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State school teacher quality 'needs to be boosted'

Posted on 20th November 2008

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The government needs to take action to ensure that the quality of teaching in the state sector lives up to the standards set by independent schools, it has been argued.

David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, argued in the Yorkshire Post that more high-quality graduates should be attracted to working in schools.

He noted that while in some areas of the private sector only one in ten applicants are accepted onto graduate programmes, this rises to 70 per cent in many subjects for state schools.

As a result, he argued: "Legitimate questions can be asked about the calibre of some teachers entering the profession."

He suggested that offering "decent pay" and reducing government interference could go some way towards encouraging more top graduates to become teachers.

The Training and Development Agency for Schools recently reported a 34 per cent increase in online enquiries about becoming a teacher since the credit crunch began.