TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Early day motion 938, tabled 30 March 2004 by Gerry Steinberg (Labour). Signed by 42 members.

That this House is concerned that there are continuing and significant recruitment and retention problems in schools and that the absence of competitive salaries for a graduate profession, and of proper professional development opportunities for serving teachers, are major contributing factors; and believes that the Government's proposals, which remove the top two tiers of the upper pay scale, severely limit further salary progression for classroom teachers and freeze the value of management allowances will be seen by many teachers and headteachers as breaking promises and serving only to further demotivate the teaching profession.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 4, DUP 2, UUP 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.