Teachers are given new standards

14 July 2011 Last updated at 17:11 GMT There should be a single set of standards for all teachers, the review recommends New professional standards for teachers in England say they must show tolerance and respect for the rights of others and not undermine "fundamental British values".

They will come in from September next year, following an independent review of the skills teachers should have.

The government says they are a key part of continuing to raise standards in teaching.

Teachers say the standards are vague and another stick to beat them with.

But head teachers have welcomed them.

The new rules say teachers must "uphold public trust in the profession" and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour in and out of school.

They "must not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs".

It adds that teachers should make sure their personal beliefs "are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils' vulnerability or might lead them to break the law".

The government says it is replacing an "old, ambiguous and vague system" with new standards which are "practical and clear about the competencies that all teachers should have".

It says the standards will help head teachers assess teachers' performance; make it clear that teachers need to be able to tackle bad behaviour and "are able to teach the core basics of reading and writing, including understanding systematic synthetic phonics".

The Education Secretary Michael Gove had previously complained that it was too difficult for head teachers to get rid of poor teachers.

Classroom practice

Sally Coates, the principal of Burlington Danes School in west London, chaired the review on which the standards are based.

She said: "Nothing has more impact on a child's achievement than the quality of teaching they receive and in the new standards for teachers we have prioritised the importance of classroom practice and subject knowledge.

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The new standards are vague, poorly drafted, lack clarity, are open to wide interpretation... and will simply serve as a stick with which to beat teachers”

End Quote Chris Keates NASUWT "I hope the review's recommendations will ensure the benchmark for entry to the profession is rigorous and firmly based in teaching."

The new guidance lists eight standards for teaching and three for personal and professional conduct, replacing longer lists.

Those relating to teaching say teachers must set high expectations of pupils; show good subject knowledge; plan and teach well-structured lessons; promote good progress among pupils; adapt their teaching to meet the needs of all pupils; make good use of assessment; manage behaviour and fulfil their wider responsibilities to school life.

Those about conduct say teachers should maintain high levels of ethics and behaviour; have proper regard for the practices of their school, including good attendance and punctuality and be aware of and act within guidelines on their professional duties.

Chris Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, said: "Professional standards for teachers are about defining appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding. However, the new standards conflate and confuse these with a code of conduct, demonstrating the punitive mindset this coalition has towards teachers.

"The new standards are vague, poorly drafted, lack clarity, are open to wide interpretation, will breed confusion and uncertainty and will simply serve as a stick with which to beat teachers."

Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said some of the recommendations covered essential skills and knowledge needed for teaching - but that standards on these already existed.

The Association of School and College Leaders - representing heads - said the new standards were "a welcome foundation on which to build better practice".

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Watchdog to probe exam standards

13 May 2011 Last updated at 10:20 GMT GCSE results have been rising consecutively for 22 years Fears that GCSEs and A-levels are getting easier are to be investigated by the exams standards watchdog.

Ofqual said it would gather evidence and listen to views in what it described as an "objective and constructive debate" on the issue.

GCSE results have been rising for more than 20 years, and 27% of A-level students received As or A*s last year.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has made it clear he wants exams to be rigorous and demanding.

Ofqual spoke out as this year's exam season gets under way, with 800,000 pupils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland revising for their GCSE and A-level exams.

'Firm but fair'

Ofqual's new chief executive Glenys Stacey told the Daily Telegraph: "We do a lot of work to maintain standards on all the key qualifications across the board on subject matters and subject levels.

"But there is still a public concern over standards and a feeling that things aren't what they used to be.

"Well, I would like to understand that better and actually bring some evidence to the debate as well. I want an objective and constructive debate."

She said her investigation would be "firm but fair".

An Ofqual spokesman said that in the past the watchdog had focussed on the technical standards of individual exams.

However it now wanted to draw all the evidence together because it was aware of a public perception of falling standards.

Ofqual will also look at competition between exam boards and the use of modular exams - where exams are broken down into smaller units. This often leads to a high number of re-sits.

International comparisons

A number of studies have suggested exams are getting easier, and there have been attempts to tighten standards up by reducing the amount of course work.

Mr Gove has already called for exams taken in England to be compared with tests taken in other countries and has asked Ofsted to run a separate inquiry into standards in vocational exams.

The Department for Education did not wish to comment on Ofqual's plans.

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