CHILDREN in Redbridge secondary schools are being taught by more unqualified teachers than virtually anywhere else in London.

Schools minister Nick Gibb told MPs that there were 100 secondary school teachers in the borough who were unqualified, and only the boroughs of Barnet and Bromley had more.

The figure does not include trainee teachers but covers staff who have trained overseas or are on employment-based routes to qualified teacher status.

With nearly one-in-12 teachers falling into the category, fears have been raised over the impact it could have on children’s education.

Mum-of-four Helen Duffett, of St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green, has two children at Woodbridge High School and two at Churchfields in South Woodford.

She said: “As a mum my first concern would be safety because whoever is coming into contact with your child must be properly checked out.

“The other thing would be who has overall responsibility for the teaching, if it is an occasional thing that someone unqualified is coming in and taking a class I can live with it but I would not be happy if it was affecting my child’s education.”

There are also 70 unqualified teachers at primary schools in the borough.

Samantha Stovin-Clark has three daughters at Churchfields Nursery, Infants and Junior Schools, in South Woodford.

The 39-year-old, of Oak Hill Gardens, Woodford Green, said: “Teachers, particularly trainees, are constantly monitored so it doesn’t strike me as a major worry.

“If I had a 15-year-old and she was getting ready to take exams then maybe my opinion might be different.”

Anne Mallach, regional officer with the National Union of Teachers, said: “We would be very concerned about unqualified staff undertaking roles that should be undertaken by qualified teachers.

“We are concerned generally about support staff being asked to carry out beyond their role.”

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Council said: "This number includes a range of staff who are employed because they have role which requires specific skills that may not be provided by qualified teachers for example teachers of health and social care, sociology, law and media studies.

"These teachers often hold post-16 teaching qualifications and only teach sixth form students.

"Redbridge always aims to attract the best quality qualified and unqualified teaching staff and this is reflected in our results.

"Redbridge is among the top performing boroughs in the country for GCSEs ranking third in the country. A-Level results are also impressive and this year saw Redbridge rise from 49th to 40th in the country.”