Offering teachers more money if they reach set targets could lead to 'unhealthy competition' and stress on pupils, it has been claimed.

The Government suggestion that teachers should receive performance-related pay has received an overwhelming thumbs-down from schools in Southend.

Following an in-depth consultation with teachers across the borough the council has compiled a detailed reply to the Government Green Paper on the future of teaching in Britain which was rubber-stamped by the education committee.

The focus of the response was on offering cash rewards to teachers who achieve better results.

Southend's answer is that if a large number teachers reach the required threshold, money needs to be available to offer them all a pay boost.

They said: "Classroom teachers are worried that it will lead to increased 'teaching to the test' to meet identified targets, unhealthy competition between teachers and unproductive additional stresses on pupils."

"There are also concerns about the demoralising impact on teachers who are unsuccessful at crossing the threshold and how this will affect the teamwork which is essential to the continued raising of whole school achievement."

Southend's teachers fear parents may try and insist their children are only taught by staff who reached the higher levels.

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