Oral Answers to Questions

Kelvin Hopkins Excerpts

Monday 9th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Theresa Pearce. Not here.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

5. What his policy is on the use of unqualified teachers in schools.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove)]

Head teachers are best placed to make staffing judgments in individual schools.

[Kelvin Hopkins]

Under Government changes, more than half of all secondary schools can now employ unqualified teachers on a permanent basis, yet the Tory manifesto of 2010 stated:

“The single most important thing for a good education is for every child to have access to a good teacher. We will take steps to enhance the status of the teaching profession”.

Is it not now clear that the Government are going in precisely the opposite direction?

[Michael Gove]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to point out that the proportion of postgraduate trainees in every subject, including non-target subjects, who have a 2:1 or higher degree, or a comparable overseas degree, has risen in each of the last three years. Teachers in our state schools are better qualified than ever.