Birmingham University Labour Students

As a recent school finisher with two teachers for parents I would like to take issue with recently announced Conservative plans to limit PGCE funding to those with a second class degree or higher on two particular points:

1. Academic achievement is no indication of charisma, sensitivity or ability to engage with young people.

2. Teachers are hugely important as role models, and as such must have a certain amount in common with students or at least an understanding of pupils’ different backgrounds. As people from predominantly privileged and caucasian backgrounds are more likely than others to receive an upper second or first from a Russell Group university, make teaching a “prestigious” occupation by limiting funding will not encourage mutual understanding between teachers and pupils. Male teachers particularly may serve as father figures in areas with few male role models, and can be treated as confidants by pupils.

Borderline students who are uncertain of their desire to enter further education, observing a dichotomy between unemployed, low achieving adults in the community, and high achieving Russell Group graduates at school, may fail to identify with either, wishing to become employable but uncertain as to how this is to be done without getting  three As at A level, as the evident message will be: “go to one of the top 20 universities, or don’t bother at all”.

3. Another way to increase the prestige of teaching without limiting applicants to a certain demographic is to raise wages and increase schools funding, as Labour have already done and the Conservatives are threatening to reverse.

Suzy, BULS Guild Council Rep