Analysis: Aberdeen’s plan may be an interesting lesson for education chiefs

By HUGH REILLY
Published on Saturday 18 February 2012 01:38

COMPULSORY transfers usually occur as a result of a falling school roll or a drop in demand for a subject.

Under the current arrangements, on identifying a staff surplus in a department, the headteacher seeks a volunteer for career suicide.

Only in so-called sink schools, where a compulsory transfer is perceived to be a get-out-of-jail-free card, are Sidney Carton chalkies selflessly prepared to lay down their teaching lives for others. In the likely event that a voluntary transfer is not forthcoming, the rector informs the dominie with least continuous service that he will be compulsorily transferred under the “last in, first out” rule.

This anachronistic system of syphoning off staff has two advantages for teachers. Firstly, it is transparent. Secondly, the objective nature of the criterion means a vindictive headmaster has no opportunity to rid himself of a turbulent teacher.

Aberdeen Council’s possible changes to the compulsory transfer procedure are intriguing. If no volunteers can be found, an “objective assessment process” begins.

Aberdeen’s draft proposals have upset the EIS and the SSTA who are wary that this may be the start of performance management. However, the “last in – first out” method ignores the good work of a teacher with a few years’ experience who is never absent, and provides stimulating lessons.

It’s absurd that a highly effective teacher is shown the door while, conceivably, a complacent time-server enjoys security of tenure.

For other local authorities, Aberdeen’s bold move makes compulsive viewing.

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davieboy144

Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 12:10 AM

The proposed system has at least 2 flaws. 1) if a teacher is often absent or gets poor results (i.e. not meeting the terms of their contract) then the objective of a local authority should be trying to get rid of the teacher and not to transfer the problem to another school. 2) If a teacher is fulfilling the terms of their contract but is perceived to be less effective as a teacher by a HT PT why should they be punished or picked on. They current system is not perfect but it is far better, fairer and transparent than the one proposed

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