DC’s teacher didn’t go to university.

I'd be more ok with this in a subject like English than say physics. If my kid asks a question beyond the syllabus or where a knowledge of degree level in that subject would dictate a different answer than somebody who only studied it to A level, then I want my child being taught by the person with the degree who has the more in depth knowledge with which to answer such a question.

Without a degree in the subject, teachers might not even know a question actually requires a different answer to the standard A level textbook one if they have not studied it to a higher level.

'Better at teaching' is subjective though, isn't it? What we should be aiming for is highly qualified professionals who have had to compete for a place on a PGCE course and who those involved in training have the ability to get rid of those who won’t make the grade. Once trained, some level.of competition for jobs should also exist.

At the moment, it seems just about anyo e gets accepted on a PGCE course and allowed to graduate regardless of their demonstrable ability to teach. And then they get jobs because a body filling the timetable is better than a paid supply body (assuming you can find one).

We should be aiming for qualified professionals, amazing CPD to develop teachers further and pay which encourages all those who could teach and teach well to give it a go. What we're suggesting here is further dumbing down of the profession. Why are you not arguing for improved standards both in subject knowledge and ability to teach it?

And as a teacher who teaches out of her subjects area on two accounts, I can assure you that subject k owledge makes me a better teacher in my subject. I am no where near as polished in the other two.

Honestly I get that you'd prefer that she was more qualified than she is but there is nothing to be gained from raising it with the school. They are full aware of her qualification and employ her . All you would achieve would be to get on the wrong side of your child's teachers.

Why would you raise it if she's a good teacher? Plenty of terrible teachers have degrees. That's not what makes a good teacher.

There is no requirement to have a degree, or a teacher training qualification if you teach in a private school.

Can't you just do any old degree and become a teacher, a couple at DS's school that weren't so bright went on to teach.

Dad went to Alleyn's when it was boys only, and he said his mum proudly told him 'all the teachers have degrees!'.

I think you can let the school know that you’re not happy that the teacher hasn’t got a degree or teaching qualification. I doubt they’ll do anything, but private schools care about what the fee paying parent thinks.

I wouldn’t really care.

As long as she was teaching what she’s supposed to, it wouldn’t bother me.

She’s highly regarded, so clearly she’s doing something right, qualified or not.

You don’t seem to argue that having a degree makes you better at teaching. I am not worried about “what makes us professional”, what is relevant is being a good teacher.

I’m a maths teacher. I have a degree, but not in a numerate subject. I teach A-level maths and I just make sure my subject knowledge is fully up to scratch! It can be done, you just need to really want to do it.

Do you want her to lose her job? Do you want the school to fund her through a degree at night school? I don't think mentioning it will help.
Loads of absolutely crap teachers have several degrees!

The HT of our DC's primary school was a fully qualified teacher and must have had English and Maths O'Levels. She couldn't string together a grammatically correct sentence orally or in writing.

We transferred the DC to the independent sector. The teachers were without exception, very well educated which is what matters. The knowledge they passed on was correct and accurate and the school achieved exceptional results.

But the teacher didn't just get good A levels and then started teaching - they worked their way up within a teaching environment so effectively did an apprenticeship.

It would be equally possible to produce an excellent doctor using an apprenticeship which combined study with situational experience on an ongoing basis in a hospital. It would have to include some kind of exam/module testing assessment to make sure that at each stage of their apprenticeship they were retaining all the huge amounts of information doctors need to know and understand to do their job. The apprenticeship would take the place of the current five year medical school degree - as it would be more intensive that could probably be done in four years and then the path would follow the current lines 2 year foundation followed by specialised training, both of which are very much on the job training already.

Of course that's a very unproductive way to train the vast amounts of doctors we need, which is why it's easier, cheaper and more efficient to have all the potential medical students start with the five year degree.

There are far too many people who think the only way you can be Knowledgeable about something is to have a degree in it.

she’s a good teacher by the sound of it. Stop complaining.

I understand that (and I teach) but I really don't think going g down the line of 'employ anyone to teach anything as long as they got some good grades at some point and can demonstrate good organisational skills' is the direction we should be moving. The degree is what makes us professional, surely? Not having a degree is a reason to reduce our pay further as well as justification for micromanagement.

She’s been to the university of life innit!

If there was a way to get ‘on hands experience’ in a very defined and discreet aspect of medical care, then it would be great. But there currently isn’t, so your point is mute.

But when a teacher is teaching a subject at A level they need to have a sold and wide understanding of the subject matter.

say a physics teacher only had a GCSE or A level in physics. The curriculum changed and introduced a concept they had never been taught and didn’t grasp?

A teacher who has completed a three or four year degree in their subject is unlikely to be caught out.

I'd be more worried about having QTS than a degree tbh - I.e actually studied pedagogical theory as well as being observed teaching.
And no private schools don't have the same rules. I know lots of unqualified private school teachers. It's not what you know it's who you know in those circles.

I run and own a company that employs 70 people, I have been board level on two plc’s and have been bloody good at my job and earnt lots of money and fuelled a great life for me and my family.

My brother has two degrees and a masters and could not do 10% of my jobs and has never earned half as much as me.

you don’t need a degree to do something you need to be smart and hard working anyone that values a degree over these skills is testament to the value of degrees.

I confess I would be shocked if I was paying for a private school who employed a teachers whose highest qualification was an A Level.

while I understood private schools do employ clever clogs who haven’t completed a teaching qualification, I have never heard of one that employs teachers who don’t have a tertiary qualification.

I would raise this with the head - how many other teachers don’t have university level education?

If your children are doing well in the subject, and the results that parents and leadership teams are seeing are good, then there's no issue.

The teacher has earned her stripes, and probably knows the curriculum inside out given her progression - so if the SLT are happy then you should be too.

My dad is amazing at maths, absolutely astonishing mathematical mind, but couldn't teach his way out of a paper bag. Our friend teaches Yr6 but by his own admission, was utter rubbish at maths but is brilliant at teaching it.

Teaching isn't just about being an expert in a certain area (although it is definitely helpful) but about engaging students, teaching the principles and ensuring a positive and successful learning experience.

But she is teaching the children to high school level not degree level so a degree in English would be useless. If her kids are generally getting good marks then she’s a good teacher even though she isn’t qualified to degree level in English or teaching

A degree is a very unreliable test of someone’s ability to teach.