mathematics, international languages, physics and Welsh.
The move is likely to be welcomed by schools and education leaders across North Wales, where recruiting specialist teachers in STEM subjects and Welsh-medium education has long been a challenge, particularly in rural communities.
Schools across counties including Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham and Anglesey have previously reported difficulties attracting suitably qualified staff in subjects such as mathematics, physics and computer science. The continued growth of Welsh-medium education has also increased demand for Welsh-speaking teachers.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Welsh Language Anna Brychan said supporting the education workforce was central to improving standards.
“Education is at the heart of this new government, and we are clear that the education workforce needs to be supported to achieve our national mission for education, in raising standards and providing learners with the best foundation for their futures.
“Alongside improving conditions for teachers and professional development, it’s vital that we have a sustainable workforce and encourage more people into teaching. I am pleased to be able to announce a more competitive incentive as one of my first actions in my new role and I hope to build on this increase over the course of this next four years.”
She added that the government wanted to ensure people trained in Wales remained in the country to benefit Welsh learners.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said investing in the teaching workforce was essential to improving educational outcomes.
“This government is committed to improving our children and young people’s education, giving them the best possible start in life and unlocking opportunities for the future.
“To raise standards in our schools we must invest in our dedicated and talented workforce, both by supporting them and providing the tools they need, alongside strengthening teacher recruitment.”
The grant will be paid in three instalments and is available to students beginning eligible postgraduate teacher training courses leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) between September 2026 and August 2027.
To qualify, applicants must hold a degree graded 2:2 or above and be enrolled on a postgraduate ITE programme in Wales in one of the priority subjects.
The incentive is available to both full-time and part-time students, and applicants do not need to have completed their degree in the same subject area as their teacher training course.
The increase comes as schools across North Wales continue to adapt to changing pupil needs, curriculum reforms and growing demand for specialist teaching skills in science, technology and Welsh-language education.
Education leaders hope the enhanced incentive will help attract more graduates into classrooms and strengthen the pipeline of teachers needed to support learners across the region in the years ahead.
