Khadija's Story

In Lewisham West and East Dulwich, 28-year-old Khadija wanted to become a teacher in London's schools. She had the qualifications and the passion, but HM Treasury's spending rules meant teacher training bursaries were cut for subjects facing critical shortages in the capital. The Department for Education set national recruitment targets that ignored London's specific needs, treating the government as though it must find money rather than create it. The classrooms existed, qualified graduates were ready to teach, but Westminster chose not to fund the connection. This is Khadija's story of how central government decisions blocked her path into education. Blocked Britain investigates why public services fail when political choices, not resource shortages, determine funding. This podcast contains discussion of unemployment and career frustration.