Press Release
Comment on apprenticeships for 16 year olds to train as TAs
4 August 2008
Commenting on reports of a scheme to train 16-year-olds as teaching assistants, Philip Parkin, General Secretary of Voice: the union for education professionals, said: "At 16-years-old the vast majority of young people are simply not mature enough to work in a classroom.
"In many ways their behaviour may not be a lot different from some of the children they will be teaching. Schools should not be a dumping ground for youngsters that can't get a job elsewhere; we need high standards of literacy and numeracy to drive up quality.
"There's also a question mark over whether schools will have the financial capacity to support the help with development these teenagers will need."
Spread your message to an audience that counts, with options available for our website, email bulletins and publications including The House Magazine.
