Concerns raised over ?4,000 return to work bonus

The government has been given the green light to offer teachers a ?4,000 'welcome back' payment if they return to the profession, despite concerns from the School Teachers' Review Body.

The body, set up by parliament to examine teachers' pay, yesterday published a report that gave the go-ahead for government plans to introduce the new payments, but expressed doubts about its effectiveness.

"We question whether the bonus is the most effective use of the resources available given that a significant proportion of returners would have returned to teaching without the need for financial incentive," the report said. "We are also of the view that existing hard-pressed teachers might well regard [it] as unfair."

Although the plan is still in consultation, the government has clearly set out which teachers would receive what payments.

Maths, science, modern languages, design and technology, information and communications technology and English teachers will be offered the money if they return to teaching in a grant maintained or special school between April 17 and December 31.

Those returning to teach in all other subjects will receive ?2,000.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers' policy secretary, Tony Meredith, said yesterday's plans were proof the government was becoming desperate about recruiting teachers and still had not grappled with the root causes of teacher shortages, which in some areas are leading to threats of four day weeks.

"They are looking at the issue in too mechanistic a way, they need to move on. Everyone is quietly sceptical about the point of this money. Yesterday's evidence from the STRB shows that people who got out of teaching are more worried about the work load than about the pay," Mr Meredith said.

The ATL believes the government needs to look, not just at advertisements and one-off payments, but the burdens on teaching that have made dedicated staff no longer enjoy their work.

However, a spokeswoman for the Department for Employment and Skills defended the government's handling of these broader questions.

She said: "The welcome back bonus is only part of a much wider strategy on teacher recruitment and retention. We have already made progress in reducing the bureaucratic burdens on teachers and we agreed in May to the review body's request for a study of teacher workloads."

Under the government's plans, the first payments should be made to teachers in their October pay packet.

Final details of the scheme and application process will be available later in the summer after consultation is completed. However, teachers who think they qualify, can contact the registration line on 01928 792 022.