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Teachers react to tougher entry tests for trainees | Teachers react to tougher entry tests for trainees |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The government says entry tests for people wanting to become teachers will be more rigorous to raise the quality and standing of the profession. | The government says entry tests for people wanting to become teachers will be more rigorous to raise the quality and standing of the profession. |
Teacher trainees in England face tougher tests in English, mathematics and reasoning from next September. | Teacher trainees in England face tougher tests in English, mathematics and reasoning from next September. |
Here teachers share their views on the planned changes. | Here teachers share their views on the planned changes. |
Paul Hanson, head of | Paul Hanson, head of English, Sellindge, Kent |
As head of English at a very large secondary school in Kent, I welcome the desire to improve the core standards in literacy and numeracy of teachers. | As head of English at a very large secondary school in Kent, I welcome the desire to improve the core standards in literacy and numeracy of teachers. |
Very often, students pick up bad practice from primary school and from non-specialist colleagues and this can undermine the efforts of those charged with developing students' skills in these areas. | Very often, students pick up bad practice from primary school and from non-specialist colleagues and this can undermine the efforts of those charged with developing students' skills in these areas. |
However, by raising the bar at entry without improving pay and conditions, the government has woefully failed to understand how to encourage highly-skilled graduates into the profession. | However, by raising the bar at entry without improving pay and conditions, the government has woefully failed to understand how to encourage highly-skilled graduates into the profession. |
Moreover, whilst these core skills are important, they are nowhere near as important as an individual's ability to engage and enthuse young people. | Moreover, whilst these core skills are important, they are nowhere near as important as an individual's ability to engage and enthuse young people. |
Frankly, it doesn't matter what subject knowledge expertise you have if the students are not listening to you. | Frankly, it doesn't matter what subject knowledge expertise you have if the students are not listening to you. |
Gwyn ap Harri, teacher in Doncaster | Gwyn ap Harri, teacher in Doncaster |
I'm sick of [Education Secretary] Michael Gove misusing the term rigour. I did the graduate teacher programme, and I found the entry exams ridiculously easy. | I'm sick of [Education Secretary] Michael Gove misusing the term rigour. I did the graduate teacher programme, and I found the entry exams ridiculously easy. |
Yes, they should make them harder, but this doesn't make the selection process more rigorous. | Yes, they should make them harder, but this doesn't make the selection process more rigorous. |
What I found rigorous was the Qualified Teacher Status tests. | What I found rigorous was the Qualified Teacher Status tests. |
I had four massive folders full of cross-referenced evidence from observations and work I had done. Then I had to be observed and questioned a final time before being proudly awarded the QTS qualification. | I had four massive folders full of cross-referenced evidence from observations and work I had done. Then I had to be observed and questioned a final time before being proudly awarded the QTS qualification. |
I became a mentor for a Graduate Teacher Programme candidate and failed him because he plainly wasn't good enough - even though he had passed his exams. | I became a mentor for a Graduate Teacher Programme candidate and failed him because he plainly wasn't good enough - even though he had passed his exams. |
The government allows free schools and academies to employ teachers without the QTS qualification, so how can they call the process rigorous? | The government allows free schools and academies to employ teachers without the QTS qualification, so how can they call the process rigorous? |
Marc Neesam, teacher in London | Marc Neesam, teacher in London |
As a teacher now in my fourth year I believe this policy should be welcomed. There needs to be a stricter level of standards expected of our teachers. | As a teacher now in my fourth year I believe this policy should be welcomed. There needs to be a stricter level of standards expected of our teachers. |
There needs to be a line drawn below which people are told they are not qualified enough to teach. This will save trouble in the long term. | There needs to be a line drawn below which people are told they are not qualified enough to teach. This will save trouble in the long term. |
If people want to teach and they have trouble with the tests, then they should either study to pass or they accept it isn't the career path for them. | If people want to teach and they have trouble with the tests, then they should either study to pass or they accept it isn't the career path for them. |
Restricting the test to only two areas makes sense as it will stop student teachers 'learning the test' and scraping a pass. | Restricting the test to only two areas makes sense as it will stop student teachers 'learning the test' and scraping a pass. |
Those who oppose this policy do not want to accept that as professionals in a front-line job dealing with children's education there is an expected academic standard before entering training. | Those who oppose this policy do not want to accept that as professionals in a front-line job dealing with children's education there is an expected academic standard before entering training. |
Matthew Maw, | Matthew Maw, teacher in Bristol |
This is unbelievable. I trained as a teacher last year and I am now in my first post. I sat the English and maths tests. | This is unbelievable. I trained as a teacher last year and I am now in my first post. I sat the English and maths tests. |
Not only must all teachers have obtained a minimum C grade in both subjects at GCSE in order to obtain the prerequisite undergraduate degree, but we must also pass the numeracy test into which you are not allowed to take a calculator. | Not only must all teachers have obtained a minimum C grade in both subjects at GCSE in order to obtain the prerequisite undergraduate degree, but we must also pass the numeracy test into which you are not allowed to take a calculator. |
As a law graduate with a maths A-level, I can confirm the questions are fairly challenging, particularly as they involve mental arithmetic against the clock. | As a law graduate with a maths A-level, I can confirm the questions are fairly challenging, particularly as they involve mental arithmetic against the clock. |
Why should a drama or history teacher need to prove themselves at an even higher level in a subject which they will not be teaching? | Why should a drama or history teacher need to prove themselves at an even higher level in a subject which they will not be teaching? |
This will do nothing but exclude great artists, wordsmiths, athletes and others from the profession. I don't want mathematicians teaching history, I want historians! | This will do nothing but exclude great artists, wordsmiths, athletes and others from the profession. I don't want mathematicians teaching history, I want historians! |
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