§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence she has that two A-levels are a necessary qualification for a good teacher, in the light of the suggestion to that effect in the recent Green Paper.
565W
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIt has been the aim of successive Governments to raise the standard of entry to the teaching profession as soon as practicable by requiring all intending teachers to follow a degree-level course. It is central to the achievement of this objective that the normal qualification for entry to teacher education courses should be the same as for other degree courses, namely two A-level passes or the equivalent. A growing proportion of entrants to initial teacher training possess these qualifications. As with other degree courses, it will be possible for older candidates who do not satisfy the normal entry requirements to be admitted at the discretion of the degree-awarding body.