As a profession, we should be careful not to dismiss the “licence to teach” idea out of hand. Doctors, for example, are required to gain a certain number of continuing professional development (CPD) points per year to keep their registration. Not many people would be happy with a GP who continued to practise medicine the way they were taught 40 years ago. So why shouldn’t teachers be required to keep up to date?

The obligations in a profession that links CPD points with a licence work two ways: the employee is obliged to undertake professional development and the employer is obliged to ensure relevant courses are available. This could work to the benefit of both pupils and teachers.

While the idea of teaching becoming a masters-level profession is welcome, there is a limit to the number of masters degrees any teacher needs. Isn’t it time to develop a model for CPD points in education instead?

Marilyn Leask, Professor of education, Brunel University, West London.