To expect my son's yr 4 teacher to be older

[katedan]

I know it is like policeman and a sign I am getting older but WTF she is 22 and this is her first teaching job a class of 35 8/9 yr olds. She seemed so out of her depth and it is only day 2.

I am really worried she will not be able to keep the class interested and the standard of my son's education will suffer.

AIBU?

Older TAs are also quite happy to work with 22yr old teachers-I have never once heard one expressing the views on here. Teachers have a very rigorous training, they will have had to be good to get the job. These days they will probably have to have taught a class as part og the interview process. The will have an older mentor in the school and they will be closely monitored and have lesson observations. They are professionals.
Are you really saying that doctors are too young when they start etc and shouldn't be let loose? Everyone gains experience on the job-there is no other way.

SEA I did 3 years at university to get a degree then the GTP which is an intense year spent in the classroom the whole time, but divided between different year groups. I had my lessons observed at least 3 days a week by various members of the senior management team, the link tutor from the uni I was affliated with and subject leaders from the LEA. To even qualify for the GTP I had to have a rigorous interview and complete maths and English tests and prove that I had had experience in schools (I had TA'd and volunteered since 16). To pass the GTP and gain QTS I had to provide evidence for all 33 standards and have another interview.

I did not need to do an NVQ after that!

exoticfruits yes but would start off with lesser cases like barristers they don't let you qualify and take charge of a murder case at the old bailey

I worked with sw who are in charge of cases deciding weather or not a child should stay in care or go back home very complicated cases were lots of things are going on, and they don't on the whole have a bloody clue

And I tend to find they are intimidated by the parents very easily personally their are lots of lesser cases they could cut their teeth on and don't they just get thrown in

I think teachers for high school should be at least 23

at am sorry to have my own point of view but

i have experienced young teachers teaching my sons. i can judge based upon my experienced surely.

I'd love to think SEA is winding us up...

i am enjoying being the escaped goat

Yes sorry but when it comes to my child I don't want a trainee or someone really young

I just don't

There's a goat escaped?!

So Mary you're happy with 23 but not 22? Not a huge amount of difference there tbh is there?!

It is very individual-some teachers of 23 look 18, some look late 20's.
How they teach and manage a class is nothing to do with age.

An NQT is not a 'trainee' maypole . THe letters stand for Newly Qualified Teacher.

SEA can you remember exactly how old all your teachers were?

DS1 had an NQT for geography last year (at high school, starting GCSE's) and she was brilliant! She seems a little unorthodox maybe - (e.g. she apparently has a CD player & plays a burst of loud music if she needs to get the class to shut up & pay attention, rather than try to shout. It works, by the way). The kids all thought she was great & the end of year results from her Y9 classes were fabulous! I'm really hoping DS1 has her again this year .

Not sure how old she is exactly, but I was convinced that she must be a Year 10 or 11 pupil when I first saw her in school .

A year can make a whole load of difference and then it means by the time they do the qualifying year they will be 24 in my view much better.

they had patches on their hacking jackets

Not with confidence. Your sample size is too small.

Look, NQTs get better with time. They do. But the thing is, the school is playing the long game. You need the person you think will be the best teacher for the time they are at your school.

We had a great student teacher last year. We offered her a job. By the end of the year, and in subsequent years, she will be an outstanding teacher. At the moment, she is still on a learning curve. I feel more positive about her than I do about the guy who's been here for 30 years. He's experienced. He's all right. But she will be better.

Yes, SEA, you are entitled to base your entire view of young teachers on your limited experience.

limited?

Unfortunately whether you want it or not you will get it somewhere-they are cheaper to employ for a start. It would be quite difficult to get all through school without ever getting an NQT or at least young teacher.

I can just imagine the fuss on here is your DC wants to be a teacher, does 13yrs at school, 3 yrs of degree and then a PGCE and then can't get a job!!
The same with any profession-they need jobs and they need to start somewhere.

Maypole, NQT's are qualified.

22 might seem young, but to 8/9's I bet it's reeeeally old

Dd (13) told me today about a new teacher 'she's nice. Quite old, about 30' Shoot me now, everyone looks too young to me at my age.

So Maypole 22 is too young but 23 is fine...

Wow some people must really have a melt down when 18yo students turn up! The ignorance or this thread is hilarious.

You want a 24 year old now Mary?

It's such an individual thing how good someone is at teaching basing it on age is really short sighted IMO. But there you go. We clearly don't agree.

Look I am not having a dig its just my view just like I respect yours

I haven't a issue with them teaching primary school but I have a right to voice what type of teacher I like for my child

And I have to say when I go to meet and greet tomorrow I would be disappointed if she was very young

She is a mrs so the likely hood is she won't be 22

Just my view

Oh, I'm sorry SEA, have you had hundreds of young teachers teach your children? If no, then your experience is limited.