People who described themselves as teachers when they’re actually teaching assistance or cover supervisor

What about teachers who get timetabled to teach something that is not their specialism? Are they not a teacher on that occasion as they don't have the specialist knowledge you think they should have? (Yet still expected to plan, mark and deliver this non specialism)
(Intrigued as this is one of the many reasons I left teaching).

It's wrong, disingenuous. Lying. Like a hcp implying they are a doctor when they aren't. I want to know if someone is a TA or a teacher. There is a Difference to me.

If I taught my subject in secondary I would have far greater subject knowledge than most secondary school teachers of that subject. I’m an HE lecturer with a PhD. But I am not a qualified teacher - no QTS. There will be plenty of people like me teaching in the private sector. How do you know what the academic background of the cover teacher is?

I think some people are looking at the word “teacher” as a title whereas others are looking at it as an extension of the verb (as in “I teach, therefore I’m a teacher”). Kind of in a similar way to “I run, therefore I’m a runner” as opposed to being a professional athlete.

As a TA I’ve had to correct the spelling of a fair few teachers and have advised several NQTs on SPAG, topic and mathematical content when asked. I have more teaching experience than many new teachers I have supported over the years. I am always respectful and never bring up my former role however I will not be told I am not a teacher. Once a teacher always a teacher. The qualifications and experience which helped me to get my new role have not disappeared. I use them every day in the work I do. I simply don’t have my own class anymore.

How about instead of yet another MN thread sneering at TAs we recognise that all TAs regardless of qualifications are not valued or paid nearly enough and the role has completely changed. Most parents would be shocked to know what TAs have to do as part of their role now.

I was an HLTA before retirement, and did mostly teaching, specific subjects which I planned and delivered and assessed (MFL and Maths), and cover for teachers' PPA which I delivered. If asked what I used to do, I say that I used to teach rather than that I was a teacher, because that is what I used to do!

There’s always one.

Two on this thread.

They aren't teachers.

I actually find it quite insulting. I worked incredibly hard to become a teacher. A degree, followed by a PGCE and then a Master's. It also cost me a shit load of money. I've had to carry out numerous research studies, lots of teaching practice and external courses, plus all the other things TAs don't have to do. EHCPs, parents evening, reports, tracking attainment, end of key stage assessments, book scrutinies, lesson planning, differentiation, marking, spending a load of my income on resources, working a 60+ hour week. The list goes on.

A TA is not a teacher, in the same way that a flight attendant is not a pilot. The roles, the training and the knowledge required are vastly different, and I've done both.

My step sister is a TA. She has very low levels of literacy and numeracy, her speaking is embarrassing (things like dropping h's, leaving t's off the ends of words, saying th as f, mispronounciation, inappropriate slang, absolutely no general knowledge etc. She tells people she's a teacher. She couldn't qualify as a teacher if her life depended on it. People mock her behind her back because it's blatantly obvious she's not a teacher. (She's an awful person, so attracts negative attention).

If someone who is a qualified teacher changes role to a TA, they're still a qualified teacher and that's fine. A TA who has no qualifications, or a level 1/2/3 in being a teaching assistant, then they absolutely should not be calling themselves a teacher.

As for people saying it's "snobby" to think that way, it's just another example of how English people sneer at academia and education. I wonder how you'd feel about a nurse calling themselves a surgeon and attempting to perform a heart bypass on you?

I work in a hospital and know a few healthcare support workers who say they are nurses. One girl wrote posts about being a nurse on FB every day, whilst we all laughed out heads off bc she wasn't. Anyway she was sacked (for filming naughty videos in her uniform)

If you say so.

There’s a big difference in how teachers and TAs behave, as a parent. “Well dun” was written by a TA in my child’s book. Lots of basic literacy issues, a lack of understanding as to professional behaviour. I don’t like TAs saying that they are teaching professionals. I know there are some outstanding ones but there are some who can barely spell. It is clear there are not broadly similar standards in terms of professionalism, behaviour or literacy.

@JustSawJohnny Agreed. I was a HLTA for a while after I returned from mat leave after my third child. I was also a qualified teacher with around 15 years' of experience and a SEND specialism. But I was exactly that - a HLTA. I would never have referred to myself as a teacher during that time period. Ultimately went back to teaching though as my role was pushed into a £13 ph Cover Supervisor which wasn't something I ever wanted to do (employed as a 1-1 SEND HLTA but we can all guess why that was stopped. Budget).
I left primary teaching last year (best decision ever) and now work as an EOTAS Tutor. I've never felt as valued as I do now - by parents, care workers, by the children themselves ❤️

Maybe in primary, definitely not secondary.

It's an absolute piss take that so many primary kids are being literally taught by TA's, but no they are not teachers, even if they are teaching.

Being a teacher is a qualification, as well as a role.

That said, I have known several fully qualified teachers who have taken cover supervisor roles.

@Nanny0gg In what capacity? Were you the only adult?

I have taken 20+ juniors on a bus...

I'm the estates manager in a large comprehensive, I also taught science for 18 years previously, hold QTS, have a PGCE etc. and am a full member of the NEU, and yes I still call myself a teacher (and Estates Manager of course), and very occasionally do still teach (I dip into physics if there is sickness).

Teacher is also not a protected term, there is for example the guitar teacher, the judo teacher etc etc... not to mention all the really good, yet totally unqualified ladies and gents to be found in independent and indeed state schools.

I am a TA/AT. The school I work in refers to us as Assistant Teachers rather than Teaching Assistants.

@Nanny0gg All the schools I have worked in would require a qualified teacher to accompany any off-site visit, yes.
As someone has said previously, a qualified teacher is bound by Teacher Standards; ultimately to keep children safe. Support staff are not.

Tell me you’ve never taken 28 ten year olds on a bus without telling me you’ve never taken 28 ten year olds on a bus.

I've just read an email from a HT whose knowledge of English grammar is not quite what I would expect.

And a number of teachers who haven't the faintest idea of how to use an apostrophe. Not helpful when they're teaching primary pupils

Secondary yes, but to do primary PGCE the degree is not important, and even if you have studied a NC subject, it's unlikely to be much help when teaching the same subject to 4-11 year olds.

You need to be a qualified teacher to take kids on a bus?

And I know a lot of qualified teachers who couldn't teach swimming (nor could I)

My degree level knowledge of Shakespeare, war poetry, Orwell and Dickens has definitely helped me to teach GCSE and A level Literature and I’m sure the same is true of many secondary subjects.