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From 1st September 2008 the law will change so that schools can only appoint teachers, including NQTs, who hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
QTS is awarded by the General Teaching Council for England (GCTE), and can only be awarded to someone who has demonstrated that they meet all the professional standards for QTS, one of which requires the passing of the professional skills tests in numeracy, literacy, and information and (ICT).
Hitherto, trainee teachers who have completed their training courses but have not passed one or more of the skills tests have been able to work as unqualified teachers for up to a maximum of five years. The change in the law removes this five year period. 31st August 2008 will be the last date that recently trained teachers who are currently working without having passed their skills tests, and therefore without QTS, can be lawfully employed as teachers.
There will no longer be a category of 'unqualified teacher who has yet to pass their skills tests'. Instructors and support staff do not have to pass the tests because they do not have the same range of responsibilities and do not have to meet the standards that qualified teachers do.
Who Does the Law Allow to Teach?
From 1st September 2008 the following people can do 'specified work' (the way that the law describes usual teaching activity) in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools in England:
• Teachers with QTS;
• Trainee teachers on mainstream or employment based routes to
QTS;
• Overseas Trained Teachers who have worked here for less than
four years since the first date they did so;
• Instructors;
• Support staff (subject to their having the necessary skills and
being supervised and directed by a qualified teacher).
The guidance reminds employers that all those working with children and young people must have suitable CRB checks.
Teachers Qualifying in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the European Economic Area (EEA)
Anyone who has qualified as a teacher in the UK or countries in the EEA can request the GTCE to recognise their qualifications and award them QTS without further training.
Overseas Trained Teachers
Overseas trained teachers are allowed to work as unqualified teachers for a maximum of four years without the need to gain QTS. This four-year period begins on the first day that a teacher takes up their post in a maintained school or non-maintained special school and expires four calendar years later. The guidance says that although OTTs may be qualified in their own countries, employers will need to satisfy themselves that their competence and experience meets the needs of their school. |