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The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Issue 239 • February 11 2010 Price £1.00
www.sec-ed.com
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MPs: ‘Poor teachers
must be easier to sack’
The disadvantage
subsidy rolls out
teaching and feel unhappy. There “But setting an arbitrary thresh-
After a two-year pathfinder, the
by Chris Parr
are many who perhaps just don’t old would mean talented people,
extended schools disadvantage
have the right skills, behaviour such as the maths expert Carol
The proposed Licence to Practise management being a common one. Vorderman, would be barred from
subsidy is set to roll out
should be used by schools to “There is a tiny number of peo- teaching even if they have the right
nationally with £165 million
“weed out poor performers” ple exiting the profession, and we skills and aptitude to do a great job
being handed to schools to and “streamline the process for think that it is rather on the small in the classroom.”
help get disadvantaged children
addressing underperformance” side. There will be a small percent- Elsewhere in its report, the
involved in extended services.
according to an influential group age in any profession who will not committee said that NQTs should
We carry a report in our news
of MPs. be in the right place, and yet hardly be closely supervised, and viewed
In a move that has sparked anger anyone leaves (teaching).” as “novices” by their school,
pages and also look more
in some quarters, the cross-party However, Christine Blower, adding that they should only be
in-depth at the impact of the
Children, Schools and Families general secretary of the National allowed to fully register with the
scheme during its pilot phase
Committee, which exists to examine Union of Teachers, said that teach- GTCE when they have completed
Pages 3, 8 and 9 the government’s education policy, ing was already the “most account- their first year.
claims that current arrangements able profession in England”. Mr Sheerman said: “It is impor-
for dismissing teachers are “too She said: “Teachers already tant that first-year teachers are
burdensome”, and that it should be face an excessive and overlapping known to be learning their craft.
easier for heads to get rid of “poor” number of personal accountabilities. “They should know that there
teachers. A requirement to have a licence is no shame in saying ‘I’m new to
Committee chairman Barry to practise will simply be seen as this, I need guidance’. Suggesting
Sheerman told SecEd that too many another unnecessary hurdle to jump that once a teacher takes their first
teachers remained in the profession on top of everything else they face”. job they’re on their own can be very
Working together
when they should be taking a “dif- Keith Bartley, chief executive damaging.”
ferent path”. of the General Teaching Council Under pressure? MPs say it should be easier to fire teachers The GTCE backed this aspect of
Vice principal Jo Smith
He said: “As in all human pro- for England (GTCE), also ques- the committee’s recommendations.
looks at creating sustainable
fessions, there are people who enter tioned the call. He told SecEd: “There seems to be a contradiction for entry is rather low in terms of Mr Bartley added: “We share the
collaborations. She asks
between the committee’s view that qualifications. Some colleges are committee’s view that becoming a
The Children, Schools and Families Committee report
the Licence to Practise proposed by more concerned about income than fully fledged teacher happens over
whether your collaborations
government should be used to weed they are about their ability to turn several years, not immediately on
are flourishing, finite, • A Licence to Practise should be introduced, and it should assist
out poorly performing teachers, and out good teachers,” he said. qualification.”
floundering or fading?
schools in dismissing teachers on performance grounds.
the government’s recently stated Dr Mary Bousted, general secre- However, Ms Blower said it was
Page 13
• All entrants to initial teacher training should pass numeracy,
intentions for the licence. More tary of the Association of Teachers wrong to suggest new teachers were
literacy and ICT tests.
clarity on this matter is needed.” and Lecturers, said it was important anything less than professional.
SecEd digital
Elsewhere in the committee’s that any changes to teacher training She said: “We already have
• Graduates wishing to train as teachers should eventually be
Training of Teachers report, the “do not forget that teachers need the induction year, the purpose of
required to have at least a 2:1 degree. MPs recommended that graduates both theoretical knowledge about which is to provide the space and
and Twitter
• There should be more school placements for trainee teachers.
wishing to enter teaching should how children learn and develop as support for teachers to develop their
• Those who mentor trainees should have three-years’ teaching
have at least a 2:1 degree. well as practical teaching skills to professional practice. This does not
Thousands of teachers are
experience and have specific training.
The report said: “We would like be effective”. make them novices and they should
reading SecEddigital, a virtual
to see access to post-graduate teach- She added: “It is a shame the not be labelled as such.”
• NQTs should be labelled as “novice” and kept under close
er training programmes restricted report does not make it clear that, The committee also urged radi-
edition of SecEd, which is
supervision, and not be allowed to fully register with the GTCE to those with a lower second class although there is always room for cal changes to CPD, including the
emailed out every week.
until they have completed their first teaching year.
degree as soon as possible, moving improvement, today’s new teachers introduction of a single overarch-
You can sign up for free by
• There should be stronger incentives for teachers to get a Master’s-
in time, to higher entry require- are widely recognised as the best ing framework for the manage-
emailing editor@sec-ed.co.uk.
level degree.
ments still – to an upper-second there have ever been.” ment of teachers’ career progres-
SecEd news and features are
degree or above.” Schools minister Vernon Coaker sion, and new rules to ensure that
• A set percentage of a school’s budget should be ring-fenced for
now also available on Twitter.
Mr Sheerman said that in order to said: “More than 90 per cent of a set percentage of every school’s
CPD. compete with other “senior profes- people started training last year budget is dedicated to professional
You can follow us at www.
• Supply teachers should be paid to undertake CPD during the
sions”, the bar needed to be raised. with a 2:2 or better UK degree development.
twitter.com/SecEd_Education
working day.
“There are a lot of courses out – two thirds of them getting a 2:1 To read the full report, visit
there, and the fact is that the margin or better. www.parliament.uk/csf
Bursars and School Business Managers are eligible for full membership of NAHT
Join now for less than £15 per month.
Established in 1897, NAHT is an independent trade union and professional association representing 28,000 members in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many members hold leadership positions in secondary schools and sixth form colleges
To request an application form call the Membership Recruitment Team
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naht.indd 1 24/3/09 15:04:15
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At the chalkface
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