I SAW a job advert last week for an unqualified maths teacher.

The ad, which appeared on the website of an academy from outside our region, was recruiting an "enthusiastic, reliable and self-motivated person" with at least 4 GCSEs, grades C and above.

Experience of working in a similar role was "desirable" but not essential.

Why would a school place something as important as the life chances of its pupils in the hands of an amateur?

Perhaps it is because it will save them money?

The advert quoted a pay scale which it said was for "term time only."

Put bluntly, that means the successful applicant will be paid nothing in the school holidays.

Put more bluntly, this type of advert is a kick in the teeth for any teacher who wasted their time getting a degree and teaching qualifications.

Why bother putting yourself to all of that bother when schools will take a risk employing a maths teacher whose highest qualification is at GCSE?

This sounds to me like education on the cheap.

What next? Will cash-strapped NHS Trusts advertise for an enthusiastic rookie to work in A&E?

Would you trust a dentist armed only with a pair of forceps and a GCSE in biology?

There are some substandard teachers, and loads more who are brilliant at inspiring young people to great things.

Downgrading the profession will do nothing to create more of the latter.

IN recent weeks some of the region's high profile bosses have announced they were stepping down.

I'm thinking of the likes of Phil Dryden at SSI UK in Redcar, and Alex Dawson of Billingham's Tag Energy Solutions. Both will be missed. 

One man definitely not leaving, however, is Stephen Catchpole who has decided to stay on as managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU).

As we exclusively revealed on November 1, the regeneration chief had agreed to join the Coventry and Warwickshire local enterprise partnership as its new chief executive.

In football parlance, Mr Catchpole, a supporter of Chelsea FC, (he has his good points too) had his head turned by a Midlands switch that would allow him to be closer to his family. 

Last week, we revealed that he'd had a change of heart and will now remain at TVU until after the next General Election.

The pull of the Tees Valley has proved too strong, it would seem.

Putting aside the mixed messages that this type of volte face communicates, it's good to see Mr Catchpole sticking around for another couple of years to complete the projects he helped to kick-off.

Under his leadership TVU has won acclaim for some genuinely innovative schemes that are creating jobs and drawing investment to our region.

We'll be keeping a close eye on the progress of City Deal, the Tees Valley Catalyst Fund, as well as bids for Regional Growth and EU funding to ensure that he doesn't ease up during the rest of his tenure.

Follow me on Twitter @bizecho