Pay cuts for teachers who fail tests

Teachers could have pay rises withheld if they fail annual tests under the most radical reform of school wages for 50 years, announced by the Government yesterday.

Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education, says in her submission to the teachers' pay body that all teachers must face "a greater challenge" to move up the pay scales.

Headteachers will also be given more freedom to set pay rates for staff. In addition, the Government wants the review body to consider higher pay for maths and science teachers to help to fill vacancies.

The plan for annual performance checks provoked an outcry from heads' and teachers' leaders last night.

Chris Keates, deputy general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, accused Ms Morris of "losing the plot" over performance-related pay. Ms Keates described the recommendations as "unnecessary and profoundly unhelpful", saying teachers had already had to jump through enough hoops to keep discipline in schools and were working more than 50 hours per week.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The introduction of radical changes to a performance-related pay scheme still in its infancy will be regarded with dismay by heads."

He added that giving heads the right to stop teachers moving up the pay scale would lead to scores of disputes in schools throughout the country. "At present, they can only be stopped from progressing if they really are incompetent," he said. "It really does seem as if the Government is hell-bent on trying to stop the majority of the teaching profession getting a decent salary level."

In her letter, Ms Morris makes clear she wants reforms to the teaching profession to take precedence over any across-the-board pay deal. She bluntly warns the body she reserves the right to overturn any pay deal if it is too generous, adding: "I must stress again the need for affordable recommendations."

She says she would like to see a three-year pay deal for teachers, which would allow her reforms to be phased in. She adds her decision to press ahead with annual performance checks on every teacher is in line with the principle that "increased public spending should purchase a more effective contribution from each member of the workforce".

At present, a teacher takes on average seven years to reach the top of the pay scale. The pay review body will announce a verdict on Ms Morris' reforms early in January, after she has negotiated with unions.