Monday, December 10, 2007

Why unqualified teachers are allowed to teach

According to the TDA, you need QTS to teach in a state-maintained school in England or Wales. This is not true. You can teach in a state school without QTS if they are willing to hire you. The only difference is that you will technically be an "unqualified teacher".

As an unqualified teacher, you will be paid on the unqualified payscale. Teachers on the unqualified payscale make a lot less than those on the regular payscale. For example, a teacher working in inner London earns 18552 - 27129 pounds a year on the unqualified scale (1). The same teacher would make 24168 - 33936 pounds a year on the qualified scale (2) for a difference of over 5000 pounds (or $10,000!).

If you are on the unqualified payscale, you will not earn enough money to support yourself. You will need to rely on additional sources of income such as a part-time job, or a significant other.

Thus, unqualified teachers are allowed to teach in state schools, but they earn a lot less money than qualified teachers with equivalent experience. The British system allows teachers without British qualifications (i.e. QTS) to teach in British schools for one reason. They can pay teachers without QTS a lot less money than teachers with QTS. Unqualified teachers are allowed to teach because they are a lot cheaper than qualified teachers. It is all about the money

1. http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/lifeasateacher/payandbenefits/unqualifiedteachers.aspx
2. http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/lifeasateacher/payandbenefits/salaryscales.aspx


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