Rosalind's Story

Meet Rosalind, 24, from Twickenham in London. She wanted to train as a teacher in a subject with critical shortages, but the Department for Education had reduced training bursaries for London despite the desperate need for teachers. Treasury spending rules forced the Department for Education to compete for a fixed pot of money, as though the government that creates the currency must first find it somewhere. The classrooms were ready. Graduates like Rosalind were eager to teach. What was missing was Westminster's political decision to fund the connection. This episode examines how central government choices block willing workers from filling essential roles. Recorded in Twickenham constituency, London region, education sector. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect contributor privacy.