ABSTRACT
In recent years the work of student teachers and the nature of teacher education programmes in the UK have been subject to a number of fundamental changes. New QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) Standards apply since September 2012 and this chapter will introduce you to their requirements in the context of a broader discussion about subject/content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge. The 2012 Teachers’ Standards represent a noticeable departure from previous iterations in terms of structure, content and application. They reflect the Coalition Government’s perspective on good teaching and set out the minimum level of practice expected. They are intended to be applied with reference to contextual factors, in particular the level of experience of a teacher, and they also form the basis of judgements made as part of teacher appraisal.
