Teachers performance management and review

Performance management (PM) is the process for assessing the overall performance of a teacher or headteacher (TDA website), in the context of the individual's job description and the provisions of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 2011 (DfE website), and making plans for the individual's future development in the context of the school's improvement plan.

The Training and Development Agency for schools (TDA) has commissioned a range of research, which concludes that schools that integrate PM, self-evaluation and continuing professional development (CPD) systematically across the whole school workforce, often show improved outcomes. PM should therefore be strongly linked to the schools improvement plan, pupil progress priorities and CPD needs.

Under the revised arrangements for PM - The Education (School Teacher Performance Management, England) Regulations 2006 - schools and local authorities have an opportunity to ensure that all teachers and headteachers are empowered and confident to engage fully with PM to develop their skills and careers.

By focussing on their practice and developing their expertise, teachers should be better able to help pupils achieve their potential, as well as gaining personal job satisfaction and progressing in their careers.

The process

The PM process can be grouped into five main sections:

planning meeting (including objective setting)
classroom observation and other evidence
review and link to pay
roles and responsibilities
process and timing

The revised regulations and accompanying guidance (DfE website) give full details.

As part of the process the teachers' professional standards should provide the backdrop to discussions about performance and future development. The standards define the professional attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills for teachers at each career stage.

Everyone involved in PM, such as reviewers and reviewees, senior school leaders and governors, need to be familiar with these key documents.