This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jun/07/former-soldiers-qualify-teachers-government
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Former soldiers to qualify as teachers in two years under government scheme | Former soldiers to qualify as teachers in two years under government scheme |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Former soldiers will be able to qualify as teachers in two years under a new government scheme. | Former soldiers will be able to qualify as teachers in two years under a new government scheme. |
| From next year, ex-service personnel who do not have a degree, but have experience or qualifications as instructors, coaches or mentors, will be able to sign up to a programme that will put them in the classroom in around half the time it usually takes to become a teacher. | From next year, ex-service personnel who do not have a degree, but have experience or qualifications as instructors, coaches or mentors, will be able to sign up to a programme that will put them in the classroom in around half the time it usually takes to become a teacher. |
| The move is part of a bid by ministers to encourage members of the army, Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy to consider teaching as a career. | The move is part of a bid by ministers to encourage members of the army, Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy to consider teaching as a career. |
| The Department for Education (DfE) also said that former military personnel who already had a degree would be handed bursaries and be able to enrol on teacher training courses with extra bespoke training. | The Department for Education (DfE) also said that former military personnel who already had a degree would be handed bursaries and be able to enrol on teacher training courses with extra bespoke training. |
| The education minister David Laws said the schemes would help ex-servicemen and women to make the move into the classroom. | The education minister David Laws said the schemes would help ex-servicemen and women to make the move into the classroom. |
| But a headteachers' leader raised concerns that the programmes would not provide the right preparation and support for teaching, and warned against creating a "military ethos" in schools. | But a headteachers' leader raised concerns that the programmes would not provide the right preparation and support for teaching, and warned against creating a "military ethos" in schools. |
| The two schemes are part of the government's Troops to Teachers programme. | The two schemes are part of the government's Troops to Teachers programme. |
| To become a teacher, a trainee would usually complete a degree, which often takes three years, and then start a one-year teacher training course to gain qualified teacher status (QTS), a four-year process in total. | |
| Under the government's programme, those leaving the armed forces who do not have a degree but do have relevant experience or qualifications can sign up for a two-year, school-based salaried training scheme. | Under the government's programme, those leaving the armed forces who do not have a degree but do have relevant experience or qualifications can sign up for a two-year, school-based salaried training scheme. |
| Those who are accepted on to the course will spend four days a week in the classroom and one day at university, gaining a degree and QTS when they graduate, the DfE said. | Those who are accepted on to the course will spend four days a week in the classroom and one day at university, gaining a degree and QTS when they graduate, the DfE said. |
| Laws said: "Many members of our inspiring armed forces possess the skills and expertise relevant and transferable to the classroom – leadership, discipline, motivation and teamwork. Every child can benefit from having these values instilled in them. | Laws said: "Many members of our inspiring armed forces possess the skills and expertise relevant and transferable to the classroom – leadership, discipline, motivation and teamwork. Every child can benefit from having these values instilled in them. |
| "We want to capture the ethos and talents of those leaving the armed forces, and bring this experience into teaching. We know that our highly skilled servicemen and women can inspire young people and help raise educational attainment. | "We want to capture the ethos and talents of those leaving the armed forces, and bring this experience into teaching. We know that our highly skilled servicemen and women can inspire young people and help raise educational attainment. |
| "Troops to Teachers will make it easier for those who have already contributed so much to our country to continue their brilliant work – this time in the classroom." | "Troops to Teachers will make it easier for those who have already contributed so much to our country to continue their brilliant work – this time in the classroom." |
| Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "There is no doubt that some ex-military personnel have the potential to make excellent teachers, but they need the right preparation and support. From what we've seen so far, this programme lacks both. | Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "There is no doubt that some ex-military personnel have the potential to make excellent teachers, but they need the right preparation and support. From what we've seen so far, this programme lacks both. |
| "For those without a degree, one day a week at university over a two-year course is not enough. | "For those without a degree, one day a week at university over a two-year course is not enough. |
| "Classroom experience is important but there is a whole body of knowledge about learning, brain development, behaviour, not to mention specific subject content, that they will need. | "Classroom experience is important but there is a whole body of knowledge about learning, brain development, behaviour, not to mention specific subject content, that they will need. |
| "A 50/50 split of practical to theoretical study is more realistic. For some subjects the top-up may be relatively small but for other subjects, like maths, English and science, it could be substantial." | "A 50/50 split of practical to theoretical study is more realistic. For some subjects the top-up may be relatively small but for other subjects, like maths, English and science, it could be substantial." |
| He added: "Ex-service personnel can bring lots of relevant experience to the classroom, but a military ethos belongs in the military. Schools need a learning ethos." | He added: "Ex-service personnel can bring lots of relevant experience to the classroom, but a military ethos belongs in the military. Schools need a learning ethos." |