§ Mr. SelousTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to reduce the administrative burden on headteachers of the threshold training and supervision of their staff. [6546]
§ Mr. TimmsThreshold assessment has enabled over 200,000 teachers in England and Wales to have their professional effectiveness confirmed and gain a substantial pay increase. The number of first-round applicants was exceptionally large and its successful implementation is a tribute to the professionalism of everyone involved particularly head teachers. The number of second-round applicants will be much smaller, guidance and training materials have been improved and heads will be able to build on their first round experience. Accordingly, the second round of threshold assessment will be much less time consuming for heads than the first.