I’d like to clarify some misunderstandings about Chartered London Teacher status that might arise from your article “Rush to apply for chartered pay bonus” (TES, March 3).
Any qualified teacher in a London state school may register for chartered status at www.clt.ac.uk.
It costs nothing, doesn’t commit people to heaps more work and takes about five minutes.
Once the standards are met (after two years or more on the scheme), teachers benefit from the prestige of chartered status, Fellowship of the College of Teachers, two points towards eligibility for the key worker housing scheme and a one-off payment of pound;1,000.
Ministers have agreed to add resources to schools’ 2006-07 and 2007-08 budgets in recognition of the large numbers of experienced teachers who are likely to achieve chartered status within the first two years.
Schools will get an extra pound;1,000 multiplied by the number of staff registered before the rapidly approaching March 31 deadline.
Although this money isn’t ring-fenced or directly linked to the teachers who’ve registered, schools have to give a pound;1,000one-off payment when people get the status, as the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document makes clear.
To date, nearly a quarter of teachers have registered, seizing this opportunity to gain professional recognition for doing a fantastic job in London schools.
Sara Bubb Consultant for CLT (s.bubb@ioe.ac.uk) The Institute of Education University of London
