DC’s teacher didn’t go to university.

@RabbitWedge Nurses did not used to require degrees because they were more like the current high band HCAs, doing personal care, observations, and simply medical procedures. The job has changed massively and nurses now have more responsibility to manage patients and carry out far more minor medical procedures.

Agreed. You have a nice TA teaching the class. She may have great skills at interacting with the children. I wonder what the attainment levels of the pupils are.

It is fine to raise genuine concerns of course. But here there doesn’t seem to be a genuine concern.

Just wait until you go to hospital and find out that many nurses don't even have degrees! There used to be this pathway of actually working on a job, getting experience, and that being enough of a qualification to do an excellent job.

Let's face it, the deputy PM barely has a GCSE to her name but she's practically running the country.

I knew someone working as a cover supervisor in secondary schools so short term cover for emergencies like medical appointments. I did it myself fresh out of uni to put something on my CV. You don’t teach anything just hand out work and talk through it and keep them safe for an hour. Sometimes this stretched to a full day cover here and there, usually end of term when exams were finished so not really learning anything.
This other person ended up doing it for years with actual assigned classes and a full teaching programme including GCSE’s and marking coursework for Year 11’s in a state school. Eventually they converted their degree whilst teaching and got QTS but I did wonder how many parents knew they weren’t a teacher for about 5 years

I am also a former teacher and GOOD teaching assistants can be better than NQT'S due to their experience. I've literally seen it multiple times. They usually go through training at the school and have already been in a school setting for a while.
I qualified just under 10 years ago so it wasnt that long ago.

Private schools can take anyone to teach.

Well you get what you pay for - to opt out of those pesky rules and regulations for state education in this case.

It is true that academies can have unqualified staff taking classes - a fantastic innovation by the Tories there, but still subject to more regulation than the independent sector. Luckily it is only the minority that take up this option, presumably because most know the backlash that they would face from parents.

This wouldn’t bother me for a more practical subject like art or PE. But for English at secondary school - no. Shes basically a very nice TA.

Err no they absolutely wouldn’t. I am a former teacher now a TA in a state school.Our NQTs are bloody amazing. I really think you underestimate the training and quality of today’s NQTs A lot of our TAs are ex teachers and some aren’t. We’re all fantastic TAs but none would be able to teach to the standards and demands required in the state sector without current teacher training whether that be update or complete training.

They still had several years worth of college training though. This TA has none.

don't you realise it will be the same teachers moving between the two

Academy's also can have unqualified teachers, not just fee paying private schools. They usually have to show why they've taken that person as a teachers and what skills and experience do they have that's relevant etc. I genuinely don't see the problem with this.
Like someone else has stated, a good TA with 10 years experience within a school setting would be better than a newly qualified teacher!

Do you honestly think you know before the school?

I know.... the waste of ££££££ is shocking!

It's like the past education is null and void.

@RabbitWedge I’m amazed that you enrolled your child and until now have been happily paying a small fortune for them to attend without having looked into this.

There is a very strange attitude her about a parent discussing concerns about teaching staff. Adult conversations like this happen - it’s not telling tales

i Do think this comes down to immaturity.

I had immature parents who thought the school could do no wrong and who didn’t feel able to have a conversation when my teacher was struggling with the the subject at A level. I got a lower grade because this teacher taught some parts of the course incorrectly. I went on to do a degree and masters in the subject, and this lady should have been nowhere near a classroom.

her degree was in geography and she was teaching economics. It’s okay to raise concerns. It’s not telling tales or being ‘that parent’.

This! But I'd be annoyed if I'm paying top dollar for teachers that don't even have a degree

That's ridiculous.

Someone with a degree in physics can teach science and maths to GCSE.

I know someone with a level 5 adult learner certificate (I don’t think a full level 5 as it only took a few months) who is teaching at a specialist provision for kids with autism. I’d be really cross as a parent having fought to get my DC into a specialist school if I found out that not only did they not have a proper teaching qualification, but also no real experience teaching groups of kids with additional needs. They’ve only ever taught functional skills at college and not for years.

I was surprised it was allowed, but I think it’s a private school that state funded kids can get funding to attend. So maybe the same rules don’t apply.

Some people can have endless qualifications, doesn't mean to say they can impart that successfully. Sounds like she's a great teacher so any qualification that may have been achieved would be out of date anyway.

If you're not happy the local state school will be full of teachers with degrees.
What exactly will you achieve by "running to tell" .Do you want to stir up a bit of drama?
The school already know. Private schools have different rules.
Why don't you know this?
Get over yourself or change schools!!!!

Utter snob. She's good at what she does. Do you want her sacked? If I was the head I'd tell you to find another school if you are not happy.

I personally don't think you need a degree to teach English at GCSE level, possibly even at A Level.
I got very good grades in GCSE English language and A level English Literature.
I have tutored people and my students did very well. I know what examiners are looking for etc
Then I went on to do a degree in Early years and Education.
It did not make me better in teaching GCSE English language at all. Why would it?

They've done it because they think she's a talented teacher and because legally they can. Surely you knew this was a risk with private schools? I've been aware of it since I was in my early twenties and a friend was employed by a local private school by virtue of her sporting talent, not her qualifications. It's not uncommon for teachers to be just one stage ahead of their pupils particularly when you get into FE and HE, but you need to ask yourself if you're willing to pay a premium for that. It might come down to whether or not you agree she is a talented teacher and that benefits your children. Personally I'd be asking the school for an assurance that she is working towards a qualification at least.