The government has recently put forward proposals to end automatic progression up the pay scale according to the length of service a teacher has been in post. The question is, how will teachers be measured to see if they deserve a pay rise?
Public Sector pay is again in the spot-light. The government recognises the need for teachers to be rewarded for their hard work but other factors should play a part in deciding the amount of money they receive year to year. The STRB (School Teachers Review Body) thinks that head teachers should be given more freedom to decide pay and consequently are looking for further ways to measure the performance of teachers other than the much criticised target based “Pay by exam results”, which has encouraged teachers to focus too much on exams and less on good lesson planning, extra – curricular activities such as after-school clubs and good time management.
The new system is said to link teachers’ pay to performance appraisal, therefore encapsulating a wide breadth of competencies outside and inside the classroom. This could provide a fairer means to pay progression across the whole service. Unions are sceptical of the proposals put forward just 6 days before Gove (the education minister) is due to make a decision.
Gove: “These recommendations will make teaching a more attractive career and a more rewarding job. They will give schools greater flexibility to respond to specific conditions and reward their best teachers.” He then goes onto say; “It is vital that teachers can be paid more without having to leave the classroom. This will be particularly important to schools in the most disadvantaged areas as it will empower them to attract and recruit the best teachers.”
To read the full article on the Guardian website, please click here or copy the following the link into your browser address bar: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jan/15/teachers-pay-performance-michael-gove
