To expect a teacher to be qualified?

[Sunnysummer1]

My ds is about to start year 3 in September & I have just found out his teacher is not a qualified teacher. She has been an teaching assistant for a few years & is starting a teaching degree which she will do one afternoon a week. She has a teaching assistant qualification nvq, but nothing else. I have heard that she is a good teaching assistant and my ds likes her. She is supported by the deputy and will have a teaching assistant in the classroom in the morning. I’m trying not to worry but it just doesn’t sit comfortably with me as I thought teachers had to have a degree. She is fairly young; under 30 & doesn’t have children, if that makes any difference. Would it bother you?

I would be concerned enough to maybe keep a closer eye on DC's progress etc in September. However I wouldn't raise it with the school unless something goes wrong, DC is unhappy at school etc much the same as with any other teacher. She is going through the qualification and has experience in the classroom - not an inexperienced novice. We need to encourage and support more enthusiastic and talented people into teaching.

@fedup21
The TA has got qualifications though and is working towards a degree as well as having loads of experience so it’s not exactly going to be a massive shift in difficulty for her

It would bother me as a parent because, although I know there are some unqualified teachers who teach perfectly well, qualification is what it is in every profession: a demonstration that you have met certain standards and undergone a certain scrutiny to make sure you do so.

But this happened under the last Government, to reduce cost.

Maybe in reception / year 1 or even year 2 at a push!! But Y3 is when they start moving up levels so I wouldn't be happy...

I actually think the early years are crucial, and it’s imperative that the person planning and teaching has a good sound grasp of educational pedagogy.

It’s not just playing with sand .

I’m not really sure what people think teachers learn when they’re training. There’s lots of educational theory that wouldn’t be taught if you have worked as a TA. However there are many ‘training on the job routes’ into teaching now so it looks like she’s doing on of these. To be honest it’s not for you to judge her abilities, any concerns should be directed to the school who should be able to reassure you of her competence.

Starting a teaching degree for one afternoon a week while working full time as a teacher doesn’t sound like a teacher training route.

Has she got a degree?

She’s not an unqualified teacher, she’s a teacher in training. These courses, often called ‘teach first’ are very very demanding and only the best of the best get accepted. The fact that she’s below 30 has nothing to do with it, would you be happy for a newly qualified teacher of 22 who would have had less than a years experience in school in total during a 4 year degree teaching your child? At least this lady has first hand experience. She will be being supported with weekly, if not daily meetings, team teaching with the Deputy Head and will be closely observed with weekly observations. She may start wobbly but all that extra support will mean your child gets a good deal. Most of the longest serving teachers I’ve worked with have been way past their sell by date- I’d much prefer my LG to be taught by a trainee or NQT filled with energy and passion.

These courses, often called ‘teach first’ are very very demanding

Teach First requires you to have a degree before starting.

It sounds like she’s doing the salaried schools direct route into teacher training. They are paid as unqualified teachers but attend university for some time a week/term to get a PGCE. They are responsible for teaching up to 90% of the lessons and it’s usually experienced TAs who get a salaried place.

I am really shocked that so many people condone this. There is a huge gulf between a TA and a teacher.

Are teachers really going to continue getting student loans for 4 years to then compete with TAs for jobs? Look where this will lead us.

Also, you are paying for accountability when you employ someone who has completed the PGCE/BEd - that exists nowhere near to the same extent as a TA.

My daughter will be teaching secondary school kids from September and she's not a qualified teacher. They learn on the job now. She does however have a first class maths degree and a good way with teens and they will probably learn more from a keen new teacher than some qualified I've known.

Do people.not realise that in order to qualify as a teacher you have to do placements - lots of peoples children would have been taught by unqualified teachers!

Other than student teachers (who are under the supervision of the actual staff member) I don't believe we have any unqualified teachers working in state schools in Scotland. If they are unqualified, they aren't teachers, basically.

I assume everyone who thinks this is ok is also totally ok with Home education?

Both Teach First and Schools Direct (and a PGCE) require you to have a degree.

If the TA is doing a teaching degree one afternoon a week then they are not doing those routes.

@HJWT yes because all they do is read stories, play and paint 🙄 they don’t actually lay the ultimate foundations for the rest of their education at all in reception and yr1....good lord!!

The most important part of my teacher training was the experience I got. Most schools have good CPD/PL programs that provides teachers with new research/theories etc, it is a continuous learning cycle, so ITTs will not actually be missing out by not doing as much "background info".

You also said she is in her training year. This happens in every school up and down the country, teachers that are in training, teach entire classes on their own to get appropriate experience. She will be heavily supported and monitored and will have lots of formal observations.

I wouldn't even bat an eyelid. I taught Y11 in my training year and nobody suffered as a result. As PP said, a long of older teachers are too stuck in their old ways, and are too traditional and stubborn to change. Trainees and NQTs have some of the newest research implemented into their training and teaching from day 1

It wouldn't concern me, especially if they already have classroom experience.

It wouldn’t bother me.

I don’t believe a teaching qualification (although obviously this TA is on the road to get one) is essential to be a good teacher.

There’s a lot of misinformation on this thread. This is definitely not Teach First and in my secondary school there’s no way would be employed if you didn’t have a good, directly relevant degree.

@NeverGotMyPuppy yes but under the constant supervision and guidance of a qualified teacher! They don’t just let you loose in a classroom, all of your planning and lessons are gone through with a fine tooth comb and your lessons are observed etc etc

@Mistressiggi, you are correct, in Scotland you have to have the specific PGCE qualification. Even just taking a SCITT route and becoming qualified that way is not allowed, you have to have the PGCE element

At my school two TAs have just qualified as teachers. They have spent the last academic year training with the school's full support. And they're brilliant.
In my previous school a colleague was teaching as a non qualified teacher and she was also training.
I think as long as the schools' are transparent about it and fully support the staff members it shouldn't be an issue. I'd rather a training TA who knows the school and students than long term supply. That would be the alternative.

"optimisticpessimist01

I am a teacher and it wouldn't bother me at all"
Don't you feel it devalues teaching?

They learn on the job now.

No, not all teachers do.