Recruitment
Championing the teaching profession Earlier this year, Education Secretary Damian Hinds pledged to tackle teacher workload, drive recruitment and boost the retention of teachers. Education Business looks at what measures the DfE has put in place to achieve these aims Speaking to more than 1,000 heads and teachers at the Association of School and College Leaders’ (ASCL) annual conference in Birmingham earlier this year, Education Secretary Damian Hinds said that his “top priority” was to make sure teaching continues to be regarded as “one of the most rewarding jobs you can do”. So what has been done to attract and retain teachers in the profession? Pay rises and flexible working Firstly, the DfE announced that the pay range for classroom teachers will increase by 3.5 per cent. Schools will continue to determine how their staff are paid but the increases will be funded by government with a new teachers’ pay grant – worth £187 million in 2018/19 and £321 million in 2019/20 from the existing Department for Education budget – paid to all schools on top of their core budgets from the National Funding Formula.
In cash terms, the DfE says that teachers could receive a boost of between £1,184 and £1,366 to their salary, while salaries for new teachers will increase by between £802 and £1003. Damian Hinds has also pledged to introduce more flexible working practices, including a £5 million fund to help experienced teachers take a sabbatical.
The resources also include tools to help schools quickly implement new policies, and cut down on time-consuming tasks such as email communication, and a series of case studies to share knowledge of how schools have used technology to streamline processes. Alongside this toolkit, a series of online videos that provide advice and guidance on The Toolkit to remove workload have also been DfE has workload made available. pledged To remove some of One video – on the t o introdu the burdensome theme of planning c responsibilities from – features the joint flexible e more w o teachers, the DfE has general secretaries of r k in practice g s launched a series of the National Education , in c lu ding helping online resources. Union, Mary Bousted exp The toolkit includes and Kevin Courtney, teacher erienced s ta advice and workshops and makes clear that sabbatic ke a on the most burdensome individual lesson planning al. tasks such as pupil feedback is not a requirement from and marking, planning and either the Department for resources, and data management. Education or Ofsted. E Volume 23.8 | EDUCATION BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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