Six months’ training may not be enough to become a teacher, but it can be argued that some NQTs are not ready or able to teach after a year of training. The issue is not the length of time, but the quality of the training, as well as the knowledge and commitment the trainees have.

The Government’s assumption that anybody can teach is predicated on a detrimental belief that all human beings are disposable instruments, and that teaching is just about passing on specific subject content. Those who believe that also believe that some people are better instruments than others, so the “high fliers” deserve better treatment. It is this unfairness, which creates two classes of teacher, that deserves our resentment.

Dr Cristina Devecchi, Research assistant, HANDS project, London South Bank University.