HEADTEACHER Autumn Edition UPDATE September 2024 www.headteacher-update.com The only magazine for UK primary school headteachers Performance-related pay – is this the end? Schools are no longer expected to link pay to the performance of teachers thanks to the Workload Reduction Taskforce. But was it ever a feasible approach? And what are primary school leaders planning to do now? HIGHLIGHTS CHEFS IN SCHOOL: How The Grove Primary School has revolutionised the quality of its school meals FOOD REBELLION: What is on the menu in your school’s canteen? Are you doing all you can to eliminate ultra-processed foods? TIMETABLES: If a lesson is going well, why can’t a teacher just keep going? One school’s exible timetable approach explained... TEACHING & LEARNING: The Effective Teaching and Learning Model at St Mary’s CE Primary School is enhancing pedagogy and more besides... SMALL SCHOOLS: As rolls begin to fall, small primary schools are under threat – what challenges lie ahead? SAFEGUARDING: After the riots, how can schools discuss dif cult issues with children as part of proactive safeguarding? WRITING: With fewer children writing for pleasure, what can we do to revive the desire to write? BEST PRACTICE FOCUS Describing a comprehensive, research-informed reading framework and pedagogy for the primary school Pages 20 to 28 RESEARCH ROUND-UP: Page 4 COMMENTARY: Page 16 RESOURCES: Page 44 & 45 06 10 12 14 18 29 30 T he Workload Reduction Taskforce, earlier this year, recommended the removal of performance-related pay (PRP). The government agreed and said that it would be replaced from this term with “a less bureaucratic way to manage performance fairly and transparently”. In announcing this year’s pay award of 5.5%, the Department for Education confirmed: “Schools will no longer be required to use the PRP system, which can lead to schools and teachers going through an overly bureaucratic process to agree timing, schools may need to lend itself to the kind of statistical individual teachers’ pay rises. think carefully about how they analysis that PRP requires – not This will help improve teacher implement this change, but we least the difficulty of judging workload.” (DfE, 2024a). will be encouraging them to do so teachers on pupil attainment data from any given year (Murphy, However, it is uncertain just as soon as possible.” how many schools will jettison PRP was introduced in 2013 2013). The underfunding of PRP – and to what extent and by the coalition government in a education and the budget cuts how quickly – especially with bid to improve performance and we have seen since 2010 also undermines the concept. academy schools continuing to retain teachers in schools. Many have said that in order have freedom over their pay and However, the system has not conditions. been effective. One study revealed to raise performance, appraisal General secretary of the that it has had little impact on more closely aligned with training National Association of Head teacher retention (Anders et al, opportunities would be bene cial. Indeed, the DfE’s updated Teachers, Paul Whiteman, said: 2021) and another (Sharp et al, “(We have) long called for the 2017) highlighted challenges appraisal guidance (2024b) adds: end of PRP – it has been proven in collecting and reviewing “The removal of the requirement to be ineffective in education “evidence” and the pressure for PRP is to allow schools to have and is a bureaucratic burden on placed on teachers to meet pupil a greater opportunity to focus on professional development in schools, so we are pleased that outcome targets as part of PRP. the obligation to use it will be It has consistently been argued objectives and appraisals.” CP_HT_quarter page strip 186 x 40_FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2023 08:26 Page 1 removed from this September.” by education unions that the He continued: “Given the performance of teachers does not Continued on page 3 Book a FREE no obligation 30 minute call... Quote HT Invest in your professional growth Leadership Coaching Packages for 2024 @chrisparkhouse hello@chrisparkhou hello@chrisparkhouse.com www.chrisparkhouse.com 07830 349853 Image: Adobe Stock
Head Teacher Update Autumn Term 2024: Page 1
