§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a teacher who receives a grant of up to £100,000 towards the purchase of the home is obliged by contract to continue working in London for a minimum period following receipt of the grant; and what are the terms of such a contract in the event that the recipient should leave London or give up teaching before the minimum period is reached. [HL5053]
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandThe package of assistance announced by the Secretary of State on 21 October is designed to help retain good teachers within London with the potential to rise to leadership positions within the profession, by enabling them to purchase the types of homes that suit their needs but which may have been beyond their means until now. In order to be eligible for the scheme teachers will also need to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to teaching in London. In the event that a teacher chooses to leave London, or leaves teaching in the maintained sector (including academies) for more than two years, we would normally expect the loan to be repaid. This two-year period is to allow eligible teachers the ability to undertake sabbaticals, periods of secondment or career breaks, without any penalty.