The problem:
- Some free schools or academies hire teachers who are not qualified and train them up. This would be banned under the Bill.
- The Government’s own impact assessment says this could affect around 700-1,250 potential entrants a year.
- There is a teacher shortage in the education system, so creating another barrier to entry at a time when the Government says it wants to recruit more teachers seems self-defeating.
NSN recommendation:
- The clause should be amended so that teachers either hold QTS or are working towards it within 4 years. This retains flexibility around recruitment and recognises that free schools and academies provide training to any unqualified teacher they recruit and often support that teacher to gain QTS.
- 4 years aligns with the time that internationally qualified teachers are allowed to practice in the English education system before requiring QTS.