TEACHERS have condemned Government proposals for performance related pay.

Bury branch secretary for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) Helen Andrews said: "The NUT is opposed to the reintroduction of the discredited Victorian system of payment by results. The proposals are divisive and represent an attack on comprehensive education."

And this week at its annual conference in Brighton the NUT voted overwhelmingly to boycott appraisal as the next stage in its campaign against the plans.

Mrs Andrews said: "The aim of the action will be to begin active opposition to the introduction of the Government's Green Paper on teachers' pay structure. Minor concessions by Government ministers have not abandoned the principle of teachers' pay being determined by pupil exam results."

She claims the proposals would destroy the team work which is so essential to successful schools.

"Teachers recognise that the co-operative nature of teaching makes it impossible for any one teacher to take sole credit for the performance of the pupils they teach. It is a pity that this is not understood by Government," she said.

A ballot of NUT members will be held this month and if they vote in favour of the boycott, the action would begin in May.

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