18 year old teachers?

[Creamcrackered10]

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/04/teacher-degree-apprenticeships-how-they-work-and-when-to-apply/

The government has just launched its latest crackpot scheme to address teacher shortages. From 2025, they'll be inviting 18 year old into the classroom to earn whilst they learn. Nothing wrong with that in principal, but instead of gaining their degree first, they'll be in the classroom from day one. I know degrees have always existed at primary level that put 18 and 19 year olds in to the classroom but surely we want secondary teachers to be experts in their field, not just a couple of steps ahead of their students. Not to mention the issues that will arise from 16 year olds potentially being taught by teachers just a couple of years older than them, think inappropriate relationships, blurring of boundaries. Teachers up and down the country are struggling to assert their authority in the classroom, how do we expect 18 year olds to have the maturity, life experience or authority to manage a secondary school classroom? This whole scheme is going to be an enormous white elephant.

It's not "still", they've never existed in Scotland.

There are learning assistants but their role is to take groups of children out of the class to do focussed work on an area they are struggling in. Or, more often than not, run about making resources for the class teachers.

Not sure about this. I work in a school not as a teacher. And I realise this is a hint of a generalisation. But have seen a fair few post grad trainee teachers come and go. And the most successful are the ones who have a bit of life experience behind them. Not the 22 year olds who have just left uni. Let alone a 18 year old.

How are they going to provide any type of careers advice or uni advice.

Also how does it work if you are a 18 year old teacher whose gf is in year 13 aged 18.

Or does this just concern ks1-4?

I really want teaching apprenticeships to work and for it to be rolled out to more areas, but I do worry how it's actually going to be used. I've seen Teaching Assistant Apprentices, including 16 year olds who are fantastic as long as they're actually supported as apprentices and working as apprentice teaching assistants and not being left alone with a class or basically get thrown into the deep end as an extra pair of hands to plug gaps.

I know some apprenticeships do have age requirements, which might be useful particularly for secondary education.

There are learning assistants but their role is to take groups of children out of the class to do focussed work on an area they are struggling in. Or, more often than not, run about making resources for the class teachers.

That's what TAs are generally meant to do in England - but things happen when there are staffing issues.

Can they not just place them teaching year 7 to 9?

For the teachers here - absolutely, yes? Y9 are always such a joy, aren't they?

It'll be the making of them!!!

My mum worked as an English tutor at 18 to make extra cash at uni, she also tutored a rich french family for a couple summers. You didn't need a teaching degree either, just a batchelors.
There are people in classrooms right now who are not even attempting to be teachers. The shortages are dire. Why on earth not let someone willing get into the profession by a less traditional route.

@Smashieandnicey Same thing, different title.
And I'd put money on the fact that they CAN be used for class cover, just as they are in England (although I am happy to be put right on this one as I teach in England).

I was on the wards as a 19 year old student nurse and this was mid 90,s and I was doing project 2000 so for most of my training super numerary, students that did the traditional training were working full.time at 17/18

Perhaps. I've worked in schools for ten years and never seen it happen. Cover teachers are brought in. Learning assistants aren't qualified to take classes.

This may vary from council to council, I don't know.

No. They are just going to shove more people in at the bottom. They are much cheaper. And who wants experienced teachers anyway?

@Smashieandnicey Do you know if these cover teachers are qualified? Cover supervisors (as they are know in England) do not have to have any teaching qualifications.

To be a Cover Supervisor, the following qualifications are essential:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and Mathematics.
• Fluent level of spoken and written English.
• You must also pass an enhanced background (DBS) check.

No teaching qualification needed.

@LorlieS

I have never heard of a cover supervisor. I don't think that is a thing here.

Any cover teachers I've met have all been retired teachers themselves. They retire and do supply work as and when suits them.

PSAs (pupil support assistants) cannot legally cover a class in Scotland. Cover supervisors don’t exist either. There are supply teachers who have the exact same qualifications as normal teachers (and they’re paid the correct rate too)

@YerAWizardHarry Ah I see. That's good to hear.
Very different in England, however.

And don’t forget that teachers in Scotland earn considerably more than their English counterparts. If I was in Scotland I’d be on £10k more.

Also teachers in Academies in England don’t need to have a teaching qualification.

Teachers in maintained schools don't either. That's passed a lot of people by.

I was referring to the age gap. My 17 year old would see a 19 year old as a peer.

It does say in the article
“This doesn’t mean trainees will be treated as qualified teachers from the beginning. They will work under supervision at an appropriate level that is suitable to their stage of training.”

Having had young adults in the classroom for work experience or as volunteer helpers I can tell you the kids see them as cool students not as authority figures.