The fifth largest of England’s nine official regions, Yorkshire and the Humber is a rich and varied area. There’s plenty of natural beauty, such as its moorlands (made famous by Wuthering Heights). and areas of historic importance, such as Viking-era York (which is also home to the excellent National Railway Museum).
There’s plenty of culture, too, from the thriving music scene in Leeds, to Hull, the 2017 UK City of Culture. Throw in good wages and houses prices that are significantly cheaper than the national average and it's no wonder that almost 49,000 teachers have decided call the region home.
Education
£37,566 – The average teacher's salary (only just below the national teacher average of £38,816).
18.5 – Average number of pupils per teacher (just above the national average of 17.9).
11 per cent – Amount of schools reporting a vacancy or temporarily filled post (below the national average of 11.9 per cent).
10.1 per cent – Amount of primary teachers leaving the profession (close to the average for England, at 10.2 per cent).
11.2 per cent – Amount of secondary teachers leaving the profession (almost equal to the national average for secondary school teachers of 11.1 per cent).
24.6 – Amount of teaching staff working part time (just below the national average of 25.9 per cent).
Data taken from the Regional, LA and school tables: school workforce census 2017.
Cost of living
£160,420 – Average house price (around £80,000 below the national average for England of £244,567).
Data taken from the UK House Price Index January 2019.
£23,506 – Average annual cost of living per household (below the national average of £25,766).
Data taken from ABC Finance.
What’s it like to live and work in Yorkshire and the Humber?
We spoke to several teachers to find out what it’s like living and working in the region.
Sarah Trowers, head of technology at Parkside School, Cullingworth:
“I have always lived and worked in Yorkshire, it's a great place. Teaching can be a very full-on job, so it's great to be able to utilise what Yorkshire has to offer around work-life balance.
"I live a short distance from the Yorkshire Dales, which offer peace, quiet and beautiful scenery. But there are also bustling cities with a range of nightlife, restaurants and leisure activities.
“House prices are pretty reasonable too, which allows young people to gain independence and start new adventures. The excellent transport links make it easy to travel to the rest of the UK and there are numerous airports, offering access to a host of other countries.
“Perhaps best of all, the people are very welcoming, kind and friendly. I honestly wouldn't want to live anywhere else, Yorkshire is God’s county.”
Mr Andrew Truby, executive headteacher St Thomas of Canterbury and St wilfrid's and strategic lead for LUTSA and St Wilfrid's English Hub, Sheffield:
“I moved from Northumberland to Sheffield in 2006 because my wife’s family is from here. I work in the city, which is incredibly vibrant, and live about 20 minutes away in a Derbyshire village.
“One of the great things about this region is that there is so much beautiful countryside. We often spend time walking in the Peak District and there is always a welcoming pub to retire to, usually with real ale and an open fire.
"We renovated a nice old house and have been very happy here. Prices vary but it is possible to pick up a bargain if you have a bit of vision and are prepared to put the work in.
“It is a lovely place to raise a family and we now spend much of our free time at sporting activities for my 12-year-old son, who is into football, hockey and cricket. I also often travel to London for work, which is very easy by train (under two hours).”
Stephen Eddison, Arbourthorne Community Primary School in Sheffield:
“If you’re looking for somewhere to further your teaching career, Yorkshire is the place to be. We have inner-city schools, out-of-town schools and everything in between. What’s more, you can buy a semi-detached mansion here for the price of a one bedroom flat in London.
"In Sheffield, the Peak District is right on my doorstep, the Yorkshire Dales are up the road (relatively speaking) and God’s own coastal towns of Whitby and Scarborough are also accessible, and well worth the visit.
“Sheffield itself has got lots of great theatres, restaurants and real ale pubs while sophisticated Leeds and historic York are easily reached by a short train ride. And should you ever feel the urge to visit the dark side (aka Lancashire) Manchester’s at the other end of the Dore Tunnel.
“Finally, and saving the best till last, there’s the people. They’re warm, friendly and always up for a chat. Think Geoffrey Boycott and remember this: 'Tha can allus tell a Yorkshireman, but tha can’t tell him much’.”