Child’s new teacher UQT

[HowLongWillThisGoOnFor]

My child’s new year 3 teacher doesn’t even have a degree, let alone QTS. She was employed as a TA for years, then a HLTA, and now has a full class of her own come September. I only know this as said teacher is my best friends sister in law. It’s an academy so I know they can do what they like, but how do qualified teachers actually feel about this?

She’s had her own class for two years now so it’s not due to Covid staffing issues. Surely this devalues the profession? Is this common? I’ve just always assumed my children’s teachers are qualified. I completely understand the role of cover supervisor etc but this lady has full responsibility of a class.

I think it totally depends on the teacher as to how successful it is, but I agree it devalues the profession. For one thing, unqualified teachers can be employed at what I think is a morally unjustifiable salary - I know a lady who was on about £19,000 working a 50 hr week. Simply, a class teacher deserves to be paid more than that. And in turn it makes it harder for 'expensive' teachers to get jobs.

Yes, quite. I have huge amounts of respect for teaching as a profession. I just wasn’t sure if this was common or not. I won’t kick up a fuss about it, as it’s one year, and I like my children’s school. I was just genuinely shocked this teacher doesn’t even have a GCSE to her name (this is obviously speculation, but I trust my best friend and I believe her). By all accounts she likes the status of referring to herself as a teacher, however I would be surprised if she was on the same wage. It smacks of exploitation, and like you said this will make it harder for more expensive teachers.

Anyway rant over, I’ll get over it. I was just truly shocked that’s all.

Doesn't happen in Scotland, and I think it's dreadful that it's allowed in England. Surely it will eventually end up with all 'teachers' being unqualified, if it's allowed and it's much cheaper?

Sorry but I would highly doubt this is entirely true

It is true. I mean I knew academies could do what they wanted but I at least presumed a UQT would need a degree. My best friend is a qualified teacher and this lady is her sister in law. I have no reason to doubt what she says to be honest.

OP I can believe every word. She may be on a school based training programme this year?

To be honest a decent HLTA turned teacher would probably be preferable to and NQT.

You need a degree for all those avenues though don’t you? (School based) she hasn’t got one. She does have HLTA qualifications though.

She has been at the school for many years as a TA so I’m sure it will be fine but I guess it just makes me wonder about all the other teachers as I just presumed naively they would all hold QTS. I’m someone who really values the profession, it’s important and I see this happening in other professions too and it’s sad. This lady may well be perfectly capable but the standards are there for a reason.

We have UQTs in our secondary school. Teaching Maths and English up to Year 9. I think it will become more and more common, though I had not heard about it until last year

I would be more upset at lack of degree than there being no formal teacher training qualification.

I agree wineofhowls.

Lack of degree is interesting because there are plenty of people out there who have a degree but this doesn't mean they are educated. I can think of primary colleagues with a media degree who I wouldn't want to teach my children!

Like I said she could be perfectly capable, but if this is becoming more commonplace the whole profession is being downgraded. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen.

Where I used to work they employed cover supervisors then came them full teaching timetables of their own!

It is y3 though. Very basic level of work and she has years of experience as a TA. Can't get too worried with this set of circumstances. I actually would think less of your best friend if she is speaking about her SIL in such a derogatory manner.

To be fair my best friend has her reasons, which is irrelevant but completely take your point.

I guess if those actually in the profession accept it, then it is what it is. I’m a nurse by trade and we have exceptional healthcare assistants with years of experience. They are not nurses though. They never will be. Some do train to become nurses and that’s great but they don’t just simply get to become nurses become they have been in the hospital a long time, and are particularly good at brown nosing.

This thread has been enlightening though.

*because

It may be related to Covid-19. I think a trusted member of staff who has proved themselves as a really good TA would be preferable to giving a permanent contract to someone you've only met on a Zoom call interview and could, for all you know, have a terrible rapport with the children! I do agree it's not ideal but it sounds as if this may just be a temporary fix for this year.

@rillette

It isn’t. She’s been in her teacher role two years. I’m going to accept it and just get on with it, for all I know she could be amazing, but it still doesn’t sit right with me that my child’s teacher hasn’t even been to university. I wanted to see what other teachers thought about this sort of thing, and I think it’s generally accepted.

It’s not generally accepted and if she really doesn’t have the appropriate qualifications (not even Maths/English GCSE?) then who knows the standard of what is being taught.

HLTAs should not be in charge of their own class, they should be, if teaching, working under the supervision of a qualified teacher who has responsibility for the class.

Ask the school why your child does not have a qualified teacher and what measures are being implemented to monitor and supervise the work of this unqualified teacher.

I have done, still waiting on a response. Thank you.

I wouldn't be happy with this either. I have been an HLTA in a primary school for a few years and have just gained QTS. Have worked incredibly hard, achieved and learnt so much in the last year, yet still feel apprehensive about having my own class.
HLTAs are not supposed to teach whole classes as their only role. It is a status to show that you are a good TA and are capable of more responsibility. I did plan and teach my degree subject as an HLTA which felt appropriate.
I think this is sadly undermining to both teachers and HLTAs. She is earning terrible money for a big job too. Can't help feeling this is a cheap option and a result of lack of decent funding for schools.

@SeasonFinale

It is y3 though. Very basic level of work and she has years of experience as a TA. Can't get too worried with this set of circumstances. I actually would think less of your best friend if she is speaking about her SIL in such a derogatory manner.

Very basic standard of work? Have you seen the NC for Year 3? It’s very challenging for even an experienced teacher and it’s a big step up from KS1. They will have missed a whole term of Year 2 also so she’ll need to juggle two sets of expectations. Year 3 is hard for some children and you need an experienced teacher in there to manage it properly. If she doesn’t have a GCSE in English she’ll struggle with even the huge amount of SPAG that needs to be covered. Subordinate clauses? Adverbial phrases? Jog on with your ‘very basic’. It might have been once. It isn’t now.

She does not have GCSE’s I know this personal info from my friend. I haven’t mentioned that to the school as I sound like I’m just gossiping. Anyway the school replied, no she is not a QT and her qualifications are that of a HLTA and the head assured me she was super experienced. The exact reply I was expecting as I know my friend is telling the truth.

I’m not happy about it at all but I’ve accepted it. It is an academy so there’s nothing I can do. I accept that it is unusual and I presume all the other teachers are qualified.

She is a brown noser, so I’ve heard.

Meow.

I was employed as an unqualified teacher whilst I studied for my PGCE (School Direct salaried scheme) but not left alone with the class until I was confident and only expected to teach for any length of time from spring. It’s unusual to be given a class to yourself at the start but it does happen. I agree that it devalues the profession and the work that goes in to gaining QTS. It’s just a cost-saving exercise (you earn a pittance before you qualify, although potentially not at an academy).