newly trained teacher

[Yogurthoney]

Just found out that DD1's class (will be yr 4 in Sep) has been given a teacher who just got qualified to teach through the School Direct Training Program. I am not quite convinced that she is able to teach. In my understanding people who join the program only need to be trained for one year before taking a teaching post? rather than a proper PGSE or teaching degree? Correct me if I am wrong, I think they need to be supervised to teach at least for their first year's teaching, especially yr4 is very important in Key Stage 2. The school has just been downgraded from Good to require improvement, and the main issue in the Ofsted report is the poor teaching in lower key stage 2. Should I raise it to the headteacher, if so how?

Only a year ago I was an NQT. I'd have been gutted to learn I had parents like op to contend with even though I did "proper study" from a PGCE.

IMO Schools Direct trainees can be far better prepared for the classroom than PGCE students because they spend far more of their time training on the job. They still go to Uni for all the theory side of the qualification, but for less hours.

I'm an Assistant Head, a qualified AST, been teaching for 15 years, usually rated Outstanding get me , and I still learn really useful things from Trainees and NQTs every term. Your DC could be very lucky to have this teacher.

Hope your experience of an NQT is better than the one my DC just had. There is quite a high drop out rate among NQTs

DD has been taught by a trainee teacher for much of this term (supported by her amazing teacher). He has been brilliant, and I'm sure he will do very well with his own class when he moves to a new school next year.

All teachers have to start somewhere.

Been working till now. Sorry couldn't reply sooner.. too many posts I couldn't reply to separately. Many thx for all your reassurence and kind suggestions.

First of all, please don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the teacher who is trained through this way. I do see a lot of people are born to be teachers, some new one can be far more better than one with years of teaching experience. Even the best teacher will have to start from day one.

This new teacher had been the head of a volunteer group helping the school to raise money in the past 3- 4 years. Both of her DDs are in the same school. She was helping in the class for several weeks last term in DDS's year but in the other class ( i think that was actually part of training program), there were lots of gossips on the playground after school( according to some parents, their children didn't like her). So I was bit of jaw-dropped when I opened the letter yesterday afterschool. Especially, the other class has got one of the best teachers in the school, who is coming from year 6(ofsted report towards year 6 teaching is excellent). Because in recent couple of weeks, parents' been talking about the new ofsted report and waiting to see how the school rearrange the teaching.

As a parent, I don't know the whole system very well and I don't even know how the teacher teach. A lot of imformation I have got is from other parents, especially those who have old children gone through the whole junior school. I care about my children's education very much so I spent a lot of time searching internet or coming here for advice. Please do forgive me if some of you, especially teachers, feel some of my words are offensive. But I have to say that not only myself is very concerned about it yesterday, several parents have been talking about it, which made me a bit worried. But I don't know whether I should be the one who is going ahead to ask some clarification about how the school's arrangments?

Tea1sugar, you would be even more gutted if some teachers say in the same way. one of my friends started teaching through this School Direct Training program 2 years ago, she overheard two teacher talking about that she wasn't through the so-called "traditional way" in the school where she got trained.

Yoghurt I do understand, everyone wants the best education for their child. What is it that is bothering you in particular, perhaps we can reassure you? If it's the Schools Direct versus PGCE route, I can assure you, hand on heart, that Schools Direct trainees are equally competent, and qualified. This teacher will have a degree and will have more classroom experience than a PGCE student.

Do you think that you might feel more comfortable if the teacher was a stranger? Perhaps the fact that parents know the teacher is colouring their view, and I could be wrong here, but a little bit of gossip and even envy might be creeping in?

It wouldn't concern me at all that some children didn't like her. She's not there to be liked, she's there to educate them.

lizzievereker, that is very kind of you. Rumours are that becauce she didn't get very good feedbacks during her time with the other class, she was put to DD1's instead. After putting this thread on and have got so many useful information about it I feel more reassured now.

To those who said PGCE only takes one year as well, DD1's school has PGSE students, i have seen a couple of them in the past two years in the class, but not really involved in teaching. They do have a brillian newly qualified teacher in the infant school, she was only given a class to manage on her own after spending almost three years helping out in nursery, year 1 and then did some share teaching.

To those who asked me to joined the program, actually I did. I got an offer to go on a one year course and training in this so called School Direct Training Program. I dropped it because I can't concentrate on it while looking after my three children. Teaching children is a big responsibilty, especially other people's children . I feel if I get one thing wrong, it will affect their future. I feel if I don't plan my teaching properly, that time will be wasted. And every child they only have one year 3, one year 4 in their whole life.

I didn't say that all the people who become a teacher through this way are not good enough, but are they all good enough to manage a class of 34 children on their own after just one year's training?

Many thx for the people who reassured me that there will be mentor to supervise the teaching all the time, you have made me feel much better.

DS has had 2 NQTs. One was the best teacher he has ever had and one the 2nd worst. The worst was an ex HT on supply. Enthusiasm counts for a lot in teaching and it is hard to sustain in the longer term. Friends I have known doing the direct programme would make fantastic teachers as they have life and parenting experience as well as great qualifications and a previous career and have been trained for a year the same as PGCE.

I don't know where you get the impression that y4 is "very important".

In my very recent experience there was some consolidation of key concepts, quite a few projects and swimming! Fun but hardly key, in my experience. A good year to put newly qualified teachers I would have thought.

DS now end y6 - sat L6 Sats. Clearly having a number of nqt's, from both routes, did him and his peers no harm at all.

Bloody playground gossip...so glad now off to secondary I won't be on the playground

"To those who said PGCE only takes one year as well, DD1's school has PGSE students, i have seen a couple of them in the past two years in the class, but not really involved in teaching. They do have a brillian newly qualified teacher in the infant school, she was only given a class to manage on her own after spending almost three years helping out in nursery, year 1 and then did some share teaching. "

That's a unique school that can afford to have a qualified teacher helping out for 3 years before being given a class of her own. Never, ever heard of a school anywhere that could afford that before.

Every single PGCE course I have every come across (having done one myself and then mentored students from 2 other universities, plus having spent a fair amount of time on various forums online) is a one year course, at the end of which you will be given a job managing your own class full time. For that first year you are mentored, supported and monitored. How good this support is depends entirely on a) your mentor, b) the school and c) how much support the teacher needs.

They do have a brillian newly qualified teacher in the infant school, she was only given a class to manage on her own after spending almost three years helping out in nursery, year 1 and then did some share teaching

Are you sure she wasn't a B Ed/BA teaching student who got a job after her course finished?!

It is not at all usual for a teacher to spend time helping in other classes before being given their own class - possibly she was a TA who trained up to become a teacher? My school used to do this.