Note 21

This highlights changes to the threshold assessment process for mainscale teachers that come into effect in England from September 2009 (round 10).

From that date, schools will use the outcomes of teachers’ last two performance management cycles (where this is possible) to assess whether those putting themselves forward for assessment meet the post-threshold standards. This supports the aim that performance management information and data, collected by schools, should be used in a number of ways.

Teachers currently on M4, M5 or M6, who intend to put themselves forward for threshold assessment in the 2009/10 school year (and their reviewers) must familiarise themselves with the ‘Round 9 Threshold Guidance’ where these changes are outlined.

Note 22

This note responds to recently-published evidence of inappropriate support staff deployment practices and highlights the need for all schools to:

• ensure new roles and responsibilities for support staff, created by workforce reform, reflect the skills, training, expertise and experience of staff members
• ensure these attributes are reflected in appropriate pay and rewards and fair conditions of employment

Amongst other things, it suggests wider and more effective use of higher level teaching assistants. It also reinforces the view that deployment of support staff covering for absent colleagues is entirely separate from the deployment of support staff to support the provision of planning, preparation and assessment time.

In the longer term, the new Support Staff Working Group (which was established on 1 September 2008) will discuss issues concerning the contractual position and conditions of service of support staff. These issues will be the subject of joint advice and collective agreements reached between employer representatives and the support staff trade unions. In Wales, consideration of these issues will form part of the development work leading to the establishment of a 'national structure'.

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