New data from a supply teaching agency operating across Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire shows that people registering to work in teaching and classroom-based roles are increasingly aged 35 and over.
New Data Shows Rising Interest in Teaching Among Over-35s
Teaching is no longer a career pursued only by those at the start of their working lives, according to new data from Teaching Tomorrow. An analysis of 355 anonymised candidates who started the registration process to work in teaching and classroom-based roles between 2023 and 2025, shows that the majority were aged 35 and over. The findings point to growing interest from mid-career professionals and older workers who are actively exploring opportunities to work in schools, often alongside other commitments or as part of a broader career change.
Key Findings
- Candidates registering to work in schools spanned every age band, ranging from under 18s to those aged 65 and over, highlighting the broad appeal of classroom-based work.
- The largest proportion of registrations came from individuals aged 35-44 and 45-54, suggesting that interest is strongest among those with established work histories and transferable experience.
- A notable number of candidates aged 55-64 also began the registration process, indicating continued interest in education later on in their working life.
- The data reflects registrations rather than placements or employment outcomes, capturing early-stage interest rather than confirmed roles.
Accuracy & Scope
The data relates to candidates who began the registration process for a range of teaching and classroom-based roles. It does not indicate whether candidates were placed into roles, the type of role sought, or qualification status and should be viewed as a snapshot of interest rather than workforce outcomes.
Why This Matters
As schools continue to face recruitment challenges, understanding who is actively seeking to work in education provides valuable insight into how perceptions of teaching careers are changing.
Supply teaching agencies often act as the first point of contact for people exploring opportunities to work in schools at different stages of their careers.
Responding to Changing Career Pathways
Teaching Tomorrow supports people at different stages of their working lives who are interested in exploring opportunities in schools. For many candidates, registering with a supply teaching agency represents an initial step into education, allowing them to learn more about classroom-based roles and explore flexible ways of working that fit around existing commitments.
This approach reflects the growing demand for accessible routes into education for those considering teaching later in their careers.
Comment From Teaching Tomorrow
“What this data shows is that interest in working in schools is no longer limited to people at the very start of their careers. We’re seeing strong demand from people in their thirties, forties and beyond who are actively taking steps to explore opportunities in education.” – Adam Shulman, Co-Founder
Education Is Becoming A Career Choice At Multiple Life Stages
With career flexibility becoming increasingly important, the age profile of people registering to work in teaching roles suggests that education is appealing to a broader and more experienced section of the workforce than ever before.
As more people reassess how and where they want to work, teaching and classroom-based roles are increasingly being viewed as viable options at multiple stages of a working life.
