§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what account has been taken of the situation of(a) disabled and (b) part-time teachers in the threshold procedures for performance-related pay. [118372]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe new performance threshold arrangements are accessible to all qualified teachers, including disabled and part-time teachers covered by the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Documents. Teachers' applications will be assessed in the context in which the applicant works. The assessment is about the effectiveness of the teacher in his or her own job.
The DfEE is committed to pursuing equal opportunities and has taken a series of steps to ensure that threshold arrangements do not discriminate on any grounds. The independent external assessors deployed to verify the assessments made by headteachers will receive training in equal opportunities issues and will work to a code of conduct which includes a commitment to pursuing equal opportunities. Their activities will be quality assured internally and by the Department. Applications made by teachers for threshold assessment will also be monitored for equal opportunities implications.