ATL

ATL comment on new Fast track into teaching and Headship for the best scheme

Commenting on the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) announcement on the new Fast track into teaching and Headship for the best scheme, Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said:

"Once again the DCSF has been inconsistent with their policy-making, it seems to be a 'hit and miss' approach, where on the one hand they believe teaching should be an all-Masters profession, and on the other you have a scheme such as this where you can become a teacher within six months.

"ATL believes that teachers benefit from being highly trained, and evidence from OFSTED and others show that programmes similar to this, such as Teach First, are limited in their success – some individuals do well, but only when the structure of support in their school is good, others really struggle."

Notes to editors:

1. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
2. ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first-rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
3. ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). The union is a member of the social partnership - working with the UK government, employers and other unions on education issues. ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.