A press release published today says that from now on, funding agreements for all new academies will state that they can employ teaching staff 'without the automatic requirement for them to have QTS.' It added that 'existing academies can request for their funding agreements to be changed to include this new freedom if they wish.'

A Department spokesperson commented: 'This policy will free up academies to employ professionals - like scientists, engineers, musicians, university professors, and experienced teachers and heads from overseas and the independent sector - who may be extremely well-qualified and are excellent teachers, but do not have QTS status.'

However, NUT general secretary Christine Blower described the decision as a 'dereliction of duty', adding: 'Parents and teachers will see this as a cost-cutting measure that will cause irreparable damage to children's education.'