Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their definition of (1) a teacher, (2) a school, and (3) a qualified teacher.

The definition of a teacher, school and qualified teacher is outlined in the relevant statistics that the department publishes. The methodology section of ‘School workforce in England’ publication outlines the following definitions in the context of the school workforce census. The full methodology section can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/school-workforce-in-england.

A teacher in school is defined as anyone who is employed by a school as a:

• Classroom teacher, including teachers on the unqualified, main and upper teacher pay ranges and the leading practitioner pay range.
• Other leadership teacher. For example, deputy and assistant headteachers and advisory teachers.
• Headteacher.

A school includes:

• Local authority-maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units.
• Academy schools: free schools, university technical colleges, studio schools, city technology colleges, academy special schools and state-funded alternative provision schools.

Qualified teachers are defined as those holding any of the following:

• Qualified teacher status.
• Qualified teacher learning and skills status.
• Early years teacher status.

The methodology section of ‘Further education workforce’ publication outlines the following definitions in the context of the further education workforce census. The full methodology section can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/further-education-workforce.

A teacher in further education is defined as member of staff with teaching responsibilities. Main Roles which would determine whether a staff member is a “Teacher”:

• Advanced Practitioner
• Instructor
• Lecturer
• Practitioner
• Teacher
• Trainer
• Tutor.

Schools are not defined within the scope of the further education workforce.

Qualified teachers are defined as those holding any of the following:

• Qualified teacher status.
• Qualified teacher learning and skills status.
• Early years teacher status.