Teaching profession ‘needs radical change’
By David Williams
9 February 2010
MPs have called for a radical overhaul of the teaching profession, recommending more ongoing training for qualified teachers and higher minimum standards for those entering the profession.
A report published today by the Commons children, schools and families select committee sets out a range of measures to recruit and retain the best possible candidates.
Chair Barry Sheerman said a ‘chartered teacher framework’ should be put in place to manage career progression. ‘It is not enough to make-do-and-mend existing policies – radical changes must take place,’ he said. ‘Teaching must be seen as an attractive career option for high-achieving individuals.’
Training of teachers proposes that funding be cut off for undergraduate secondary teaching degrees whose entry requirements are too low.
It recommends that pay levels be linked to a non-compulsory masters degree in teaching and learning, and suggests new recruits be required to have a 2:2 undergraduate degree, potentially rising in future to a 2:1 or first class degree.
The MPs call for a licence to practise, coupled with an entitlement to professional development, the funding for which should be ring-fenced within school budgets.
The report says it should become easier for schools to ‘weed out’ poor performers, while stressing the need to support those leaving training to take up their first job.
Formal mentoring for trainees, and close supervision of recently qualified ‘novice’ teachers, could help support newcomers, the committee says.
But that recommendation was attacked by the National Union of Teachers. It says an ‘induction year’ already exists and new recruits should not be labelled as ‘novices’.
‘There is no evidence that young and new teachers are anything other than of extremely high calibre,’ said general secretary Christine Blower.
She also attacked the 'licence to teach' recommendation, arguing ‘teachers are members of the most accountable profession in England’.
The report was broadly welcomed as ‘laudable’ by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers union.
However, general secretary Mary Bousted said that concentrating on minimum qualifications neglected the valuable skills and knowledge offered by people changing careers to enter the teaching profession.
