Student teachers qualify for FREE membership of the NUT and Reps are encouraged to inform students on teaching practice in their schools of this benefit. This free student membership is automatically converted to full membership as soon as the student qualifies. (With the first term free of charge).
There is a long list of benefits arising from this membership, which are detailed on the next page. There is an application form which can be photocopied at the end of this handbook. Alternatively, copies of the application form are available from the NUT Office.
Whilst a student teacher is taking a class, the class teacher remains responsible for that class. How the responsibility is exercised will vary depending on circumstances such as the experience of the student, the type of class, the geography of the school, etc. However, the class teacher should not be reassigned to other duties during such lessons, eg put on cover. Neither should the student teacher be asked to fill in for an absent teacher. Proper supervision of the student teacher and the class requires that a class teacher be available to offer assistance.