MPs Want Bad Teachers To Be Paid Less

Bad teachers could be paid less than their colleagues under newGovernment proposals aimed at driving up standards in state education.

The Education Select Committee insists a new results-based system is needed to stop bad teachers being paid the same as their more successful colleagues.

"We acknowledge the potential political and practical difficulties in introducing such a system, but the comparative impact of an outstanding teacher is so great that we believe such difficulties must be overcome," its report said.

But Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), ridiculed the idea and said: "Payment by results is total nonsense. Children are not tins of beans and schools are not factory production lines. Successful schools rely on a collegiate approach and team working.

"Performance-related pay (PRP) is not only inappropriate but also divisive. Children and young people differ and class intakes differ from year to year, making it impossible to measure progress in simplistic terms.

"PRP will create even more difficulties for schools facing the most challenges because teachers will realise that they will get no thanks for teaching their students but will get more money by going elsewhere."

The committee's report into how to recruit and retain the best teachers also suggested putting pupils in charge of lessons to encourage them to enter the profession.

And it called for would-be teachers to be observed in the classroom before they are offered a training place to check their suitability for the job.

"Our evidence was clear that teacher quality cannot be fully established without observing a candidate actually teach," the report said.

The MPs backed ministers' plans to toughen up literacy and numeracy tests taken by trainee teachers but expressed caution over the introduction of a test of candidates' personal skills.

It made clear it welcomed the idea but called for the Department for Education to publish details of what the test might include and keep it under close review.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "Nothing is more important for raising standards in our schools than ensuring that we have more great teachers.

"Although the quality of our teachers is very high, many top graduates who could make a huge difference to children's education are choosing other professions.

"This report supports the Government's strategy for teacher recruitment as being appropriately focused on attracting top graduates into the profession and giving them outstanding training."

©Sky News