My sister has just graduated from a four year course to become a primary school teacher. I went to her graduation, and asked her why some of her friends weren't there. She told me they hadn't yet graduated as they hadn't passed the basic skills tests! Apparently the students are allowed to retake these tests as many times as they like, with 10 or 12 retakes not being too unusual. All her friends will have graduated in time to start work as NQTs in september.
Now, I'm all for widening access to higher education and all that, but surely somebody who needs 12 retakes to be able to prove they can read, write and count shouldn't be a primary school teacher? Apparently it's becoming more and more needed to have an MA to work as a primary school teacher, due to the shortage of jobs, but surely it is far more important that the teacher has the basic skills they should be passing on to the children?
Why can't they have these tests as part of the application stage to the university, rather than letting the students spend three or four years studying and going out on placement before it is required that they pass the tests?
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AIBU?
To think primary school teachers should have basic skills BEFORE they start the course?
55 replies
LissyGlitter · 12/08/2009 15:45
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