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Teachers' unions demand qualified status for staff Teachers' unions demand qualified status for staff
(about 5 hours later)
Teachers' unions are demanding that schools in England should only employ fully-qualified teachers.Teachers' unions are demanding that schools in England should only employ fully-qualified teachers.
The NASUWT, meeting for its conference in Birmingham, will warn that allowing unqualified teachers in the classroom is an "attack on professional status".The NASUWT, meeting for its conference in Birmingham, will warn that allowing unqualified teachers in the classroom is an "attack on professional status".
A survey among the union's members found that 53% had worked alongside unqualified teachers.A survey among the union's members found that 53% had worked alongside unqualified teachers.
But a Department for Education spokeswoman said: "It is entirely up to head teachers who they employ."But a Department for Education spokeswoman said: "It is entirely up to head teachers who they employ."
The government says state schools should have the same flexibility as independent schools to bring "great linguists, computer scientists, engineers and other specialists into the classroom", but the teachers' unions have attacked this as a "cheap alternative" that threatens standards. The government said state schools should have the same flexibility as independent schools to bring "great linguists, computer scientists, engineers and other specialists into the classroom", but the teachers' unions have attacked this as a "cheap alternative" that threatens standards.
'Entitlement''Entitlement'
The NASUWT conference will hear claims that using unqualified staff is a cost-cutting measure.The NASUWT conference will hear claims that using unqualified staff is a cost-cutting measure.
A survey of more than 7,000 members found that almost two-thirds thought schools were increasingly likely to opt for hiring less expensive, unqualified staff.A survey of more than 7,000 members found that almost two-thirds thought schools were increasingly likely to opt for hiring less expensive, unqualified staff.
"Our children and young people have been robbed of a fundamental entitlement to be taught by qualified teachers," said the union's general secretary, Chris Keates."Our children and young people have been robbed of a fundamental entitlement to be taught by qualified teachers," said the union's general secretary, Chris Keates.
"The decision to remove qualified teacher status had nothing to do with raising standards and everything to do with reducing costs, depressing teachers' pay and feeding the free market.""The decision to remove qualified teacher status had nothing to do with raising standards and everything to do with reducing costs, depressing teachers' pay and feeding the free market."
The National Union of Teachers, meeting for its conference in Brighton, has commissioned a survey of parents which it says shows widespread support for requiring teachers to have teaching qualifications.The National Union of Teachers, meeting for its conference in Brighton, has commissioned a survey of parents which it says shows widespread support for requiring teachers to have teaching qualifications.
The survey found 82% of more than 1,500 parents believed schools should only employ qualified teachers.The survey found 82% of more than 1,500 parents believed schools should only employ qualified teachers.
'Getting right mix''Getting right mix'
The Labour party has promised to make qualified teacher status a requirement for permanent teaching staff - and the shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt is likely to deliver this message when he addresses the NASUWT conference on Saturday. The Labour Party has promised to make qualified teacher status a requirement for permanent teaching staff - and the shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt is likely to deliver this message when he addresses the NASUWT conference on Saturday.
But the Department for Education says there are now fewer teachers without qualified teacher status than there were in 2010 - and that heads should be trusted in "getting the mix right for the pupils they know best". But Robert Wilne, the head of the London Academy of Excellence, which is an A-level sixth form in east London, said he thought employing unqualified teachers was sometimes the best option.
He said: "Certainly head teachers like myself will want to make sure they bring into school the intellectual skills, perhaps the life-experience skills that will make a rich and diverse and valuable body of teachers to really enhance education of the young people.
"Now sometimes, that means you will want to bring somebody in who has got those fantastic skills, and experience, but they're not yet qualified."
The Department for Education said there were now fewer teachers without qualified teacher status than there were in 2010 - and that head teachers should be trusted in "getting the mix right for the pupils they know best".
"Overall the quality of the teaching workforce is rising. A record 96% of all teachers now have degrees or above, meaning there are an extra 43,000 teachers with degree level qualifications in classrooms since 2010," said an education department spokeswoman."Overall the quality of the teaching workforce is rising. A record 96% of all teachers now have degrees or above, meaning there are an extra 43,000 teachers with degree level qualifications in classrooms since 2010," said an education department spokeswoman.