Why should performance-related pay be abolished?

What is performance-related pay?

Performance-related pay (PRP) is the system first introduced in 2014 where a teacher’s progression up the pay scale is determined by their performance during the year against a set criteria and targets agreed in the autumn term.

Teachers are professionals and must be treated as such

When linking pay progression to performance management, the focus is on a limited range of outcomes rather than the full scope of teachers’ responsibilities and duties.

It does not improve performance

There is no evidence that PRP improves educational outcomes. This was the conclusion reached by research conducted by the OECD on the impact of PRP.

More and more schools are abolishing PRP

PRP has been abolished in Wales and many multi-academy trusts have followed suit. As of September 2024, PRP is no longer mandatory for local authority schools.

It harms recruitment and retention

Recruitment and retention are significant challenges for schools in England. PRP is a key factor influencing teachers to consider leaving the profession.

It increases workload for both teachers and leaders

Every year, teachers, senior leaders and governors spend a huge amount of time on the PRP process.

We need to work collaboratively and not in isolation

PRP can lead to a more atomised way of working as people concentrate on meeting their individual targets to achieve pay progression. The end of PRP would enable a much more collective and collaborative approach to school improvement.

PRP undermines positive and supportive appraisal

Teachers are less likely to speak up about an issue or seek support if they think it could be used as evidence to stop them going up the pay range.

PRP discourages professional creativity and innovation

The inflexibility of performance management systems linked to pay progression discourage informed risk taking and experimentation which inhibits attempts to discover new - and potentially better - approaches to teaching and learning.

PRP can compound systemic inequalities

Studies conducted by the European Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggested that PRP contributes to unequal pay between men and women. If we want to close the gender pay gaps in our schools, then getting rid of PRP is a good place to start.