Teaching careers take flight thanks to Apprenticeship Levy

"Thanks to continued levy donations, we can cover the study costs of our apprentices, and that has a real impact in our schools."

Seven young people have launched their teaching careers at North Warwickshire schools with support from Warwickshire County Council’s Apprenticeship Levy.

The apprentice teachers and teaching assistants have already hit the ground running in Atherstone in the classrooms at St Benedict's Catholic Academy, St Thomas More Catholic School & Sixth Form College, the Holy Spirit Catholic Multi Academy, St Francis Catholic Academy, St Anne's Catholic Academy, and Our Lady & St Joseph Catholic Academy.

Senior staff at the schools and college are passionate advocates of staff taking the apprenticeship route with its unique opportunity for learning a job while actually doing it. With the support of the County Council’s Apprenticeship Levy, they have now taken on more talented young aspiring teachers who are getting the best possible training to set a foundation for long careers in the profession.

Among them is Izzie Walkinshaw, who has begun a Level Six degree apprenticeship at St Francis Catholic Academy in Bedworth - and is loving it.

“I always knew I wanted to go into teaching so I looked at the university route and the apprenticeship route,” she said. “When we heard that funding was there for the Level Six apprenticeship, which included a university degree, I was so excited. It’s the best thing I ever did. I wanted that university degree but, rather than going to lectures, wanted to be hands on and assessed on my skills at the job. I knew if I could get that hands on experience I would benefit more.

“It’s a great school. With all the charity work you get to do, I can give back to people in society as well as giving children the same support and knowledge about their faith that I received at school. I’ve loved it in the classroom. I wanted to be in the classroom, helping children gain that educational knowledge, and from the first day, seeing the children’s faces light up, I was loving it.”

Izzie spends four days a week in the classroom and one day at Coventry University studying with the National Institute of Training and Education.

“In one month, Izzie has achieved so much, she already understands, and can deliver adaptive teaching strategies, said Sandie Wilson, Director of Teacher Education and Apprenticeships at the Holy Spirit Catholic Multi Academy. “In her first month she amassed so much experience. Izzie shone through at interview stage because she has been so proactive and had experience through both paid work and volunteer placements. She was Social Action Champion in sixth form and we want to invest in people with those values. She has that raw character we were looking for.

“Izzie will finish her apprenticeship with three and a half years’ experience… and no student debt! That’s a win/win. She has come straight out of college into the classroom and hopefully will be with us until she retires.”

Michelle Burdett, deputy principal at St Benedict's Catholic Academy, said the County Council support through its Apprenticeship Levy has been invaluable.

“The funding was essential,” she said. “We knew we wanted to take apprentices on but might not have the funding so when the County Council funding came through it meant the world to us. Thanks to continued levy donations, we can cover the study costs of our apprentices, and that has a real impact in our schools.

“An apprenticeship is such a great route to go down, as people learn the job by doing it. We have a fully qualified teacher, Joe Newton, who started through the apprenticeship route and his work is amazing. He is officially a newly-qualified teacher, but in reality, has four years' experience from his apprenticeship. As a teacher that is so important.

“It’s not just about developing as teachers but also the opportunities they are given to lead in other areas. Last year one of our apprentices was our PE lead. We need young people to come in with new perspectives and leadership skills alongside those we already have.”

A game-changer for Warwickshire: The Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Programme

Warwickshire County Council’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Programme has become a standout success story, transforming futures, strengthening local businesses, and driving real change across the county. Thanks to this innovative initiative, dozens of Warwickshire businesses have been able to access fully funded apprenticeships, removing financial barriers and unlocking opportunities for growth and development. In 2024 alone, the programme supported over 97 apprenticeships across 38 businesses, injecting more than £1 million into workforce development.

This isn’t just funding, it’s a strategic investment in the county’s future. From care providers to engineering firms, and now schools, the Levy Transfer Programme is helping organisations bring in fresh talent, upskill existing staff, and build resilient teams ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

And for the apprentices? It’s life-changing. They’re gaining qualifications, experience, and confidence, without the burden of student debt. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Warwickshire is leading the way in showing how smart use of levy funding can create a ripple effect of opportunity, inclusion, and excellence. The success of this programme is a testament to the County Council’s commitment to skills, growth, and community impact.

Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cllr Rob Howard, said: "In recent years, funding from the county council's Apprenticeship Levy scheme has helped launch the careers of many young people and, at the same time, enabled employers to find and recruit the talented young people they need. I am delighted that the Levy support has proved so valuable to these schools in Atherstone where the benefit from Izzie and the other six apprentices will be far-reaching and longstanding as their careers evolve."