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Pay for teachers to be linked to performance

PUBLIC SECTOR

Pay for teachers to be linked to performance

An independent review body has called on the government to link teachers’ pay in England and Wales more closely to their performance.

The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), which makes recommendations to government on teachers’ pay reforms, is calling for greater freedom for schools to set teachers’ pay.

In its report, published 5 December 2012, it recommends a “simpler, more flexible national pay framework” for teachers. The STRB proposes:

  • ending pay increases based on length of service – currently virtually all full-time classroom teachers on the main pay scale automatically progress to the next pay point
  • linking all teachers’ pay progression to performance, based on annual appraisals – already the case for some teachers who are on a higher pay scale
  • abolishing mandatory pay points within the pay scales for classroom teachers to give schools greater freedom on how much teachers are paid. They would remain in place for reference only in the main pay scale to guide career expectations for new teachers entering the profession
  • retaining the higher pay bands for London and fringe areas.

Subject to the statutory consultation, the changes would come into effect from September 2013.

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STRB document extract

Our recommendations need to be seen as a package, offering schools a better framework for responding to local needs, and rewarding teachers in line with their contribution. We propose:

  • A pay framework that seeks to raise the status of the profession, support professional development, and reward individuals in line with their contribution to improving pupil outcomes, enabling the most successful teachers to progress faster than at present on the basis of annual appraisal.
  • Greater autonomy for schools to set teachers’ pay within a broad national framework, enabling schools to respond better to pupil need in the context of their local circumstances.
  • Recognised career stages for teachers, alongside increased accountability for high professional standards and contribution to pupil progress, comparable to requirements in other graduate professions.

A final word

“We believe our recommendations will help schools to recruit, retain and reward the best teachers. It will give heads freedom to manage teachers’ pay according to pupil needs and local circumstances, within a fair national framework. Subject to a statutory consultation, the coalition government intends to accept the key recommendations. The Chancellor, as confirmed in last year’s Autumn Statement, set out an uplift for public sector pay of up to 1%. The statutory minima and maxima for classroom teachers’ pay will be uprated by 1% in each year, 2013-14 and 2014-15. Schools are free to determine the extent of pay uplifts to teachers within the statutory minima and maxima, and will be able to provide an uplift of 1%, in line with any overall uplift in pay in the public sector, if they so choose.” - Dame Patricia Hodgson, Chair of the STRB.

“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. 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. I am grateful for the careful consideration which the STRB has given to these matters. Subject to the consultation, I intend to accept all of the key recommendations. - Michael Gove, Education Secretary.

“Linking teachers’ pay with appraisal will undermine any confidence teachers had in appraisal. It will not enhance ‘performance’. All research shows that performance-related pay does not motivate people. Teachers will spend more time teaching to their individual objectives. Head teachers and governors will spend much more time taking individual pay decisions for every teacher. It will be bad for teachers and bad for children. Individualised pay will lead to unfairness and injustice.” - Christine Blower, General Secretary, National Union of Teachers.

Want to know more?

The School Teachers' Review Body report and the government's response are available on the teachers' pay section of the Department for Education's web site.