Press Release: UCET calls for a reinvigoration of teacher professionalism

Summary

The Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) is urging all political parties fighting the General Election to commit to boosting the quality, status and professionalism of teachers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 30 October 2019

UCET calls for a reinvigoration of teacher professionalism

The Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) is urging all political parties fighting the General Election to commit to boosting the quality, status and professionalism of teachers. To this end it is calling for:

• A re-introduction of the requirement that all teachers in publicly funded schools and further education colleges have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Learners have the right to be taught by properly qualified professionals.
• A commitment to teaching becoming an all Master’s qualified profession, which would mark the biggest step change in quality and status since it became an all graduate profession in the 1970s.
• Full funding for the Early Career Framework, and a leading role in the delivery of the ECF for accredited ITE providers, which will ensure a smooth, tailored and quality assured transition from initial teacher education.
• An entitlement for all teachers to have access to fully funded continuing professional development, including that delivered at master’s level.
• An expectation that all schools participate in teacher education.
• Financial support for teachers to become members of professional bodies, including the Chartered College and subject associations.

UCET’s Executive Director James Noble-Rogers said:

“It is time the political parties reaffirmed and strengthened their commitment to teacher professionalism. It is unacceptable that children in schools and students in colleges of further education can be taught by unqualified and untrained teachers. This has to change. It is also essential that all new teachers receive structured early professional development that builds on and complements their initial training. This will make them even better teachers and help to retain them in the profession. Some progress has been made on this. More needs to be done”.

END

Notes to editors

For further enquiries, contact James Noble Rogers on: 07801 851 307

Website: www.ucet.ac.uk

UCET is an independent, professional organisation funded solely by its member institutions, i.e. universities and university-sector colleges in the UK involved in teacher education, all of which are represented on its Governing Council and its Standing Committees.