Uncommitted teachers shouldn't get rises

24 September 2012

Teachers' unions are said to be infuriated by a statement from the Chief Inspector of Schools In England and head of Ofsted that they shouldn't get pay rises if they don't work extra hours after school finishes.

Sir Michael Wilshaw pointed out that in its last annual report, Ofsted found that 40 per cent of lessons were not to a high enough standard but teachers across the board still got a pay rise. Something is wrong with the system, he said, and if Ofsted marked down schools that took this approach it would mean that some teachers would get pay rises but some wouldn't.

"As a head I would make it clear that if you teach well or try to teach well, if you work hard and go the extra mile, you are going to get paid well, you are going to be promoted," Wilshaw told the Times. "Somebody who is out [of] the gate at 3 o'clock in the afternoon is not. Isn't that fair? Am I being unfair?"

The Ofsted head also criticised teachers who work in disadvantaged areas but were not prepared to take on the role of corporate parent – these teachers should also not get a pay rise.

"We just have to accept the reality of that," he said. "If you are going to go and work in these areas, there has to be a commitment to working beyond the end of the school day. That's why I asked those questions about performance management. It's about recognising those people who do go the extra mile."

However, Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said: "This adds to the impression that Sir Michael Wilshaw wants to be at war with teachers in this country. Teachers' pay should not be determined by head teachers at the school level. We don't want a system where head teachers pick and choose favourites for pay rises."