Rise in unqualified teachers

There has been an increase in the number of unqualified foreign teachers leading classes in UK schools, in news that may be of interest to those seeking a teaching vacancy.

Figures given to the Conservative Party reveal that there were 16,710 teachers in English state schools without a teaching qualification in 2007, while 10,970 of these trained abroad.

This represents a sharp increase over the past ten years, when there were just 2,940 educators without qualified teacher status (QTS) in England's schools.

Michael Gove, the Conservative Party's schools spokesman, claimed that the figures were the result of UK-trained teachers leaving the country.

However, the Department for Children, Schools and Families maintained that most of these teachers were qualified in their home country.

"We are clear that schools should only employ teachers from overseas if they can demonstrate they have the skills, experience and qualifications relevant to the post," a spokesman concluded.

According to Training and Development Agency for Schools, all teachers in English schools must receive QTS accreditation, although those who qualified overseas can work for up to four years without this.