Commenting as Education Secretary emails headteachers saying
the government will will try to encourage retired teachers to
consider returning to help with Covid-19 staff shortages and keep
schools open, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders'
union NAHT, said:
“There is no doubt that there has been a shortage of supply staff
available in recent months. This has placed an added pressure on
schools and it looks like things are about to get worse rather
than better.
“Of course, given the current situation, it would be helpful if
there were more suitably qualified teachers available with recent
relevant experience and with the appropriate safeguarding checks.
“However, this proposal does raise a whole host of important
questions that will need answering urgently. Ultimately, it must
remain the case that school leaders decide who has the
appropriate expertise and qualifications to teach classes in
their schools. Having a greater number of supply teachers to call
upon could be helpful, but it will not take away from the very
challenging circumstances schools could find themselves operating
under.
“We also need to be very clear that if things get to this stage,
it will mean that education will look very different in January
and this is sending a clear signal that we could be talking about
a very different type of provision at the start of next year.
That has huge implications for things like exams, assessment and
inspection.”
