MEDIA RELEASE

OPPOSITION THREATENS NOT TO FUND THIRD CLASS GRADUATES WHO WANT TO TEACH

David Cameron has said that if elected his government would refuse to support applicants for teaching who achieve only third class level in their first degree studies. This is in flat contradiction to clearly affirmed Conservative policy which, it is said, would seek to free the teaching profession from government interference.  

University colleagues who, in partnership with school teachers, have the important responsibility of selecting students for teacher training have to consider personal qualities alongside academic excellence. Both are needed in abundant measure in the classroom. Third class graduates receive careful scrutiny and although it is unlikely that a training place would be offered there could well be an acceptable personal history which explains the relatively poor performance. Equally, high level academic performance is by no means a guarantee of an ability to teach. 

There are dangers also that a constraining regulation as proposed by David Cameron might be applied only to the secondary sector and not to primary teaching. Conservatives will surely be reluctant to encourage two tier entry requirements.  

Teaching is already a noble profession and if a Conservative government wishes to realise more of our undoubted potential then David Cameron should demonstrate his faith in us and set us free from regulation not tie our hands even more tightly. The high calibre of teachers entering the profession is well documented and a testament to success in our selection for training. Please trust us. 

John Coe

Information Officer

MEDIA RELEASE

The Cambridge Primary Review

Take the politics out of primary education

This association representing heads, teachers, teaching assistants and parents with a first concern for children aged from birth to 13 strongly supports the Cambridge review and, in substantial measure, its recommendations for future action.

There are matters of detail we will wish to discuss in coming months and we commend the review for serious consideration in schools and by the major political parties.

We deplore the kneejerk responses by politicians at the time of the review’s launch.  The review is a major research based study which merits careful evaluation of the evidence and the recommendations so widely welcomed by all professional associations.  For the schools minister to call the review a backward step is absurd.  And so is the shadow minister’s misinterpretation of the review’s advocacy of the extension to age six of the foundation stage of education.  To claim that this would end school for four to six year olds is nonsense.

The Rose review takes us forward in the immediate future.  Now we must look further ahead and NAPE calls on politicians of all parties to come together to consider the Cambridge review and in a fair and open way to agree what is best for primary education.  The lives and learning of young children are too important to be dismissed by political prejudice.