By Michael Allen
More than half of teachers support pay being based on students' progress and results, according to a new survey.
52% of teachers said that "considering the progress and results of pupils they teach" should be one of 1.__________ (CRITERION) used to decide whether they should progress along the pay scale.
The survey, 2.__________ (CONDUCT) by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) for the Sutton Trust, asked 1,163 primary and secondary school teachers about performance-related pay (PRP) criteria.
3.__________ (RESPOND) to the survey were allowed to choose more than one assessment preference. The most popular options were assessment by more senior staff (60%) or by the headteacher (54%).
Ofsted inspectors grading lessons was 4.__________ (LITTLE) popular option (9%), closely followed by evaluation by students (10%).
The teaching unions 5.__________ (CALL) into question the methodology of the survey, saying it is "misleading" and an example of "spin".
National Union of Teachers (NUT) general secretary, Christine Blower, claimed the survey actually proved the opposite of NFER's findings.
"Despite the spin, this research proves again that teachers oppose the government's new PRP measures," she said.
"Historically, movement up the pay scale was linked to 6.__________ (SENIOR) and increasing professional skills and competence. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that teachers continue to favour the previous system, which is transparently 7.__________ (FAIR) and less open to biased 8.__________ (JUDGE)."
Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:
"[It] seems almost as if the [Sutton] Trust began with 9.__________ (CONCLUDE), then looked for evidence to support it. Moreover, the research is based on a small proportion of teachers and even then, more than one answer could be given to each of the criteria, so it is disingenuous, at best, to talk of the results in terms of percentages."
"Teachers were not asked whether pupil results should be the sole criterion for 10.__________ (DETERMINE) pay progression. We suspect that if teachers had been asked this question, the figure given in the headline 11.__________ (SHRINK) dramatically."
Sutton Trust's director of research Conor Ryan said in response to the unions' claims:
"Our polling is drawn from the highly respected NFER teachers' omnibus and is a 12.__________ (REPRESENT) sample of nearly 1,200 teachers. They were offered a range of options, and a majority chose the progress and results of their pupils as an appropriate method for 13.__________ (DECIDE) their pay."
Sue Birchall, business manager at Willesborough Primary and Infants in Kent, has overseen the 14.__________ (IMPLEMENT) of PRP in her school since last September. She said it has been a "fairly positive process" and is not surprised with the survey's results.
15.__________ (REGARD) "Pupil voice is important, but 16.__________ (SPECIAL) as you reach secondary school you're probably opening yourself up to an element of victimisation from certain pupils."
PRP was introduced for 17.__________ (EXPERIENCE) teachers in 2000. The coalition is extending this for pay increases during the first five years of teaching, replacing length of service. Schools are required to revise their pay and 18.__________ (PRAISE) policies to link pay 19.__________ (PROGRESS) to a teacher's 20.__________ (PERFORM) from September 2014.
TEXT 2 (B2)
Choose the correct heading for sections 1-4 from the list of headings below.
Write the correct letter A-E in the boxes given below. Remember, ONE heading is extra.
List of Headings
A Patience
B Zeal for Teaching
C Genuine Interest
D Classroom Management Skills
E Creativity
Talents & Skills Needed to Be a Teacher or Educator
By Tina Cisneros
Teaching can be a very rewarding career choice. You will have the opportunity to be in an educational environment, inspiring and motivating students to learn. But like every career, teaching can be difficult. Having specific skills and talents will help you succeed in the classroom. But don't fret if you feel you lack these skills; they can always be learned. If you are passionate and care about making a difference, chances are that you can be a great teacher.
| Section 1: |
Everyone has probably had one teacher who just didn't care. He spent the day explaining terms in a monotone voice, threw out whatever handout was available and screamed for students to behave. This sort of lackluster and lazy behavior shows a lack of passion for his profession. The most important quality of a good teacher is a passion for learning. As a teacher, you need to get students excited about learning and help them learn through your own enthusiasm. If you love what you are doing, it shines through. But remember that passion also needs to be matched by competency in the area in which you are teaching.
| Section 2: |
Teachers and educators are multitaskers. There is never enough time in the day to complete what needs to be completed. If you are highly organized, you already have an important skill. A day at school can easily be wasted if time is not managed properly. A good teacher enforces strict routines and procedures so that students know exactly what is expected of them and what they need to be doing. An efficient classroom is an organized classroom.
| Section 3: |
Working with children can be difficult and frustrating. They all come from different backgrounds, and all have different skills and different personalities. Nevertheless, you are expected to reach all of them academically. This is a huge responsibility. You need to be tolerant in handling tough situations and misbehavior. Students need to know that you care about them as individuals.
| Section 4: |
The nation is moving towards stricter standards and benchmarks, and testing has become a huge issue. Many schools are enforcing district-wide texts and curricula, and sometimes that makes a teacher's job difficult. But a good teacher will learn the curriculum through and through, and tailor it to the needs of students. It's all about resourcefulness and presenting that information in a way that all students will understand. Lesson plans need to inspire students; not every student has the same learning style, and good teachers offer variety in their lesson plans.
TEXT 3 (B2/C1)
Choose ONE phrase from the list of phrases A-I below to complete each of the following sentences 1-8. Remember, ONE phrase is extra here.
A whatever you need
B simply adapting them for different age and ability groups
C be they practical or theoretically based
D something which benefits both you and your students
E you will end up with an array of exercises that are productive and worthwhile
F even when the topic isn't the most exciting
G in no time at all
H with some additional time allocated to talking with students about any concepts they didn't quite grasp
I what approach they take with their classes