Student teachers in classroom - what's the law, if there is one?

[willow]

Hi, any teachers out there who can explain what the deal is with student teachers? Is a student permitted to teach class without the actual class teacher being there? Would you consider this good practice in year six at primary? Thanks.

They are permitted to but the class remains the class teacher's responsibility and the teacher needs to be available to be called upon if needed. And it would be a v bad teacher who left a student with a class before they were confident the student (and the class) were ready.

Yes they can, and I would consider it good practice so long as the class teacher is satisfied that the student is competent. It does depend a lot on the student's previous experience e.g. they could have previously been a higher level TA who has already been taking classes on short-term cover.

All the above are correct but they have to be supervised by a qualified teacher when teaching PE. A student teacher will have regular lesson obs by both their in-school mentor (a teacher) and their uni tutor in order to flag up any issues.

Student teachers teach any year group inc Year 6. Don't worry - SATS are a long time off!

Not worried about SATS - flipping petrified about 11+! Thanks for info. x

The student teacher will start with the class teacher there and as they grow more confident and proficient the class teacher will leave more and more. How soon they are left on their own will depend on factors such as the teacher and their view of the student's abilities and the student's own confidence.
Even when they are teaching on their own, the teacher has to do regular observations.
If they are a BEd student not in their first year (i.e. they have already had at least a year's training) then they might be left this early in the school year as they have already developed the basic skills. If they were a final year BeD student they have already done more teaching than a qualified PGCE student so it could be a bonus.

Oh, and what about students from overseas?

The same. They will be enrolled on a course at a Uni/college in this country. They could be a qualified teacher in their own country but the quaification isn't recognised.
If there are language issues then calmly flag this up with the class teacher but other than that it shouldn't be a problem.

Unless you are in a private school it is not the responsiblity of the school to prepare your child for 11+

Yes, but it is the responsibility of the school to provide a teacher who can teach...

But the student wouldn't be allowed to teach until the teacher had seen and was satisfied with the planning, and even then wouldn't leave them unless they were confident in their teaching. And they ar also formally observed regularly - again, if they weren't deemed very competent, they wouldn't be left alone.

Sorry to hijack but what does the usual class teacher do if a student teacher is teaching their class?

Depends - could be something specific, like an co-ordinator planning a special day/week of activities for the school, or just catching up on the 4 million and one things that are always waiting to be done!

We eat biscuits and plan our next holiday Disco

It was a genuine question not a dig.

If the student is a GTP they are classified as an Unqualified Teacher so can teach unsupervised, run own classes etc. If is on a PGCE they aren't classed as an employee as they are students, they then need to be supervised etc.

I teach secondary so it may be different as they would only teach a fraction of my classes. I am often observing the student. Tbh having a student creates rather than relieves work.

Just some points to bear in mind

1. A student teacher will hopefully be up-to-date with current teaching practise, ie. not 'old school'

2. It is in the schools interests to ensure that the teacher can teach, as whilst you will not worry about SATs, they will!

Unless you have specific cause for concern then don't worry, and obviously, if you do, then speak to the HT/teacher.

Teachers have to get experience somehow, and if student teachers weren't allowed to practise, nobody would ever qualify. As long as it's managed properly, I don't see a problem.

Willow - your comments imply a sort of shortsightedness - as magicmummy has said, teachers don't arrive in the classroom fully formed - every teacher was a student teacher at one point and they need experience.

Wot MM said.

Plus being in possession QTS does not mean a teacher can actually teach. There are of horrific teachers out there who are sloppy, lazy and unmotivated with all sorts of bad habits yet they have QTS so you wouldn't question them being left in charge.

A student teacher is going to be held to very high standards, has to plan lessons and activities to all sorts of requirements and typically has a lot if energy and enthusiasm. It's not all bad.

Shortsighted, that's me alright. Actually, not place to go into this problem in detail, but believe me, it's not that simple. We've had loads of students and NQTs teaching class and all I can say is it's not been an issue until now.

Ah in which case raise the concern with the school and say you haven't had any problems with students/NQTs in the past but this one is worrying you!

I think people in general here are trying to point out it's not an intrinsically bad thing and can have many advantages, but obviously if there's a problem with this specific one common sense dictates you raise it. The key is proper management, which it sounds like this situation isn't receiving.

It sounds like am issue with one student. Do raise it with the school, they will be aware though!