We’re constantly hearing about how much pressure the education system is under. Numbers are booming, teachers are quitting the profession in droves and standards are slipping. New ideas like getting businesses involved in running schools has transformed education in some areas. One of the most controversial innovations is allowing schools to employ someone as an unqualified teacher. But what is this and how can you get a job?
Unqualified Teacher – A Definition
In 2012, the law was changed to give schools in England and Wales more flexibility over recruitment. The idea behind the change was to encourage experts in business into schools to share their knowledge. Before 2013, only people with a teaching degree qualification could teach in schools. Now, Head teachers have the freedom to look at other aspects of someone’s background. For example, someone who has worked for 20 years as a chef could be employed to teach Home Economics, without any academic qualifications. Salaries for unqualified teachers vary. Many people who are interested in work as an unqualified teacher are semi-retired, working to supplement a pension. Others work for the love of the subject rather than the money.
Should parents be concerned?
Parents are naturally concerned about changes in the education system. Allowing different types of people to teach is probably a good thing. Overall, the numbers of unqualified teachers working in England and Wales is small. There are around 450,000 qualified teachers in schools. There are only around 17,000 unqualified teachers, less than 4% of the total. Teachers in the private sector have never needed to go through the same qualification routes as public sector teachers. So parents shouldn’t necessarily be concerned by the system on the whole, but might want to ask questions about the background of anyone teaching their kids.
Working as an unqualified teacher
Job adverts for teaching jobs are usually fairly general. Adverts are unlikely to ask specifically for qualified or unqualified teachers, unless it’s in a very specific field of expertise. Only schools which are Academies, or private schools, will accept unqualified teachers. It’s not worth applying for a teaching vacancy in other types of school as you are unlikely to get to interview stage.
Unqualified teachers will usually have the same responsibilities as other types of teachers in terms of delivering the curriculum, discipline and monitoring progress of students. Applicants will need to go through a DBS checking process at an enhanced level. Applying for a DBS check is essential for all people working with children or vulnerable adults. You won’t be allowed to start work in charge of a class without a thorough check of your criminal record.
Formalising Status with a PGCE
If you start working as a teacher and find out you’re enjoying it, then there are several options. If you have a university degree already, in any subject, you can take a post graduate certificate in education (PGCE). This is usually a one year, full time course but you can also study part time over a couple of years and combine study with work.