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.

[TheBitchOfTheVicar]

@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.

Do you mean Now Teach? The documentary on radio 4 was enlightening: so many retraining creatives and entrepreneurs found that being told what to do wasn’t for them, and either struggled or left the course.

[Frlrlrubert]

I had years and years in industry before I retrained. I trained adults, I mentored apprentices, how hard could teenagers be?

It took a lot of hard work from both me and my tutors/mentors/colleagues to turn me into a competent teacher. My PGCE and NQT years I got through by the skin of my teeth, and if I hadn't had the support and belief of my colleagues I'd have packed it in at Christmas of my NQT.

A couple of years on I've really found my feet and I'm glad I've done it, but it's not easy and it's not for everyone.

The kids can tell when you don't know what you're doing, they'd eat a redundant accountant having a go on a whim alive.

[Livingthecovidaloca]

How would these teachers be paid for? Our school has calculated they need to find an extra £4000 a month for addition cleaning and cleaning supplies.
Schools simply cannot afford additional staff.

[DBML]

Op it’s a shit idea.

I know that in your head it sounds great, but honestly it’s shit.

[DontBeShelfish]

There was one of these daft threads a month or two ago where the OP thought people from different industries could simply be parachuted into the classroom as teaching staff.

Aside from the many years of teaching experience I had and my specific PGCE training, I also have a subject degree and a doctorate.

So in short - get fucked.

[WrongKindOfFace]

@ChaChaCha2012

The government could stop treating teachers like crap. That would stop teachers leaving the profession and encourage others to join.

Teaching is very different to working in industry. You don't learn classroom management in a lab!

Agreed.

[elmouno]

Surely there should be some long term out of the box thought here, with so many formally educated individuals?

What is your solution when bubbles inevitably burst and keyworkers are thrown under the bus in the name of fairness? That will grind society to a halt.

There really is no good reason why the experienced teachers cannot be paid more, given a promotion and a new title, maybe make them head teachers and the current head teachers can be district leaders, something like that. But more schools are necessary and it's either something like this, or we go back to the 50s with only one parent working and single parents on benefits. Reality is going to become that harsh, unfortunately.

[isabellerossignol]

There really is no good reason why the experienced teachers cannot be paid more, given a promotion and a new title, maybe make them head teachers and the current head teachers can be district leaders, something like that.

Well, unless you consider money (or lack of) a reason...

[borntobequiet]

I like the idea of bankers teaching “certain Maths”.
If it takes three bankers five years to engineer a financial crisis, how long will it take twelve bankers, assuming identical levels of incompetence and mendacity?

[PheasantPlucker1]

Theres no out the box thinking thats going to produce the £££££ schools need.

[AdelaidePlace]

There really is no good reason why the experienced teachers cannot be paid more, given a promotion and a new title, maybe make them head teachers and the current head teachers can be district leaders, something like that. But more schools are necessary and it's either something like this, or we go back to the 50s with only one parent working and single parents on benefits. Reality is going to become that harsh, unfortunately

Think you need to talk to Gav OP😂😂😂....or just remember...this is what 'we' voted for...(lack of investment and respect for public sector services)

[elmouno]

@isabellerossignol the money is there, but the ideology isn't. The money was there for the NHS to be sued by Richard Branson, then for him to ask for a bailout while living on his own island.

[LittleRen]

Is it likely that these people are the ones being made redundant though? Scientists are needed more than ever. IT is needed more then ever as the shift to WFH and online retail increases. There will be some of course but I think most of the redundancies will be in the hospitality/retail/travel industries

[Fallowdeerhunter]

@Triangularbubble a surgeon is NOTHING like a teacher don’t be ridiculous.

Training makes better teachers but plenty of teachers aren’t well trained. My brother was an on the job learning teacher (teach first?) and from second week due to shortages was in charge of teaching a subject that wasn’t his degree. Not ideal but no-one died.

[Serendipper]

I’ve scanned incase anyone else mentioned this and not seen it but didn’t Jamie Oliver try this once? Wasn’t it a massive fail and we all realised that being skilled at something doesn’t mean you can teach it.
I think historian David Starkey May have called a student fat at one point

[Fallowdeerhunter]

also note from this thread that many teachers consider themselves untouchable and highly trained - much of this is wishful thinking and entitlement drummed into them by Unions

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

This thread has made my evening. Very amusing.

I teach Primary. I have the appropriate knowledge of English, Maths, Science, Geography, History, Art, Design, PE... I didn’t go to university for 3 years to learn just that though. Being a teacher is so much more than subject knowledge. Please don’t belittle my qualifications.

My cousin has a PHD in Physics and is incredibly bright. I asked him to explain a Maths concept to me once. I was 15 and a well-behaved teen who had asked for help. He still couldn’t explain it to me. He didn’t get that I didn’t understand it and gave up instantly. Teaching is not for him.

Yes, I could support a ‘fast-tracked teacher’ by being in the classroom with them but then we haven’t gained an extra teacher. We’ve gained extra work.

[MrsHamlet]

I am highly trained! I don't consider myself untouchable. I'm not sure the "wishful thinking and entitlement" suggestion comes from though.

[Feminist10101]

I think of all roles, HR may current be safe (and a bit snowed under).

You’re absolutely right. And we’ve mostly reverted to very Anglo Saxon English, which I suspect does not align with the curriculum.

[MrsHamlet]

@Feminist10101

I think of all roles, HR may current be safe (and a bit snowed under).

You’re absolutely right. And we’ve mostly reverted to very Anglo Saxon English, which I suspect does not align with the curriculum.

Actually, I could use you to help me teach language change to year 13...

[FinnyStory]

If you have a degree you can qualify as a teacher in a matter of weeks. They can if they want to.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

@Feminist10101

I think of all roles, HR may current be safe (and a bit snowed under).

You’re absolutely right. And we’ve mostly reverted to very Anglo Saxon English, which I suspect does not align with the curriculum.

I don’t know. I have taught Anglo-Saxons in History a few times...

[CallmeAngelina]

@Fallowdeerhunter

also note from this thread that many teachers consider themselves untouchable and highly trained - much of this is wishful thinking and entitlement drummed into them by Unions

OK, I'll bite.
How, exactly, have unions drummed wishful thinking and entitlement into teachers?

[DontBeShelfish]

@Fallowdeerhunter

also note from this thread that many teachers consider themselves untouchable and highly trained - much of this is wishful thinking and entitlement drummed into them by Unions

I'd LOVE to know what you do for a living, dear.

[VashtaNerada]

This is hilarious One of the many things you learn when training to become a teacher is that when you know little about a subject it is easy to over-estimate your ability. So, teaching sounds simple when you know little about it. But once you start your training you suddenly realise what it takes to be a teacher and understand how much harder it is than your expectations. Sure, anyone could stand in front of a group of children and tell them something. That’s really not what teaching is!