Do you think that primary teachers should have a degree?

[Rumpel]

I am relying on the wealth of experience and strong opinions of all you Mnetters out there to discuss this topic so that I can see how the general opinion lies. TIA

well I hope you rang ofsted and complained to the governors and kicked up a massive stink.

New life can I ask what teaching qualifications you have?

NewLife- presumably you didn't train in the UK?

I mentioned it, yes. The head of year lives next door :)

Teachers should have degrees purely to reinforce to muppet politicians that teaching is a profession

The actual subject in which the degree was taken is entirely irrelevant for EYFS, KS1, KS2

The area of the degree becomes relevant for KS3
The subject of the degree becomes relevant for KS4
and essential for KS5

PhD qualifications are irrelevant for teaching as they show proof of being able to immerse oneself in a narrow field for 3 years
rather than any ability to communicate to the unconverted.

The degree in which a primary school teacher has a first degree is very far from irrelevant. My DD had an exceptional primary teacher with degrees in literature and from drama school, and another outstanding teacher with an English literature degree. Both those teachers imparted skills and knowledge that only specialists could. And the former actress was also a brilliant maths teacher!

I've just been accepted on a PGDE course for next year at the grand old age of 40, i have a science based degree from 18 years ago but I think the experience I've had since and the fact I've been in a school for 3 years is more relevant but the degree is just the starting point and as someone said even if it just reminds the politicians that teachers are highly qualified professionals.

Bobo
My DD had an exceptional primary teacher with degrees in literature and from drama school, and another outstanding teacher with an English literature degree. Both those teachers imparted skills and knowledge that only specialists could. And the former actress was also a brilliant maths teacher!
How good were they at teaching science, particularly the forces / physics end of the curriculum ?

Perhaps it was a top London prep school, where allegedly each teacher must have a degree from Oxford or Cambridge in their specialism, presented in a ceremony by the Queen in front of a selection of well-heeled and quietly-applauding parents.

...unlike the inner-city state schools, Iguana, where presumably you get in with a cycling proficiency certificate!

I think a pulse is the current requirement for inner cities.

That wasn't on the curriculum, Talkin.

Science wasn't on the curriculum? 😱

I don't know how I feel about this.

So many degrees these days are utterly pointless. They aren't at the level they used to be and you can get one without being able to string a coherent sentence together all too often.

So suggesting that people like that who 'have a degree' only by virtue of paying fees and going to the lecture where the exam questions and answers were given out should meet the criteria but clever, articulate, natural teachers who, while very capable of a good degree, chose a different path can't do it would be a very sorry state of affairs.

I agree that for GCSE and A-level teachers should probably have a degree in their subject area, well A-level definitely.

But for primary school I don't think good teachers should be excluded in favour of degree holders.

It always amazes me when people think that those teaching younger children don't need to be just as qualified /knowledgable as those teaching older pupils.
If children arrive in secondary school without appropriate skills and knowledge they won't be able to access the curriculum ...

I'm not going to worry about the French physics curriculum, mrz. It's doing massively much better than the English physics curriculum!

You said they don't teach science so I would be worried ...

I said nothing of the sort.

Talkin asked about science /physics/forces and you replied

BoboChic Fri 01-Jan-16 08:32:33
That wasn't on the curriculum, Talkin

Not at all. Just because someone is good in academia, doesnot mean they would make a good teacher.

I think you need to check your reading comprehension skills, mrz.

Ta1kinPeese Thu 31-Dec-15 22:58:14

Bobo
My DD had an exceptional primary teacher with degrees in literature and from drama school, and another outstanding teacher with an English literature degree. Both those teachers imparted skills and knowledge that only specialists could. And the former actress was also a brilliant maths teacher!
How good were they at teaching science, particularly the forces / physics end of the curriculum ?

BoboChic Fri 01-Jan-16 08:32:33

That wasn't on the curriculum, Talkin.

As I said

It always amazes me when people think that those teaching younger children don't need to be just as qualified /knowledgable as those teaching older pupils.
If children arrive in secondary school without appropriate skills and knowledge they won't be able to access the curriculum ...

Exactly. If we don't get the basic skills in place in the first few years children rarely catch up - most evidence suggests that the gap widens.

Yes as you said Bobo ...science not on the curriculum