An independent review (led by Sally Coates) recommended that a new 'master teacher standard' should be introduced to recognize outstanding teachers.
Source: Second Report of the Independent Review of Teachers? Standards: Post-Threshold, Excellent Teacher and Advanced Skills Teacher Standards, Department for Education
Links: Report | Letter (1) | Letter (2) | Hansard | DE press release | ASCL press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A study found that nearly one-half of the allegations of abuse made against teachers in England were malicious, unsubstantiated, or unfounded. Only 3 per cent of investigations resulted in a criminal caution or conviction for the teacher.
Source: York Consulting LLP, Allegations of Abuse Against Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff: Interim findings from a survey of local authority designated officers, Research Brief RB163, Department for Education
Links: Brief | DE press release | NAHT press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Oct
A new book examined professional deliberation and judgement in areas such as social work, teaching, nursing, ministry, and counselling. It considered the impact of official prescription and regulation on professional judgement; how conflicts between professional judgment and public/political accountability could be resolved; how to reconcile tensions between universal justice/equality and particular client need; and the role of emotion and/or affect in 'people professional' practice.
Source: Liz Bondi, David Carr, Chris Clark, and Cecelia Clegg (eds.), Towards Professional Wisdom: Practical deliberation in the people professions, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Oct
The report of an independent review (led by Gerry McCormac) said that Scotland's education system needed more flexibility so that teachers could do their jobs better. The amount of time that they spent in the classroom needed to be weighed up over a longer period; and teachers needed greater support to run before- and after-school activities. But it said that there should be no change to teachers' working requirements.
Source: Advancing Professionalism in Teaching: The Report of the Review of Teacher Employment in Scotland, Independent Review of Teacher Employment
Links: Report | Review press release | Scottish Government press release | COSLA press release | EIS press release | NASUWT press release | Voice press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Sep
The coalition government published (following a review) new standards of competence and conduct that all teachers in England would be expected to meet from September 2012. Teachers would have to show tolerance and respect for the rights of others, and not undermine 'fundamental British values'.
Source: Teachers' Standards, Department for Education
Links: Standards | DE press release | Review report | GTCE policy papers | NAHT press release | NASUWT press release | NUT press release | Voice press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Jul
The government began consultation on proposals designed to attract higher-quality recruits into teaching in England. There would be higher entry standards for teacher training, including limits on the number of re-takes for tests in numeracy and literacy. There would also be bursaries of up to £20,000 to attract students with first-class degrees in priority subjects.
Source: Training Our Next Generation of Outstanding Teachers: An improvement strategy for discussion, Department for Education
Links: Consultation document | Hansard | DE press release | ASCL press release | Million+ press release | NAHT press release | Teach First press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Jun
The government began consultation on proposals to make significant reductions in the 'bureaucracy' that controlled how schools managed teacher performance and dealt with poorly performing teachers.
Source: Proposed Changes to Performance Management and Capability Arrangements, Department for Education
Links: Consultation document | DE press release | Conservative Party press release | ASCL press release | NAHT press release | NASUWT press release | NUT press release | Voice press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-May
A study evaluated the extent to which 'new professionalism' had been introduced in schools, and its impact on teaching and learning. Survey data suggested that schools were implementing the four strands of new professionalism, and that this was making a difference to aspects of teachers' and headteachers' working practices.
Source: Matthew Walker, Jennifer Jeffes, Ruth Hart, Pippa Lord, and Kay Kinder, Making the Links Between Professional Standards, Induction, Performance Management and Continuing Professional Development of Teachers: A study, Research Report RR075, Department for Education
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Feb
