By Nick Mann | 13 January 2012
Head teachers in England will be able to sack ‘underperforming’ teachers more quickly under powers being introduced this September, Michael Gove said today.
The education secretary said the regulations, originally announced in May 2011, would mean poor teachers could be removed within a term, compared with a year or more under current rules.
The measure is part of a new system for teacher and head teacher appraisals, which Gove said would give schools more freedom to manage teacher performance.
As part of the changes, teachers will also be assessed every year against the new ‘simpler and sharper’ Teachers' Standards, which were published in July 2011.
Ministers are also consulting on whether there should be a requirement for schools to pass information about poorly performing members to prospective employers, when requested.
According to the Department for Education, this would help with the problem of constant ‘recycling’ of poor teachers by helping schools to make better, more informed decisions when recruiting.
Gove said the changes focused on reducing the red tape schools face when dealing with struggling teachers by giving them the responsibility to deal with the issue ‘fairly and quickly’.
He added: ‘Schools need to be able to dismiss more quickly those teachers who, despite best efforts, do not perform to the expected standard. Future employers also need to know more about the strengths and weaknesses of teachers they are potentially employing,’ he said.
‘Nobody benefits when poor teaching is tolerated. It puts pressure on other teachers and undermines children’s education.’
The National Union of Teachers labelled the plans a ‘bully’s charter’ that would be viewed by teachers as an attack on their professionalism.
General secretary Christine Blower said: ‘The union believes that many well-functioning schools, where development and professionalism is prized, will not adopt Michael Gove’s model.
‘If schools are serious about addressing the issue of teacher competence should it arise, they must do it in a fair fashion and not be constrained by a one term time limit. It is far better to improve teachers than to seek measures to sack them.’
Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of
Teachers and Lecturers echoed the NUT’s concerns and instead called for a focus
on developing teacher’s and headteachers’ professional skills.
‘We do not need to make it easier to sack 'bad' teachers. Those teachers who
discover this isn't the job for them leave the classroom long before it gets to
this stage,’ she said.
‘What we do need if we are to raise performance, rather than grab headlines, is
to improve continuing professional development and methods of supporting
teachers.’
