Management Information Sheet

Workshops for reviewers on Performance Management of teachers were held around the County during June and were very positively received by those delegates in attendance.

The programme included a section on the Performance Management statutory regulations and revised guidance, scenarios and activity, a Performance Management True or False Quiz, watching a Teachers TV Video entitled Performance Management: The Reviewer's Guide, an objective setting activity and clarification of the role of a Performance Management reviewer.

Each delegate received a hard copy pack and resources from the workshops are now available to download from the Norfolk Schools website at http://schools.norfolk.gov.uk/myportal/index.cfm?s=1&m=564&p=404,index. These resources include the slide presentation, Performance Management reviewer checklist, model Performance Management objectives, model Planning and Review statement, exemplar job descriptions and an explanatory Threshold timeline. Also accessible from the website is the most up-to-date Norfolk combined Pay and Performance Management policy (issued April 2010 under MI 71/10).

As highlighted by the recent workshops, schools might find it useful to take account of:

	Performance management provides the framework for the assessment of teachers performance in the context of their job description and the backdrop of the relevant professional standards.
	Performance management reviewers play an important role in the two years prior to the teacher submitting a request for assessment against the post-threshold teacher standards by working with and agreeing reviewees development needs, agreeing appropriate evidence to be collected (through objectives, classroom observations and other evidence) in line with their aspirations, and assessing whether or not a reviewee has made good progress towards meeting his/her objectives. It is the Headteacher who assesses and determines whether the standards for post-threshold are met. Further information about the threshold assessment process can be found at: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/payandperformance/threshold/.
	Teachers who have passed through threshold are expected to continue to meet the core and post threshold standards and to broaden and deepen their professional attributes and knowledge, understanding the skills in that context. To achieve progression on the upper pay scale, the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document requires that the achievements of post threshold teachers and their contribution to the school should have been substantial and sustained.
	The circumstances in which teachers are employed for short periods of time vary substantially and the actual period of employment often extends beyond that which was first anticipated. In applying performance management arrangements, every effort should be made to mirror as closely as possible all the arrangements for teachers permanently based at the school.

For queries related to performance management of teachers, please contact Peter Simmonds on 07795 265669, email peter.simmonds@norfolk.gov.uk or Virginia Wakely on 01603 638092, email virginia.wakely@norfolk.gov.uk; or your school's HR Consultant or HR Officer.

If you feel that, in terms of your own professional development you would benefit from attending such an event in the future, please contact Virginia Wakely in Children's Services on the above telephone number or email.