Supporting Out-of-Field Subject English Teachers

Introduction Out-of-field English teaching is a significant issue in schools, especially when used in schools as a solution to teacher shortages (Hobbs et al., 2022, p. 5). The Australian National Summit on Teaching Out-of-Field estimated that a significant 28% of English classes in Australia were being taught by non-English trained teachers (Hobbs et al., 2022, p. 8). VATE is invested in acting both proactively and responsively to the phenomenon of out-of-field English teaching. This report is written directly in response to both the 2022 Teaching Out-of- Field Summit Report (Hobbs et al., 2022), and a survey distributed to the VATE membership in March 2024, where English teachers from around the state were asked how the teaching out-offield phenomenon is experienced at their school with regards to English teaching. This report is divided into three sections. The first section includes an introduction to the scope and complexity around the out-of-field teaching phenomenon and its definition. The second section of the report aims to share some of the key themes and issues to emerge from the VATE survey. The third and final section of this report aims to articulate and open discussion around VATE’s response, including recommendations and areas of action.