[Ammi]

..I have to say that in my area at least, there are no unqualified staff who teach..or any more than in a state school...higher level teaching assistants are qualified to take lesson, and sometimes they take specific subject lessons because of their particular knowledge of it...and also to ‘substitute’ as they are a cheaper option than substitute teachers but that happens in state schools all the time anyway...things can sometimes happen at too short notice to get a substitute as well..qualified teachers whose experience in a particular subject and who have to sometimes cover another subject/class for whatever reason see themselves as unqualified in those cases and that’s just a case of it not being an ideal world etc....to become a higher level as a teaching assistant, the qualifications are lengthy and extensive and they also have years of training through working in schools....whether other schools in the country, either free or state employ unqualified staff in a full time teaching role and what their reasons are for this, I have no idea..but I'm sure they have them...