Advanced Skills Teachers

HC Deb 31 July 1998 vol 317 c805W

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the procedures for the assessment and identification of advanced skills teachers; [52990]

(2) who will be responsible for identifying teachers to be appointed as advanced skills teachers. [52991]

Ms Estelle Morris

It is for schools to create Advanced Skills Teacher posts and identify candidates to fill those posts. Before a candidate can be appointed to an AST post, he or she must undergo an assessment against national standards appropriate to the best teachers. The assessors are suitably qualified persons employed by Westminster Education Consultants. The assessors are responsible for confirming that candidates are suitable for AST status; the schools may then appoint such candidates to AST posts.