Poor teachers can cause demotivation and gaps in learning leading to long-term damage of pupils, according to Glasgow City Council, which is pressing ahead with plans to remove incompetent teachers in line with Scottish Office guidance.
Councillors were yesterday set to back new disciplinary procedures to sack teachers who, even after further training and support, fail to match up.
George Gardner, depute director of education, argues that discipline and attendance can also be affected by poor teaching. Staff incompetence is said to have similar detrimental effects on the whole school environment and colleagues.
Mr Gardner maintains: “The effective delivery of the service is dependent upon quality of staff who are in promoted posts. Sound performance at management level is essential if pupil achievement is to be maximised.’’ He added that senior staff have a duty to help teachers who are having difficulties, offering their support in planning lessons, managing class activities, presenting lessons and organising work for pupils with different levels of ability. They should also help in dealing with discipline problems.
All forms of support will have to be logged, and formal disciplinary procedures will begin “where support is proving to be ineffective and where the performance of the member of staff continues to be unacceptable’’.
