ATL

ATL comment on the Education Committee report, Great Teachers: Attracting, Training and Retaining the Best

1 May 2012

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:

"We are pleased that the Select Committee has highlighted the "fantastic and inspiring work which goes on in many classrooms". We also support its call for the government to recognise the incredible passion, expertise and skill of the vast majority of teachers.

"We are delighted that the Select Committee recommends development of career ladders for ambitious teachers who wish to stay in the classroom and support for CPD as an entitlement for all teachers. Professional career frameworks for teachers will lead to a profession even better prepared for the vital role of educating children and young people."

Notes to editors

1. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 170,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.

2. ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first rate research, advice, information and legal advice.

3. ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.