Teachers offered 10,000 pounds to work in poor schools

Golden Handcuffs for 6,000 teachers dedicated to deprived areas.

Top teachers will be offered a significant financial incentive to work in some of the most demanding schools across the UK.

Secondary schools will be assessed and the 500 toughest working environments for teachers will be indentified by a government approved body.

Once identified, good teachers will be given £10,000 as a “golden handcuff” provided they stay at the school for three years. The loyalty payment will be made available to around 6,000 teachers who can resist the temptation of higher salaries at the country’s best schools.

The Prime Minister said today that the government’s initiative to increase education standards in poorer schools would: “lay the foundations of true social mobility and social justice.”

The new announcement comes as part of the government’s White Paper on increasing social mobility. Currently the more deprived areas are at a severe disadvantage as they cannot afford to keep quality teaching staff.

In particular, the inner-city schools in the UK’s largest urban areas in London, Birmingham and Manchester suffer from the greatest staff turnover. In an effort to halt unnecessary disruption to children’s education, the new bonus should encourage some teacher continuity.

The White Paper has also made suggestions to contribute £57 million towards making early learning free for two-year-olds. 35,000 additional educational apprenticeship places are also to be created to provide employment in deprived areas.

Despite the proposals, the National Union of Teachers said that it would only contribute a “minor effect” to the problem.

Head of Nasuwt teaching union, Chris Keates said: “A 10,000 golden handcuffs offer is no substitute for a package of sustained support and reward for all teachers in these schools, particularly those who have already given years of dedicated service,” according to the BBC.

By Taye Jones posted January 13, 2009 7:53 AM with 749 views