Union Criticises Six Month Teacher Training

A scheme that would allow people to qualify as teachers in England has been condemned by the National Union of Teachers (NUT).

New government plans could see "outstanding recruits" from professional fields only training in half the time usually needed to qualify as a teacher.

However, acting general secretary of the NUT, Christine Blower, said six months' training was "very, very far from being enough".

Schools Minister Jim McKnight is to announce the proposals which are aimed at attracting more outstanding people to a new career in teaching.

Mr Knight said: "There are thousands of highly talented individuals in this country who are considering their next move, who want to do something challenging, rewarding, that is highly respected and where good people have great prospects.

"My message to them is to see what they can offer teaching and what teaching can offer them."

Mr Knight said teaching had "never been a more attractive career choice" and the latest moves would attract even more highly skilled people into the profession.

"I want to see the best possible people teaching in classrooms and running our schools," he said. "Teaching is a career for talented people and these programmes will build on the excellence already in our workforce."

The general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), Mary Bousted, said: "We have fought very hard to make this a graduate profession and I have grave doubts that you can accelerate teacher training like this."

She added: "Once again the DCSF has been inconsistent with their policy-making. It seems to be a 'hit and miss' approach, where on the one hand they believe teaching should be an all-Masters profession, and on the other you have a scheme such as this where you can become a teacher within six months.

"ATL believes that teachers benefit from being highly trained, and evidence from Ofsted and others show that programmes similar to this, such as Teach First, are limited in their success - some individuals do well, but only when the structure of support in their school is good, while others really struggle."

The proposals are part of the government's wide ranging Working Together public services reform paper, as well as comparing police and council performance.

(JM/BMcC)