Teachers' pay and conditions
Proposals to reform teachers' pay and support teachers in improving learning were published today by the Rewards and Incentives Group (RIG).
The group - comprising ATL, NASUWT, NEOST, PAT, SHA and the secretary of state for education and skills - have published jointly agreed evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) on how to take forward the proposals for a new teacher professionalism set out in the department's Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners.
The evidence on the development of the new teacher professionalism sets out proposals that will support teachers in their core task of improving teaching and learning and will also support the way they develop themselves and each other.
The evidence also sets out the key factors the review body should take into account in coming forward with their recommendation as to the level of pay increase for teachers' over the two-year period September 2006 to August 2008.
The STRB's recommendations are expected by the end of October.
Government Response: Ruth Kelly, secretary of state for education and skills
Commenting on the proposals, Ruth Kelly said: "This evidence represents another significant chapter in the process of reform and demonstrates once again the value of the social partnership that was established by the January 2004 agreement on rewards and incentives.
"Working together, we and our partners have agreed a package of proposals that seek to build on the improvements that have already been made to teachers' conditions and help to promote effective teaching and learning in schools. In our evidence we have set out a vision of the role of teachers to which we aspire and agreed a number of principles which are intended to frame the way in which that vision should be realised.
"I look forward to receiving the STRB's recommendations on these and other matters later in the year."
Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "Classroom teachers will welcome the support given in this evidence for the development of a culture of greater openness in schools and the recognition that they are "highly skilled professionals who make judgements and exercise professional autonomy within the classroom". The proposals support a pay settlement which will motivate teachers and retain them within the profession and acknowledge the significant gains in teachers' pay and conditions of service which has been achieved by those classroom unions that are working in social partnership."
Stakeholder Response: NASUWT
Chris Keates, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, said: "This evidence represents yet another remarkable achievement of partnership working. It is a further significant step towards securing the pay and conditions which recognise that teachers are highly skilled professionals whose role is central and crucial to maintaining and enhancing standards."
Stakeholder Response: PAT
Jean Gemmell, general secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers, said: "The proposals constitute fair and transparent ways of rewarding successful teaching performance, focusing on teaching and learning for all involved in the profession, as exemplified by the fact that for the first time part-time teachers are included in these proposals".
Stakeholder Response: Secondary Heads Association
John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association, said: "This represents an important step on the road to making teaching a really attractive profession. Rewards for good classroom practitioners and a climate in which the new professionalism thrives will do much to bring the brightest and the best of each generation into the teaching profession."
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