It was interesting that your article (“I can teach, but the Welsh government won’t let me”, 10 August) about differences between England and Wales on QTS requirements for overseas teachers refers also to the removal of QTS as a prerequisite for a job in England’s new academy schools.
Wales is criticised by an Australian teacher for choosing not to follow England’s lead in removing the QTS requirement on teachers coming in from certain countries. However, in the context of the Westminster government’s general trend towards lowering the bar, Welsh caution is perfectly understandable.
QTS has long been accepted by everyone as the standard required to teach in schools. The Welsh government continues to see it that way; the government in London clearly no longer does.
While sympathising with the Australian teacher in your article - although he could probably have secured QTS within a term through the Graduate Teacher Programme, if he had tried - I don’t think his case justifies Wales joining the English charge towards a free-entry profession.
Gary Brace, Chief executive, General Teaching Council for Wales.