Teacher lesson checks 'punitive'

Many teachers said monitoring was unhelpful or intimidating

Teachers in the UK are being exposed to an excessive amount of classroom monitoring and many feel intimidated by the process, a union says.

An online poll by the NASUWT union found nearly one in five teachers faced more than six observations in 2004/05.

Of the 6,887 members who responded to the survey, 37% had more observations in 2004/05 than in previous years.

And 17% felt the lesson monitoring to be unhelpful or intimidating and 35% said monitoring was not applied fairly.

While 46% of respondents were given about a week's notice before an observation, 5% received no notice at all and 16% received less than a week's notice.

The survey suggests only 52% can always expect written feedback about their performance, with 5% never receiving a written response.

'Punitive monitoring'

General secretary of the NASUWT Chris Keates said the survey showed practice varied widely between schools.

"This is unacceptable when classroom observation is an integral part of the national performance management system and informs decisions about pay progression," said Ms Keates.

"The lack of feedback in some schools combined with no agreed protocol and failure to consult on when observations will take place demonstrates that some teachers are being subject to excessive monitoring rather than professional observation.

"The union is seeking an end to excessive, punitive monitoring, the introduction of an entitlement for all teachers to supportive, developmental classroom observation, an annual limit on the amount and clear written feedback on the outcome."

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "Effective classroom observation should form a very important part of a teacher's professional development.

"That's why we are discussing with key stakeholders how to take forward the implementation of performance management arrangements, which are due to come in to force in 2006, and will make a decision in due course."