School Teachers' Review Body twentieth report - 2011

Book excerpt: The Review Body was asked to consider two issues: payment for teachers earning £21,000 or less, in the context of the two-year public sector pay freeze that will affect teachers from September 2011; and whether there should be a limit on the value of the discretionary payments that can be applied to head teachers' pay, and if so, what it should be and how it should be applied. The only teachers whose full-time equivalent pay is £21,000 or less are some of those on the unqualified teacher scale. The Department for Education proposed a non-consolidated payment of £250. The Review Body concludes that the non-consolidated payment of £250 in both years is appropriate for all full-time unqualified teachers, with pro-rata payments for those working part-time. Remuneration for head teachers is a crucial issue, and the Review Body concludes that the case has been made in principle for a limit to be put in place, and that effective governance is key to ensuring appropriate reward whilst maintaining proper oversight of public funds. There should be a 'base' Individual School Range (ISR) for a head teacher described in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD). Any discretion above 'base' ISR pay must be clearly justified and should not exceed the limit of 25% above the individual's point on their 'base' ISR in any given year. The Department should redraft the STPCD to give effect to the recommendations and to draw together all existing discretions as they impact on head teachers.