Over the past few months, the words "crisis" and "shortage" have been common when it comes to describing the state of recruitment of new teachers in the education sector. However, one teacher training college has announced that it now expects to see a swell of new applicants in 2016. 

January often marks the start of a new outlook on life for many people, and for some, this can mean looking towards new jobs and careers. The National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) said January 2015 saw a swell in interest levels from people looking to get into teaching, and it expects to see similar results this year. 

In January last year, the organisation said, there were more than half a million hits recorded on its website, "Get into Teaching", which shows people the benefits of looking for a new career in the education sector. 

It also went on to say that this was followed by a growth in the number of potential new teachers, with 10,000 registrations of interest in teaching in the first month of 2015 coming through the website. 

After a year in which there have been many reports of a shortage in teacher numbers and a crisis in recruitment of new teachers, the college now believes that 2016 will see similar results as 2015. 

As part of a campaign to capitalise on New Year career changers, the NCTL is offering six online events in January to show potential recruits what the profession can offer, as it looks to attract a new generation of teachers to come on board. 

It comes at the same time as the government has unveiled a new TV advertising campaign designed to show the benefits that can come with a career in teaching. 

Roger Pope, chair of the NCTL, said: "As a new year begins, we know that a lot of people will be thinking about their careers and whether there's something else out there for them. 

"Every year, we see an influx of people who change career into teaching, bringing a wealth of experience to help inspire the next generation. 

"For those considering finding out more about teaching, our online events are an easily accessible way of deciding on the next step.