To think at a school should not employ more than two or three new qualified teachers

[ReallyTired]

My children's school has an excessive number of newly qualified teachers. The result has been that teaching standards have been poor. Most of the senior teachers have either left or being pushed out by the LEA.

There is no doult that teachers need to start off somewhere, but having too many NQTs makes it harder for more experienced to teachers to mentor them. Many of these NQTs have the potential to become outstanding teachers, but they need a good supportive senior management team.

I feel that a school should have a mixed of both experienced and inexperienced teachers. The number of NQTs should be limited to prehaps 25% of the total number of teachers. Prehaps if the school is hosting PGCE students as well then it should have fewer NQTs.

Our school has no NQT's but staffing hasn't changed in the last five years anyway so maybe one or more of them was an NQT then I don't know. They do though have students on PGCE courses every year. I'd say there should be a limit on the numbers allowed too tbh.

I think what you have suggested (25%) sounds sensible. In most schools I would guess that 2 or 3 would be no where near 25%.

NQTs have access to the most up to date training

They are generally enthusiastic and passionate and engage well with the children

Many schools work in partnerships with one if not more local schools that widen the net for the mentor system

If you cap the number of NQTs many schools would struggle to recruit enough staff and newly qualified teachers would end up on supply which doesn't benefit anyone

Managed well they can be a huge asset to schools

Well in my DC's school 3 teachers would be 75%...

Not quite NQTs, but a lot of people expressed concern at the age of the teachers being taken on in my DC's school. Within a couple of years 3 more experienced teachers retired or left and were replaced by teachers in their mid 20s with only a year or two of experience. However they are actually the best thing that has happened to the school, they are full of enthusiasm and energy and put in loads of extra hours running clubs and sports teams. The school was recently inspected by Estyn and came out really well. So the doubts were unfounded.

But they are so cheap, you can get many more for your money.
And malleable and unformed, you can set their world for them, define the boundaries of normality, imply that they are failing the children if they don't work 7-6 and more.
And many come without annoying family issues, or back chat.
Why would a school not want fresh tender meat, instead of old and cynical and aware?

Many (secondary) schools have policies in place to 'protect' the pupils.

For example when allocating teachimg groups to a pgce student it is someones responsibility to ensure that no pupil has more than 2 student teachers during an academic year.

I think there is a similar, but less stringent restriction on NQT.

Quite often they burn out quickly, but you can replace them every two or three years. Plus most teacher knowledge older than two years is obsolete.
It's a Brave New World out there!

I'm sure I heard that half of all new teachers quit teaching within 5 years? For some reason they leave the lucrative cushy career in droves.

I think if you capped NQTs you'd have the alternative of no teachers.

Only chronologically kim. Before long the survivors can't be distinguished from the battered old hags in the corner like me.

Older teachers often find hard to find employment because schools are forced to pay they more irrespective of whether they are better than the NQTs.

A good NQT can be tremenous asset to the school. However an NQT needs and deserves support in their first year of a very difficult job. Many NQTs fail to complete their probation year if they are unsupported.

It is money- they are cheaper.
If all the experienced ones have left they quite possibly didn't like the Head. A Head local to me cleared out the experienced staff within 2years- they voted with their feet- such a shame.

AS exotic says, it's the money, they are substantially cheaper.

I'd have limited it to 1, or 2 at a push in a big primary. I can't see how there is enough time for experienced teachers to lead the curriculum and mentor loads of NQTs.

YANBU

Now the turnover in young women teachers, on materity leave, disrupting the school and the kids did I really just say that outloud?

Last year we had three out of 12 class teachers as NQTs, and three that were in their first year post NQT.
Which is very hard going as you lose your mentor, the 10% off timetable, have to shoulder a curriculum responsibility and at least one club.

What eyesunderarock said.

Also, let me point out that academies now don't have to employ qualified teachers at all anymore, cutting the staff budget even more! This leaves more money for exciting architectural concepts such as open-plan classrooms (in a busy comprehensive - no more need for outdated concepts such as walls and doors), and thirty-foot statues of the principal in the main courtyard.