Performance Related Pay - a good thing right?

[StarlightMcKenzie]

especially the bit about being able to keep the better teachers in the classroom.

Personality. You have to form relationships with your classes and you can't do that if you're a robot.

We had an INSET about AfL this week with an OFSTED inspector. The current focus is progress over time. I have concerns about proving what I know about the progress made by my students because I teach a practical subject (Performing Arts) and they don't have books/folders in KS3. The fact is, I am constantly assessing- I'm like a helicopter parent, constantly buzzing around and correcting, discussing, making suggestions for how the students can improve/ develop/ move towards and beyond targets. I might write things in my mark book once per fortnight (this is KS3 drama, so I see them once a week, so I'm recording this once every two lessons). At the end of every half term, I do review grades for parents and fill in a progress tracker for my own records. I also fill in a box on a more detailed progress sheet (this is a comment, rather than a level or grade) for each subject. I have been assured that this is enough. OFSTED do seem to have some faith in teachers' professionalism.

For each student, that should say.

Depends on the inspector I think ET. We have also had training recently (they certainly have a lucrative sideline in CPD...) and although he spoke of progress over time, he was also all about short learning episodes and mini plenaries to demonstrate progress in the observation.

I reckon Ofsted observations are somewhat less objective than most teachers' progress tracking...

I'm pretty sure that Ofsted would be happy with a mini plenary where children self-assessed against success criteria or traffic lighted understanding without the teacher having to make detailed notes on each student's individual response.

Oh yes. We have digressed with Ofsted. My fault. Sorry.

Starlight, it's a bit like being on stage for the duration of a play (one man/woman play).
There isn't one minute during my contact time with children where I can fill in forms/tick boxes. That's not the best way to educate children. Hours of time at home and when not teaching cover that bit. I know what's going on, just don't have time to write it all down.

As a parent (of 4) I can tell a good teacher. I can assure you it isn't the one who ticks the most boxes. I am qualified to say this because some of my children are at university after great teachers helped them get lots of A* and A grades, and because I have done this job off and on for years (not for the money, I hasten to add). There are lots of rubbish teachers. That's awful, but there are lots of rubbish doctors/dentists/whatevers too.

Aaa agh, long post then iPad lost power.

Might try again but need to get over that programme on C 4. Am shaking with rage.

Once again another idiotic bureaucratic idea set up by a Government.
I feel so sorry for teachers as they are mostly unable to do the job they set out to do and get flack from all corners.
I don't use the education system anymore because the more I found out about policies, procedures and red tape, the more I realised that our dc were the last consideration for all concerned. My dd is worth more.

It's hard to argue when you put it like that, morethanpotatoprints.