So, the world and his wife have discovered that NQTs cannot get jobs in schools. This situation has been with us for the past two years at least. Headteachers would rather employ support staff such as HLTAs and cover supervisors to teach our children because they are much cheaper and easier to manipulate than NQTs. The fact is that, this autumn term, the children in our schools are more likely to be taught by a non-teacher than an NQT or supply teacher. Many NQTs will get jobs as supply teachers initially, but local newspapers are full of adverts for support staff, and heads are only too happy to use these willing folk as surrogate teachers to save on their staffing budgets.

Tony Callaghan, Teachers in Classrooms, Alpington, Norfolk.