There are to be 9% more teacher training places in colleges in England in 2003.

The expansion is part of a �68m extra investment in recruitment over three years.

The scheme which allows people with existing degrees to switch careers into teaching - regarded as "highly successful" by the education department - is also being boosted.

There are to be at least 6,000 more places on this graduate teacher programme by 2005, compared with 3,400 this year.

Almost one in 10 new teachers now join through this route.

Short courses

For the more conventional college courses, there are an extra 1,200 places for next year for people wanting to be primary school teachers.

In secondary subjects, there are 375 places for each of maths and science specialists, 350 for technology and 300 for PE - but 115 fewer for geography.

The School Standards Minister, David Miliband, has announced a 30% increase in funding for recruitment activities by the Teacher Training Agency's (TTA).

The Department for Education said this included capacity for new incentives targeted at the areas where recruitment remains most difficult.

These include six-month intensive courses for prospective specialists in maths and science.

"Our strategy to recruit and retain teachers is now reaping rewards," David Miliband said.

"We have 9,400 more teachers this year than last and we are well on track to exceed the manifesto pledge of 10,000 more teachers by the end of this parliament.

"We must continue this drive and build on this success. The goals we have set are challenging but I am confident that, with the help of the TTA, we will be well placed to achieve them."

'Competitive'

The graduate programme enables people aged 24 or over to earn a salary of up to �13,000 while they work in a school as an unqualified teacher and follow a training course leading to qualified teacher status.

It usually takes one year.

The TTA warns that entry to the programme "is highly competitive".

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The table below shows the full breakdown of college places for this year and next, and the change:

Teacher training places
Subject area	02/03	03/04	+/-
Primary	14,000	15,200	1,200
Maths	1,940	2,315	375
English (excluding Drama)	2,100	2,100	-
Drama	250	250	-
Science	2,850	3,225	375
Modern Languages	2,050	2,050	-
Technology	2,500	2,850	350
History	950	950	-
Geography	1,100	985	-115
PE	1,200	1,500	300
Art	850	900	50
Music	700	700	-
RE	700	700	-
Citizenship	200	250	50
Economics, Social Sciences, Classics	300	300	-
Secondary reserve inc. vocational pilot	100	400	300
Secondary total	17,790	19,475	1,685
Overall total	31,790	34,675	2,885

Source: DfES