Review of the Teachers' Standards: FAQs

As set out in the Schools White Paper - The Importance of Teaching, the Government's view was that the previous proliferation of Teachers’ Standards made it confusing and difficult for teachers to plan their own development, and to manage performance effectively.

Ministers appointed an independent chair, Sally Coates, Principal of Burlington Danes Academy in London, to carry out the review. Sally was supported by 14 practitioners and educational experts, including teachers and headteachers from maintained schools, academies and special schools.

The first report was submitted to the Secretary of State in July 2011, setting out recommendations for qualified teacher status (QTS) and core standards. The review group recommended that a new set of teachers’ standards should be introduced to replace the existing QTS and Core standards. This recommendation was accepted by the Secretary of State.

A second, final report was published on 12 December 2011.

The Teachers' Standards set the baseline expectations for all teachers' practice. They are intended to make it easier for teachers and headteachers to assess teacher performance. The purpose of the review was to provide a clear set of expectations to help teachers plan their own professional development to become good or outstanding classroom teachers.

In the second phase of its work, the review group considered a wide range of evidence from domestic and international sources. It also conducted a call for evidence which received submissions from over 400 individuals and organisations.

Following the production of its initial draft, the group tested its proposals with a range of audiences, including school leaders and experienced teachers in England and Wales. It also held discussions with the main teacher and headteacher unions. The feedback received from this process played a key part in helping the review group refine its proposals.