Ministers have said that qualified teachers from any country in the world will be able to work in schools in England if they have equivalent credentials and at least one year of classroom experience.
The change, which will take effect next year, will open up opportunities for teachers from countries outside the 39 where teaching qualifications are currently recognized, including across Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. Until now, teachers in other countries had to pay for retraining before they could teach in English schools.
School Minister Robin Walker said: “The experience we support should not be limited by geographical location” and that he wanted England to be “the most attractive place in the world to be a teacher, that means world class “. training, high standards and, above all, opportunity “.
Early career teachers will receive the same introductory period as teachers in England, including part-time and access to a mentor and development. They must have completed teacher training at the same academic level as in England, including a university degree, and must demonstrate proficiency in English.
Candidates will be able to apply for qualified teacher status and, if the government considers that their qualifications match those of teachers in the UK, they can apply for work in schools, which will sponsor their qualified worker visa if the your request is successful.
Principals said the measure was a sign of “the very severe shortage of teachers in schools and universities.”
Julie McCulloch, policy director for the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the move, but added: the profession at the beginning of his career “.
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He said this has left schools struggling to fill vacancies and that this “especially affects those facing the biggest challenges”.
“The problem is that schools and colleges are underfunded by the government, subject to an overly harsh accountability regime, and the government has presided over a long period of wage austerity that has seen the real value of wages erode for many years. years, “he said. dit.
He called for “a more strategic approach supported by more investment,” as teaching is a “fantastic job, but it’s not uncommon that we’re struggling to recruit and retain staff when it’s spent and poorly paid.”