Held to account

published:15 Dec 2009

The 2009 Survey of Teachers focuses on accountability in teaching. Researchers randomly selected 12,500 teachers from the GTC Register and invited them to take part.

They were asked about recent developments in their profession, who they feel accountable to, and whether they have access to high quality continuing professional development (CPD) to improve their practice.

Who do teachers feel accountable to?
The survey asked about the various ways teachers are held accountable. Are they most accountable to their pupils, to implementing national strategies, or to school performance tables?

Respondents say they are held most responsible for individual pupil progress and least for the performance of their school in relation to others.

The above chart taken from the 2009 Survey for Teachers shows how 5168 teachers responded to a questionnaire in which they were given five choices and asked to state which they felt least and most accountable for.

What about professional development?
Nearly all teachers surveyed feel they have a responsibility to maintain and improve their practice with senior teachers, heads and deputies reporting the highest levels of participation in CPD activities.

Supply teachers reported the lowest with only 40 per cent saying they had take part in any within the last year.

The survey also reveals that the majority of teachers think that CPD has a positive effect on their teaching practice; with the areas of CPD teachers are most involved in being collaboration with colleagues and participation in external courses.

Find out more
There’s more about CPD and accountability in the full report, including a breakdown of results by teachers’ length of service, role and whether they teach at primary or secondary level.