Kiran's Story

Kiran, 25, wanted to become a teacher in Greenwich and Woolwich, London. Despite critical teacher shortages across the capital, she found herself blocked by Westminster's funding decisions. The Department for Education had reduced teacher training bursaries for subjects desperately needed in London schools, while HM Treasury's spending rules forced departments to compete for fixed pots of money. The classrooms were there, qualified graduates like Kiran were ready to teach, but the political choice to fund the training places was missing. This episode explores how central government decisions about teacher recruitment targets ignore regional needs, leaving communities without the educators they need. DISCLOSURE: This episode discusses government spending and monetary policy from a perspective that challenges conventional deficit discourse.