if so many people are about to be made redundant in the country, why can't experienced individuals be fast tracked as teachers?

[elmouno]

Yes, I know teachers require different types of certification. But in these pressing times, if we have people being made redundant in every industry, why can't they be placed as extra teachers so we can get class sizes smaller? For example, if someone is already a scientist with work experience in biology, chemistry, etc surely they will be able to teach it at secondary level? Redundant IT engineers could teach what's relevant now in tech? HR or former project managers could teach English? Bankers teaching certain maths? I don't know but I think it is really important that we get more teachers (of course they would have to pass a background check). I mean perhaps we need to get more creative with curriculum and scrap the tests for now? Perhaps children who want to get into certain universities can take a SAT test like they do in America?

It just seems a shame that we have so many people being made redundant and we have such a pressing need to make more bubbles. Large bubbles imo, won't work. What will happen to keyworkers when their bubbles pop? It doesn't make sense to me. The only answer is to build more schools and have more teachers.

[Soozikinzii]

It is a lot easier to get to be a teacher now actually you can train on the job if you have a degree or work your way up from a TA by doing evening courses . So yes that's already happened!

[Balhammom]

Can’t see if anyone has mentioned this already but search for “Teach Now”, which was set up exactly for this reason.

Sadly, and with notable exceptions, the level of education of those qualifying as teachers in some areas is well below what I suspect many would want. I think that anything that helps to get leading, intelligent, inspirational people into teaching and equips them with the skills needed for the role is excellent.

[elmouno]

@cansu

That's what makes this perfect. People don't have to go into a deep investment to find out they are not right for the task and there will be more people available to find the ones who could succeed but otherwise would never bother.

[TinySleepThief]

And how do you decide which kids get the short straw new inexperienced 'teachers' who have no knowledge of the curriculum or behaviour management and may leave after just a few weeks when they realise the grass isn't greener? Will you be offering your children up as tribute to be taught by these people?? Does their education not matter as you use them as guinea pigs?

[elmouno]

@TinySleepThief

If the max class size is like 10 students, your child will probably do much better anyways just by getting more attention and still getting the curriculum mandated by the system.

[MinnieMousse]

just wanting to find a way to smaller bubbles so kids can go back safely.

Smaller bubbles wouldn't just need teachers, they would need classrooms. All the extra new teachers would need salaries. The government has been consistently underfunding schools. There's no conceivable chance that they are going to put their hands in their pockets to pay for extra space and extra salaries. They won't even stump up money for additional hand sanitiser and cleaning products!

Long term though, smaller classes would be great. More attention could be given to individuals and there would be a lower marking workload for staff. Not going to happen though.

[itsgettingweird]

I think it would be a good idea to have a scheme whereby they don't pay the fees and can get a bursary for income. So full training but this academic year to support in schools too.

But they won't fund sanitiser so it's probably a pipe dream

[itsgettingweird]

But they need to be people with degrees. Not just the HR person from down the road!

[DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon]

Op I hate to break it to you but an experienced individual in teaching is called a teacher.

A banker has no expereince in teaching, i doubt they even know the entire maths curriculum. A scientist has no experience in teaching and probably wont even know the whole curriculum. Someone in hR definitely wont know the whole curriculum. These people could learn it, and learn how to become a teacher. But this takes time, they are not experienced individuals when it comes to teaching

Theres nothing stopping someone with appropriate subject knowledge training to be a teacher, there are schemes for this.

Theres also nothing stopping a waitress becoming a dinner lady?

[PheasantPlucker1]

Im not sure if this has already been mentioned, but starting salary for a teacher is around 24k.

Very few IT managers or project developers will go for that.

[TinySleepThief]

[quote elmouno]@TinySleepThief

If the max class size is like 10 students, your child will probably do much better anyways just by getting more attention and still getting the curriculum mandated by the system.[/quote]
You really think that the size of the class will make up for the repeated disruption due to inexperienced 'teacher' after inexperienced 'teacher' leaving? You clearly have no clue and I honestly doubt if this was the proposal put forward for your child you would think this was acceptable.

[cansu]

Are you seriously suggesting that we recruit a bunch of untrained people to have a go at teaching to see if they can pick up some skills on the job?? I have a child and I would not be volunteering that my child be taught by someone who just so happens to have been made redundant but might fancy a career in teaching! I have worked with many trainee teachers who have studied the theory of how to teach and have attended lectures etc. When they arrive for their teaching practice, they need many hours of coaching and observation before they are ready to teach alone. Even then, they continue to need help and support, often starting off by teaching a starter task or one activity in the teacher's lesson then working up to taking a whole lesson. They submit lesson plans and discuss what they are planning to do before teaching. The teacher observes and gives feedback. Your 'idea' shows a complete lack of understanding. In fact, it must be a wind up as it is so ridiculous!

[Balhammom]

@TinySleepThief

I’d love my children to be taught by many of these people.

