I’ve just had a staff meeting about performance management. I left feelingcompletely confused about my position as an NQT. Do I have to be interviewed, set targets and so on? I’ll finish my induction period in February. Where can I find out more?

NQTs aren’t part of performance management. Under induction, you’re already setting objectives, reviewing progress and being assessed termly. Your induction tutor has a role similar to that of a team leader as the person in charge of your monitoring, support and assessment. When you complete your induction, you’ll slot into the performance management system.

See your school’s policy, but the guidance says you should have three to six objectives for a year. At least one of them should be about pupil progress. Usually, this focuses on how you can help the school meet its performance targets - say, of getting 80 per cent of pupils to level 4 at the end of key stage 2. At least one other objective should be about developing professional skills and will give you access to relevant training. Your team leader will observe you at least once and meet you at the end of the year to review your achievement.

Performance management is only linked to pay in that potentially you could get two (rather than the usual one) spine points in a single year for exceptional performance. Teachers on the fast track are expected to do so. The only problem with your position is that you’ll finish induction in February, half way through most schools’ peformance management cycle. So you need to ask your headteacher how you’ll fit in. Either you’ll have objectives for the one and a half terms until the end of the year or you won’t have any set until July or September. Your school policy should provide information but there are also books such as Performance Management by Bubb, S and Hoare, P (Fulton pound;16). Guidance materials are available on www.dfes.gov.ukteachingreformsrewardsperfmanage E-mail questions to susan.young@newsint.co.uk. Sara Bubb cannot enter into personal correspondence. More questions at www.tes.co.uk.