Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:03 pm on 20 September 2016.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. It’s encouraging to hear in your statement that you believe it’s important to look at alternative routes into teaching. Many gifted and talented people from many different walks of life who could inspire children and support their fellow teachers using their different work experience are discouraged from entering the profession by the requirement for formal qualification via a postgraduate certificate in education. I personally know of a number of people who would love to go into teaching, but they can’t afford to go through the PGCE—they’ve got bills, they’ve got mortgages to pay. I’m not saying that teachers shouldn’t be qualified, but there has to be an alternative route into teaching and into qualification. So, what alternative routes have you been looking at?