§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who will be responsible for leading the INSET training days in schools in connection with the new pay arrangements for teachers; and if he will make a statement. [111583]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisSchools are free to arrange INSET days in the way that best suits their needs. They will have a range of written materials available and my Department will be issuing further guidance. Some schools may wish to use the additional INSET day to work through the threshold arrangements with staff. Others may wish to use it to develop a performance management policy for the school with staff and governors. Headteachers and representatives of LEAs have been invited to one of a series of threshold training events taking place between 27 March and 14 April. At these events they will be given training packs and a "tool-kit" to take back to schools to help them explain the threshold process to teachers and governors. We are also arranging for trained performance management consultants to be available later in the summer to offer training and support including a one day training conference for a representative from each school.