Appraisal and accountability bargaining toolkit

Foreword

Education reforms pursued by successive governments mean teachers in the UK are subject to an accountability regime and a level of scrutiny far in excess of that seen in comparable countries and professions. In too many cases, appraisal has been reduced to a tool used to suppress pay, drive up workload, and push many good educators out of the profession.

The removal of mandatory performance-related pay (PRP) represents a first step towards dismantling this regime and reclaiming an element of professional autonomy.

We have an opportunity this term to start to re-shape appraisal into a genuinely supportive and developmental process which puts students and teachers at its centre.

Workload remains a key issue, exhausting our members and creating a sector-wide recruitment crisis. The bargaining calendar this term will also focus on tackling in-school accountability measures which are contributing towards excessive workload. Appraisal and accountability are challenges that must be met at the workplace by organised, vigilant NEU workplace groups. Effective workplace groups and the ability to deliver meaningful, national changes are two sides of the same coin.

This appraisal and accountability bargaining toolkit will provide you and your colleagues with the guidance and resources you need to take a proactive approach to bargaining in your workplace. They will help secure the changes we need to reduce workload and ensure educators are able to develop their professional practice.

This is central to our mission to regain our professional autonomy and to recruit and retain the educators who will shape the future of education.

Daniel Kebede

General secretary, National Education Union