Poor take-up for excellent teacher grade. A report by TES editorial staff.
Classroom teachers could earn almost £54,000 under plans to change the salary structure of the ‘excellent teacher’ grade.
The status was introduced in April 2006 to reward teachers who want to further their careers without moving into management. But new figures show that only 37 people have qualified for the grade – well below government estimates of 5,000 for the first year.
Some have blamed the fixed salary of £35,874 for teachers outside London. But in a government-commissioned survey seen by The TES, a quarter of the 1,380 respondents said it was the name itself that put teachers off.
Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “The whole concept is wrong as there is reluctance among staff to put themselves forward as ‘excellent.’ Policy-makers do not understand this.”
The official survey found schools were unsure of the benefits of the role. Nearly a quarter of school leaders who were asked said excellent teacher posts would have no benefit; in Wales, the proportion was more than a third.
But Martine Barraclough, an excellent teacher at Guillemont Junior in Farnborough, Hampshire said: “Anybody saying they don’t know what the benefits of the scheme are should come and visit my school – they could be really surprised.”
Another factor is that the role of advanced skills teacher is seen as more attractive; they are paid on a scale of up to £59,724 and expected to spend a fifth of their time working with other schools. Excellent teachers do not have to do outreach work, but are expected to mentor staff in their own school.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said a review of the scheme would be carried out by December.
