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| Teachers stage ‘no confidence’ votes | Teachers stage ‘no confidence’ votes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A motion of no-confidence in Education Secretary Michael Gove is to be debated by members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) later. | A motion of no-confidence in Education Secretary Michael Gove is to be debated by members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) later. |
| A no-confidence vote in Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw is also expected at its annual conference in Liverpool. | A no-confidence vote in Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw is also expected at its annual conference in Liverpool. |
| The NASUWT union have voted to campaign for changes to Ofsted or, if that fails, to campaign for its abolition. | |
| Both are in dispute with ministers over pay, pensions and workload. Fresh strikes are expected in the summer. | Both are in dispute with ministers over pay, pensions and workload. Fresh strikes are expected in the summer. |
| 'Unnecessary change' | |
| The NASUWT conference in Bournemouth heard complaints that England's inspectorate - Ofsted - and that of Wales (Estyn) had become "politicised and punitive" | |
| One delegate told the conference Ofsted inspectors had "scorched earth policies". | |
| The government plans to bring in performance-related pay, meaning teachers will no longer receive semi-automatic pay rises as they gain experience. | The government plans to bring in performance-related pay, meaning teachers will no longer receive semi-automatic pay rises as they gain experience. |
| It says the change will drive up teaching standards by giving head teachers flexibility to reward the best teachers. | It says the change will drive up teaching standards by giving head teachers flexibility to reward the best teachers. |
| But Christine Blower, the general secretary of the NUT says the change is "unnecessary and unwanted" and "is really about keeping pay down". | But Christine Blower, the general secretary of the NUT says the change is "unnecessary and unwanted" and "is really about keeping pay down". |
| "It's not just about performance-related pay - it's about changing teachers' pay structures," she told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four. | "It's not just about performance-related pay - it's about changing teachers' pay structures," she told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four. |
| "At the moment they know they are on a pay scale. Teachers' pay is not fantastically high for a graduate profession - you start on £21,000 a year . It [the pay scale] has given teachers a trajectory about where they are going, which has made salaries more attractive." | "At the moment they know they are on a pay scale. Teachers' pay is not fantastically high for a graduate profession - you start on £21,000 a year . It [the pay scale] has given teachers a trajectory about where they are going, which has made salaries more attractive." |
| Head teachers in academies already have the power to vary teachers' pay and conditions. | Head teachers in academies already have the power to vary teachers' pay and conditions. |
| Dame Sally Coates, the head of Burlington Danes Academy in west London, told Today she supported the idea of performance-related pay and was already using it. | Dame Sally Coates, the head of Burlington Danes Academy in west London, told Today she supported the idea of performance-related pay and was already using it. |
| "Most teachers like acknowledgement for their work. It will give heads autonomy," she said. | "Most teachers like acknowledgement for their work. It will give heads autonomy," she said. |
| Opposition to planned changes to pay and conditions for teachers are high on the agendas at the teachers' annual conferences and the NASUWT and the NUT are set to endorse plans for further strikes on these issues, plus workloads and pensions. | Opposition to planned changes to pay and conditions for teachers are high on the agendas at the teachers' annual conferences and the NASUWT and the NUT are set to endorse plans for further strikes on these issues, plus workloads and pensions. |
| Local strikes will begin in late June, after the exam season, and a national strike is being planned for later in the year. | Local strikes will begin in late June, after the exam season, and a national strike is being planned for later in the year. |
| Teachers' rallies | Teachers' rallies |
| The coalition has brought in widespread changes to education since it came to power three years ago and says these will help drive up standards in England's schools. | The coalition has brought in widespread changes to education since it came to power three years ago and says these will help drive up standards in England's schools. |
| The two big classroom teachers' unions oppose many of the changes, particularly the move towards academy and free schools as well as performance-related pay. | The two big classroom teachers' unions oppose many of the changes, particularly the move towards academy and free schools as well as performance-related pay. |
| They are planning to hold rallies on strike days to try to gather support from parents, who could face disruption if schools are closed. | They are planning to hold rallies on strike days to try to gather support from parents, who could face disruption if schools are closed. |
| Parents group Parents Aloud recently complained about the prospect of more strikes. | Parents group Parents Aloud recently complained about the prospect of more strikes. |
