Q I am a qualified special educational needs teacher who has taught children with moderate and severe learning difficulties within a comprehensive school unit. But Ihave no qualifications that relate to mainstream teaching. Last year, I was given GCSE religious studies to teach and it was a disaster. This year, I have to teach mainstream English, again having had no prior discussion of training in classroom management or how to teach literacy effectively. I think this is unfair on the children. I feel out of my depth and I’m worried that I may be leaving myself open to criticism for not being a competent teacher of a core subject - through no fault of my own. The school’s senior management doesn’t seem interested, and I feel that I am being used simply to fill a space on a timetable. What should I do?

A From your question, I can only assume that you trained during the days when it was possible to take a specialist course of initial training to become qualified to teach children with moderate and severe learning difficulties. But as you have discovered, you are regarded as a teacher first and a specialist second. It is this view that allows your school’s senior management to timetable you for classes in subjects you don’t necessarily feel qualified to teach.

In the first instance, this should be a matter for discussion with whoever is responsible for the timetable. The person may be unaware that your training did not prepare you for whole-class teaching. With the new focus on continuing professional development and its links to the school development plan, it seems reasonable to ask for some Inset linked to any new subject you may be required to teach. Such training is in the school’s interest as well as your own. But in the end, if you believe your career is being damaged by the school’s action, you will need to look for a new post. With your experience and qualifications, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a job working with pupils who need your expert skills.

John Howson is visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University and managing director of Education Data Surveys. Do you have a career question for him? Email: susan.young@newsint.co.uk