Government demands on teachers are slammed by group chief

Published on Friday 29 May 2009 20:19

A SENIOR teaching official has criticised government demands that "super-teachers" take on extra duties as the "death knell" of a deal on teacher's pay and conditions.

Ann Ballinger, former president and incoming general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, said asking chartered teachers to take on extra responsibilities broke the Teachers' Agreement.

Education secretary Fiona Hyslop is today to tell a chartered teacher conference that they should take on leadership roles and train colleagues.

She is to say: "I believe that chartered teachers have a valuable role to play in the mentoring and coaching of colleagues. Coaching is a good way for chartered teachers to develop leadership skills while at the same time benefiting colleagues, both those new to the profession and those that are mid-career and may need a motivational lift."

SSTA members voted unanimously at their annual conference this month to back an emergency motion to reject "attempts to expand teachers' duties".

The chartered scheme was set up following the Teachers' Agreement of 2000, which aimed to improve pay and conditions in Scotland.

Previously, concerns had been raised that the best teachers were quickly promoted to posts such as depute head, which took them away from pupils.

In the agreement, it says chartered teachers should not take on extra duties.

Ms Ballinger said: "We have an agreement with the government which says there would be not additional duties attached.

"Teachers give up their own time and money for this course."

There are currently 750 teachers with chartered status in Scotland. Applicants must pay for the training themselves, which can cost from 5,000 to 8,000 to complete.