Would you be happy if your child was taught Maths by someone with just 4 GCSEs?

[mrz]

www.jobsgopublic.com/jobs/unqualified-teacher-of-maths-x-2-n-a/from/nlfzn8ipznrms/2/of/110/opening_at/desc?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed

[tabitha8]

Nope. Is this normal??

[OddBoots]

It's not normal but there is a danger it will become so, I wouldn't be at all happy, it should never happen.

[KuppiKahvia]

Only if they also had an a level in maths and a maths related degree!!

I agree otherwise it shouldn't happen.

[tabitha8]

A danger it could become normal? Is that because it's an academy?

[Geckos48]

I would if one of their GCSES were in maths.

[AntiJamDidi]

That should most definitely NOT be happening. They don't even seem to be requiring anything more than a C in Maths GCSE . I sincerely hope they don't expect these people to teach GCSE level Maths (and that includes a lot of kids in year 8 and 9 as clever kids get to grade C content by the end of year 7)

[Ragusa]

Academies and free schools don't have to appoint teachers with Qualified Teacher Status. Actually maintained schools can also appoint non-QTS teachers if they call them 'instructors'...

Perhaps they are looking to appoint soneone to do small-group maths extension or catch-up.

[cakeandcustard]

That is really very frightning - I wouldn't send my kids there!

[AntiJamDidi]

But even if it's small group stuff they should still have higher than a grade C GCSE int he subject they are teaching. Especially if it's extension rather than catch-up. Just think of the confusion they could cause if they don't understand the content themselves (as can easily happen because you don't have to understand all grade C topics to get a grade C)

[MagratGarlik]

I know several qualified teachers who qualified in subjects they do not even vaguely have a degree in. OK, it is not as extreme as only 4 GCSEs, but as a parent I wouldn't be happy with that situation either, unless they had lots of experience or alternative qualifications which reflected ability in the subject.

[AntiJamDidi]

would you know it was happening though cake? There is no requirement to tell parents about the qualifications of teachers. You have no idea in an academy which teachers are qualified and which are unqualified (i believe most are qualified but you never know what cost-cutting measures schools are taking)

[Talkinpeace]

Would you be happy that your child's teachers is being paid only fractionally more than the National Minimum Wage?
www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/salary/unqualified-teacher-pay-ranges.aspx?sc_lang=en-GB

(the job advert quotes that pay scale)

[daphnedill]

I would take my child out of the school and home-ed if necessary, It's an absolute disgrace! I could accept my child being taught a subject other then maths by somebody without a qualification above grade C in maths, but not maths itself. 4 A*-Cs indicates a below average level of attainment.

[AntiJamDidi]

You might not know though daphne. It's all very well saying you wouldn't put up with it, but if you don't know it's happening you can't do anything about it. Even in ordinary state schools some pupils are being taught Maths by HLTAs in small groups, and there is no expectation that they will have more than a grade C in Maths. We have an HLTA teaching small groups in each yeargroup at my school and I don't think any of the parents have been informed that she isn't a qualified teacher, or that a GCSE is her highest Maths qualification (even she sometimes gets confused and tells people she has Alevel Maths when what she means is that she has an A at GCSE Maths).

[Kenlee]

ha ha why not we have native speaking tutors in hk who dont even have a GSCE or its equivalent ....

I personally wouldn't though.....

[MigGril]

I believe they have a real shortage of Maths teacher's. But this really shouldn't be happening. Maybe if they increased wages for teachers it wouldn't happen art all.

[titchy]

Whilst this is a great example of the danger of academies and free schools acting independently, I very much doubt the school/sponsor would actually appoint someone with just 4 GCSEs and no experience at all. The advert lists a degree in Maths as desirable, rather than essential, presumably so they can also appeal to applicants with numerate degrees, engineering or physics degrees for example. Or someone with a DipHE in Maths maybe.

Clearly they will weed out candidates who do not have the required subject level understanding.

[Lilymaid]

I was surprised to discover that DS could become a secondary maths teacher on the back of a BSc in Economics. (He has A Level Maths and has done a lot of stats/econometrics in his degree).
I was even more surprised (shocked) when he said he would only consider teaching if he didn't do well in his degree!

[Talkinpeace]

titchy
If you had a maths degree, would you work for £15k a year?

[curlew]

No. But it used to happen in private schools all the time. And that's what you get if you go with academies.

Bloody red tape, eh? Stifling enterprise by insisting our children are taught by people who know what they are talking about........It's political correctness gone mad..........

[Talkinpeace]

and there was me ROASTED on another thread for questioning the qualifications on some private school teachers

[DembaBa]

I dont know. If they had subsequently managed to get a related degree, maybe?

I have four GCSES. In my day (the 90s) I was able to get in to college to do A Levels with that. Then I got a degree, then a Masters, and I have taught (although certainly not Maths ).

[curlew]

But talking peace,that's posh people with no qualifications. That's quite, quite different..........

[notso]

It wouldn't surprise me. I have 2 SILs who are primary teachers. Neither of them can do simple maths without a calculator when working out restaurant bills etc. They both struggle to spell.
One of them also thinks baby food is made from different food to adult food, white chocolate is baby friendly but milk chocolate is not, and a 19 month old baby boy wouldn't suck a pink dummy because pink is a girls colour.

[titchy]

If i had a Maths degree would I work for £15 a year?

It would depend tbh. The role being advertised is a short term contract. If teaching was a career I was considering I might well apply to see if teaching was for me.

I think the salary is deflecting from the issue being discussed tbh. It's a national pay scale that's been around for donkeys years. You get decent increments guaranteed each year, plus cost of living (ish...) pay rises, pension scheme, term time only working, on paper at least. It's rather simplistic to compare it to someone working in Maccie D's. And good prospects for someone once they're qualified.