As an example, I’m aware of a former City lawyer who has published a number of history books and now teaches history. He could have retired with his millions but instead teaches in a deprived area. Compared to a few teachers I’ve met who can’t even master proper spelling or decent grammar, I think this is amazing. It is great for children to be exposed to role models who have (eg) top Oxbridge degrees, have managed large companies and been leaders in their field.

[Oblahdeeoblahdoe]

@HasaDigaEebowai

HR teaching English . I work with HR people (I'm an employment solicitor). Most of them pronounce it "haitch" R so they really shouldn't be teaching anyone English of all subjects!

This cracked me up

[AdelaidePlace]

I think it would be a good idea to have a scheme whereby they don't pay the fees and can get a bursary for income. So full training but this academic year to support in schools too

We have...

getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training/bursaries-and-scholarships-for-teacher-training

Not enough people apply, not enough people stay....have you ever wondered why?

[Thisismytimetoshine]

What are "experienced" individuals? Experienced at what? Clearly not teaching, as they're not teachers.
What a nonsensical op.

[Ickabog]

[quote Balhammom]@TinySleepThief

I’d love my children to be taught by many of these people.

As an example, I’m aware of a former City lawyer who has published a number of history books and now teaches history. He could have retired with his millions but instead teaches in a deprived area. Compared to a few teachers I’ve met who can’t even master proper spelling or decent grammar, I think this is amazing. It is great for children to be exposed to role models who have (eg) top Oxbridge degrees, have managed large companies and been leaders in their field.[/quote]
I'm sure he's a great teacher, but he's also a very rare success story. Many who have top Oxbridge degrees, have managed large companies and been leaders in their field would make terrible teachers. Having the knowledge doesn't mean they'll be able to teach it.

[TinySleepThief]

[quote Balhammom]@TinySleepThief

I’d love my children to be taught by many of these people.

As an example, I’m aware of a former City lawyer who has published a number of history books and now teaches history. He could have retired with his millions but instead teaches in a deprived area. Compared to a few teachers I’ve met who can’t even master proper spelling or decent grammar, I think this is amazing. It is great for children to be exposed to role models who have (eg) top Oxbridge degrees, have managed large companies and been leaders in their field.[/quote]
But he's presumably a qualified teacher who chose to do that because he wants to be a teacher. Whilst admirable, thats not even remotely comparable to some bloke in HR whose lost his job thinking he will play at being a teacher...

[MrsHamlet]

Funnily enough the £30k bursary subjects STILL don't get filled every year, and many of the trainees on them either don't finish or don't go into teaching.

[AdelaidePlace]

And also for ex soldiers...


getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/teacher-training-routes/university-led-training/university-led-undergraduate-training/troops-bursary

Plenty of 'schemes', the government doesn't address the route cause of why experienced professionals don't find the terms and conditions attractive enough to want to teach....

[LondonJax]

Have you seen the disruption caused when a teacher is off with a long term sickness and a small succession of supply teachers have to take the reins?

My DS had a maths teacher who had to go into hospital. Because she took longer to get well than anticipated, his class had three supply teachers. The frustration for those kids of not having a 'set' teacher was crazy. And these are fully qualified, very experienced teachers.

Kids get to know their teachers, trust them, know what they need from each child and the teacher gets to know how each child ticks. A succession of unqualified people who are 'interested' and want to 'try it out' would be a disaster. If people want to retrain, that's great. There are avenues open to them. But I don't want them in my child's classroom until they're qualified. My child isn't a specimen in a jar for some ex-whatever to experiment with. I want a proper teacher, fully qualified, highly knowledgable and able to keep 30 kids under control. A banker only knows a fraction about maths, a scientist only knows their own area of science. Plus many of them will go straight back to their field if the jobs return and our kids deserve commitment.

[isabellerossignol]

This is one of the funniest threads I've ever read.

I have colleagues who are at the top of their field, career wise, swimming in PhDs, Masters, degrees, professional qualifications, fellowships of this that and the other. Doesn't mean any of them would be any good at teaching anyone else how to do any of those things.

[TheLetterZ]

OP you haven’t said yet what you do and how you would feel if it was suggested that you could just have inexperienced people just come in and do your job?

I have a PhD in physics, lots of children experience via guides and my own kids and I still needed to do the PGCE, not for a box ticking exercise but because I needed to learn so much. It was really hard work, very long hours.

Teaching is not just something you can just rock up and do.

As for using ToysRUs stores they are huge cavernous spaces that would be noisy and need a lot to convert to teaching spaces, there would be a huge issue with natural light though!

[FrameByFrame]

They are more likely to use the TAs to take over 'bubbles' when teachers get sick. They have better class management skills and curriculum knowledge than people made redundant from industry, and will do it for half the wage!

[Elsa8]

You can have great subject knowledge but really do need to do formal teacher training to focus on behaviour management, learn different types of approaches and to generally hone your skills. We had a cracking student teacher last year (who we’ve employed) whose degree isn’t in our subject. I am confident she’ll be excellent! I’ve also previously mentored a phenomenally intelligent woman with a PhD who was trying her very best but really struggled with presence and classroom management. Subject knowledge is important, but you can’t just throw intelligent people into a classroom!