Teachers' two-way mirror threat

Teachers are concerned about how the observation mirrors will be used

Teachers are warning they will not work in classrooms with two-way mirrors, unless there are clear guidelines about how they are to be used.

A pilot scheme has seen observation mirrors being put into classes for training purposes.

But the NASUWT teachers' union says there needs to be a much clearer national "protocol" for using such mirrors in schools.

Otherwise the union says there could be a ballot to boycott the classrooms.

"If we can't get a satisfactory protocol we would ballot our members so that they would not participate in activities in that room," said the union's general secretary, Chris Keates.

'Optional'

The use of two-mirrors is being tested in a number of schools as a way of improving the training of teachers - with trainers or senior staff able to watch the delivery of lessons without being in the classroom.

But the union wants clarification to ensure that such observations are not used in a "punitive" way - and for the setting of national guidelines on their use.

Among the schools using a two-way mirror is St Michael's RC secondary school in Bermondsey, south east London - which has one classroom fitted with an "observatory" mirror.

The head teacher, Martin Tissot, said the use of the observation classroom was "optional".

"Teaching observatories like ours are used for training purposes in training schools across the country. It is not used to performance manage staff but rather to give feedback on staff strengths and weaknesses to develop their teaching.

"Last year St Michael's school had the highest increase in GCSE results in the borough, which shows our teacher training techniques are having a positive effect," said Mr Tissot.

"A few staff have asked for clarification regarding the use of the room and so we are currently consulting with them and their union to produce a clear set of protocols that meets everyone's needs."

A two-way mirror was introduced last year into Nelson Thomlinson secondary school in Wigton, Cumbria, and its head, Peter Ireland, said it helped teachers to improve.

"The main concern of any head is the developing of the skills of his or her teachers. You don't learn to be a teacher from a book, you learn through watching best practice from other practitioners."

Other schools are using CCTV for similar purposes.