What are the pros and cons of your child being taught by an NQT?

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DS2 goes into yr5 in Sept. There are 3 year 5 classes in his school They've mixed up the class groups as they go into year 5 and and his new class is to be taught by the new NQT. The other 2 classes will be taught by experienced teachers.

This will make 3 years running he's had an NQT. Both previous years the other classes in the year group have had experienced teachers, who have given lots of support to the NQT.

I have to say I've had no complaints about the teaching he's received so far. I've found the new teachers lovely, supportive, caring, enthusiastic etc and he's made good progress.

The one teacher I really didn't want him to get is an experienced and ambitious member of the management team, with her eye on a headship, who really doesn't want to be in the classroom, so I appreciate that experience doesn't always mean great teaching, I just wonder how others would feel in this situation.

BTW I work in a non-teaching capacity in the school, so my fact are right!!

Lots of energy and enthusiasm, new up to date work materials are the advantages. Disadvantages less likely to be able to deal with identifying issues like dyslexia or ASD traits.

You sound like you're in a strong position to keep an eye on things though, so may be less of a concern?

Really haven't got any complaints, myself.

Pros: energy & enthusiasm & idealism, lots.
Cons: all round inexperience, so not as efficient at anything, I find, but that's compared to the very best of the most experienced teachers.

For y4 DS will have the teachers I most dreaded. Rather experienced but just... pants. Too strict, no patience. He had a NQT for y3 who has been wonderful & like his y2 teacher (very insightful) worked really hard to figure out how he ticked.. y4 teachers are academically fine but they won't get his personality AT ALL & I expect a huge number of behaviour issues. I have already given up on y4. :(

NQTs work so hard to prove themselves! I would generally be very happy, as long as I trusted the school to make good appointments.

Pros: enthusiasm and up to date knowledge.
Cons: may be less efficient, may have problems dealing with SEN or behavioural issues.

It's worth remembering that not all NQTs are inexperienced though. Some have worked for many years in support roles or as supply teachers before they manage to secure their first post.

Newly Qualified Teacher doesn't always mean Inexperienced Teacher.

Generalising is never good but with the NQT's I have had with mine I'd say often they are packed with great ideas, but are often quite naive when it comes to the practical aspects of the day in day out discipline of a class over time.

As a trainee teacher I would say there are definite pros with the enthusiasm, freshness, etc.

But they are still training, but with a lot of support. As with all teachers.you will get good ones and bad ones.

Personally (as a trainee teacher knowing how inexperienced I feel with so much still to learn) I would be a little concerned at having nqt 3 years in a row and be looking for a bit more balance. Not trying to criticise (as I say I will shortly be an nqt myself) but I do believe balance is important.

Having said all that what is most important is the progress he has made and makes in the future.

I think as long as they are properly supported by the school etc then there usually isn't any real problems. I think the first term as an NQT can often be a real baptism of fire but once you're into the swing of things it's fine. I remember my NQT year and I agree with what was mentioned above about getting used to the day to day running of the class and behaviour management.

Each subsequent year gets easier though and you become much more adept at dealing with various things

My DD has had 3 NQTs in 3 years. The first one took a term to find her feet but was then great and got really good results, but I think possibly didn't manage relationships between the children so well. The second one was awful and tbh I don't think she's cut out to be a teacher. I gather her current class are very unhappy too and she's leaving and planning to do supply. She had no control over the class and nobody made any progress at all. DD got really depressed during that year. The last one has been ok but I still think the inexperience showed. Next year DD has a teacher who was an NQT this year but I gather is very promising. I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I don't think DD has had a particularly good time of it in the last couple of years.

I guess it's all down to the individual in the end but I'd say pros are that they are likely to be up to date and full of enthusiasm, cons that they don't have the experience with more difficult children, and children outside the norm. It's going to take more of their time planning and preparing stuff because they haven't done it umpteen times before. That means they have less time for other stuff. Also they need time out of the classroom every week, in our school they have one day out, I'm not sure if that's the norm.

It is the norm for nqts to teach 90% of what a fully qualified teacher does. As the latter normally has half a day out of the classroom this is usually a full day out for an nqt (or add up to a full day)

My dd just had a NQT in her twenties

pros: very creative, fab artwork and projects, loads of energy and enthusiasm

cons: not great managing the class - rowdy reading times etc. Work set was at a very low level until discussed - it must take a lot of experience and work to set work suitable for a range of abilities every day - i did talk to the teacher about it but have also given my dd more challenging books and worksheets at home which she flew through - not going to make a fuss as I know she has a very experienced teacher next year