| Both unions are critical of England's schools inspectors Ofsted. | Both unions are critical of England's schools inspectors Ofsted. |
| The NASUWT has published a survey of nearly 3,000 of its members, which found nearly all (95%) said the school inspection system operated "in the interests of politicians rather than the public or pupils". | The NASUWT has published a survey of nearly 3,000 of its members, which found nearly all (95%) said the school inspection system operated "in the interests of politicians rather than the public or pupils". |
| And 80% said they agreed that the current model of school inspection "unfairly undermines public confidence in the education system". | And 80% said they agreed that the current model of school inspection "unfairly undermines public confidence in the education system". |
| The survey was carried out online by the union last month. | The survey was carried out online by the union last month. |
| The general secretary of the NASUWT Chris Keates said teachers understood the need for inspection, but believed it had become too "high stakes" because a bad Ofsted rating could lead to a school being taken over or turned in to an academy. | The general secretary of the NASUWT Chris Keates said teachers understood the need for inspection, but believed it had become too "high stakes" because a bad Ofsted rating could lead to a school being taken over or turned in to an academy. |
| "Teachers recognise that public services have to be accountable. They are not afraid of inspections but they feel it has become an unproductive and punitive regime," she said. | "Teachers recognise that public services have to be accountable. They are not afraid of inspections but they feel it has become an unproductive and punitive regime," she said. |
| "And they are deeply concerned about the politicisation of Ofsted. It's now holding schools to account and has become a hit squad for the implementation of government policy. | "And they are deeply concerned about the politicisation of Ofsted. It's now holding schools to account and has become a hit squad for the implementation of government policy. |
| "It's creating a climate of fear in schools and doing nothing to raise school standards." | "It's creating a climate of fear in schools and doing nothing to raise school standards." |
| Ofsted has been built up by the government, which sees it as a key way of protecting and improving standards in schools, especially since many schools are becoming academies, which are independent from local authorities. | Ofsted has been built up by the government, which sees it as a key way of protecting and improving standards in schools, especially since many schools are becoming academies, which are independent from local authorities. |
| The chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has cut the categories schools are rated by, scrapping the "satisfactory" rating. He says all schools should that pass their inspection should be rated as "good" or "outstanding". | The chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has cut the categories schools are rated by, scrapping the "satisfactory" rating. He says all schools should that pass their inspection should be rated as "good" or "outstanding". |
| He has also called for a sharper focus on teaching, saying schools should only be given the highest rating - outstanding - if they are ranked outstanding for teaching. In the past, this did not have to be the case. | He has also called for a sharper focus on teaching, saying schools should only be given the highest rating - outstanding - if they are ranked outstanding for teaching. In the past, this did not have to be the case. |
| 'Tough message' | 'Tough message' |
| Sir Michael was not available to be interviewed, but a spokeswoman for Ofsted said: "Sir Michael has said from the outset any provision that is less than good is not acceptable. | Sir Michael was not available to be interviewed, but a spokeswoman for Ofsted said: "Sir Michael has said from the outset any provision that is less than good is not acceptable. |
| "That's a tough message, especially for those schools and colleges that have been coasting. It's inevitable that when you challenge the system to do better, you will get some pushback." | "That's a tough message, especially for those schools and colleges that have been coasting. It's inevitable that when you challenge the system to do better, you will get some pushback." |
| She said the inspectorate had a new regional structure which gave "support as well as challenge" for schools and promoted improvement. | She said the inspectorate had a new regional structure which gave "support as well as challenge" for schools and promoted improvement. |
| It was working towards its ambition of "ensuring a good education for every child". | It was working towards its ambition of "ensuring a good education for every child". |
| A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "We need an education system that is on a par with the world's best. | A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "We need an education system that is on a par with the world's best. |
| "Our academies programme is turning around hundreds of underperforming schools, we are introducing a world class curriculum and our reforms to exams will create qualifications that will keep pace with the demands of universities and employers." | "Our academies programme is turning around hundreds of underperforming schools, we are introducing a world class curriculum and our reforms to exams will create qualifications that will keep pace with the demands of universities and employers." |