Gimmick rap on ‘golden handcuffs’
Jan 14 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal
ADEAL to keep good teachers working in deprived areas was branded a “gimmick” by a North East headteacher yesterday.
Ministers have announced that the best teachers will be offered a £10,000 “golden handcuffs” incentive to tie them to secondary schools in deprived areas for three years.
Mike Booth, head at Walbottle Campus Technology College, Newcastle, said he thought the money could be spent more wisely, but the Government’s move was well received by other teachers in the region.
The deal is part of a package of measures aimed at improving social mobility.
It will be available from September 2009 to National Challenge schools and secondary schools where 30% or more of pupils are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM).
A total of 20 schools in the region were put in line for Government support in May as part of the National Challenge programme because fewer than 30% of their children achieved five or more GCSE grades A*-C, including maths and English.
Half of those schools hit or exceeded the 30% mark in August but may still be eligible for the “handcuff” payments. Mr Booth – whose school was one of those initially placed on the National Challenge list but has now passed the 30% target – said the issue could cause tension between schools.
“It’s a bit of a gimmick and I think it could prove quite divisive. In Newcastle, you could argue that all schools have challenging youngsters,” he said.
“Perhaps some have got more than others. It could prove quite divisive between schools. If there’s additional funding available, that should be allocated to the schools for them to spend as they see fit. It may be better, rather than give those handcuff payments to teachers, to employ more teachers and cut class sizes, for example.”
Meanwhile, Steve Gater, headteacher at Walker Technology College, welcomed the scheme.
He said: “Anything that can attract and reward teachers for working in challenging circumstances is to be welcomed.
“It’s a question of how that works in practice but the support for schools working in challenging circumstances is there.
“What will help schools even more to raise standards is the support of everybody in the community. If we have got a common priority and we’re conscious of doing things in the right way, that will really help.”
Mr Gater said he would have to give the “golden handcuffs” idea more consideration before committing to it, but said the principle was a good one.
“We have to look at the hard details of it,” he said. “I think we should look at any way of supporting the members of staff who work in challenging circumstances.
“These are people who are making minor miracles happen and we should be celebrating what they’re doing.”
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said: “Our Children’s Plan vision is for every school to be an excellent school, raising standards and helping all children overcome any barriers to learning they may face, and this White Paper helps us take the next steps towards that vision.
“We are already making good progress. Over the last four years standards have risen across the board and at the same time we have narrowed the gap in achievement between those children entitled to free school meals and those who aren’t, in both primary and secondary school. Academies and now the National Challenge programme are making a big difference where standards were too low.”
The Government will only meet half the cost of the incentive, with schools expected to meet the other £5,000 from their own budgets.
