Beginning teachers are a small yet significant group within the teaching workforce. Because they represent the future of the teaching workforce it is vital to ensure that their experiences in their first few years of teaching are conducive to them becoming effective registered teachers. It is also important that the mix of beginning teachers entering the workforce matches demand.
In many respects beginning teachers mirror the overall teaching workforce, yet their age and level of experience mean that in some areas, such as employment conditions and when they choose to leave the teaching workforce, beginning teachers are very different. This paper paints a picture of beginning teachers using already existing Ministry of Education data. It documents some areas of difference and highlights some issues of concern.