A new, fairer system for bringing best international teachers to
England will be launched alongside support to help overseas
teachers integrate into teaching.
The best teachers from across the world will be supported to work
in schools in England from 2023, as part of the government’s
commitment to ensure every pupil is taught by an
excellent teacher.
International teachers wanting to teach in English schools will
need to meet a new set of consistent standards, rather than their
eligibility being dictated by the country they qualified in. The
move will open up opportunities to teachers right across the
world and make it fairer and easier for the world’s best teachers
to work in classrooms in England.
Under plans announced today (Friday 10 June), new, high standards
will be introduced, which include the need to have completed
teacher training of at least the same academic standard as that
in England and a requirement to demonstrate a proficient level of
English.
The move is part of the Government’s continuing drive to make
sure there is an excellent teacher in every classroom, sitting
alongside the commitment to deliver 500,000 high quality training
opportunities by 2024 to level up and ultimately ensure that
where a child lives has no bearing on the opportunity available
to them or the quality of their education.
Schools Minister said:
I want this country to be the most attractive place in the world
to be a teacher – that means world class training, high standards
and crucially, opportunity.
It’s our fantastic teachers that create the next generation of
engineers, mathematicians, artists, linguists and doctors and the
expertise we draw upon shouldn’t be limited by geographical
location.
That’s why our plans to make it simpler for high quality teachers
from all over the world to teach in our classrooms are so
important, and why I am excited to welcome the best international
teachers to our schools, ultimately to make sure each and every
young person has the education and opportunities they deserve.
Teachers arriving in England from overseas who are early on in
their career will get the same induction period as teachers in
England, such as reduced timetables and access to a mentor and
development. This support will help them as they first take up a
teaching post and ensure every teacher is of the high standard
required, as part of the Government’s Early Career Framework.
The current system only recognises teachers from a list of 39
designated countries, including across Europe, the United States
and Australia. Teachers from other countries need to re-train, or
otherwise find work as an unqualified teacher and then go through
paid assessment of their teaching practice.
The 39 countries where qualified teachers are currently eligible
for QTS are: countries in the EEA, Switzerland, the US, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Gibraltar, Northern Ireland, Scotland and
Wales.
More detail, including the full set of standards international
teachers will need to meet, will be live on GOV.UK on Friday 10
June.
