FIGURES released earlier this year suggested that 40 per cent of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) are leaving the profession within their first two years of work.

The statistics, published by the General Teaching Council (GTC), suggest that they are being deterred from the career due to a number of factors, including the bad behaviour of pupils, red tape, the amount of work and a lack of family time.

However, one term into their teaching careers, the NQTs at Nunnery Wood High School show no signs of quitting.

The school took on 10 NQTs during the past four months, all keen to make a difference to the lives of some of the city’s teenagers.

Although each of them admits the workload is draining, they all agreed that their pupils were what made the job worthwhile.

Phil Vaughan, aged 26, joined the school in September, fresh from completing a postgraduate certificate in education as a science teacher.

He said: “The first term has gone really well. There is a great mix of kids here and they are what really makes the job so fantastic. I went to this school myself, but it has got a lot better since then and is now a fantastic school. I’m really enjoying working here.”

Mr Vaughan was joined in the science department by 26-year-old Jessica Pollard.

She said: “We have received a lot of support within the department and throughout the school, which has made the experience so much better. It is a very time-consuming job and is a lot of hard work, but I am loving it and have no intentions of quitting.”

The school received 110 applications for the new posts, bucking the national trend of many schools struggling to recruit.

Catherine Bridge, aged 34, and Matthew Bird, 24, were recruited into the school’s maths department.

Ms Bridge spent eight years as a data analyst after completing a degree in geography.

She said: “When I worked as a data analyst I didn’t feel like I was making a difference. That’s why I decided to start a career in teaching.

It is such a rewarding job.

“The job has been a lot easier than the training. We have had really good support and have been made very welcome and the kids have been fantastic.”

Mr Bird said he had got involved in extra curricular activities, including starring in the school pantomime.

He said: “I am really enjoying it here. It’s a great job and it is hard work, but very rewarding.”

Laurence Roleston, 24, joined the school in September as a history teacher. He said: “The job has so far lived up to my expectations. It has been very hard word but very enjoyable. There are bad days when you feel snowed under but the kids make up for it because they are so enthusiastic.”

Stephanie Marshall is the youngest new recruit at the school, at the age of 22. She joined the PE department and described the first term as “brilliant”.

She said: “I would definitely recommend teaching as a career to anyone. I think it’s fantastic.

“I have my own tutor group, so I am responsible for 28 children, not just their education but pastoral care as well, and that is very rewarding. It’s great being able to make a difference.”

Richard Day, 24, teaches religious education. He said: “My job is to make RE as interesting as possible and teach the children about ethics, different religions, abortion – a host of things.

“That is quite a challenge, but it is great when you get the kids engaged in a debate and see them getting really interested in something. It is so rewarding.”

Nick Neal, aged 24, joined the school as an English teacher. He said: “The relationships you build with your pupils are fantastic. Helping them to learn gives you a real buzz.”

Jade Smith joined the school in September as a ceramics teacher.

The 28-year-old said: “I spent a year here as part of my training so this first term has been a lot easier for me. It has been great actually getting stuck in and teaching and I don’t think I would want to do anything else.”

Paul Gregory worked at Nunnery Wood for three years, helping in the design and technology department.

He has now completed his first term as a fully fledged teacher.

Mr Gregory, aged 41, said: “It’s a lot more responsibility and it was certainly easier as a technician. But I am very much enjoying it.”