Leading Article: Good teachers deserve to be paid more

TEACHERS SHOULD be paid more. With so many of the profession trapped under a pay ceiling of about pounds 23,000 a year, this is one of those truths universally acknowledged. Sadly, the National Union of Teachers ignores another universal truth - that quality in too much of the profession is unacceptably low. One of the reasons for putting up teachers' pay is to attract more able people. Most teachers, of course, are talented and do a good job in difficult conditions. But the suggestion by Chris Woodhead, the unpopular chief inspector of schools, that 15,000 teachers should be sacked, while tactless, was not unjustified.

The simplest solution, then, would be to sack 15,000 teachers and pay the rest more. Unfortunately, that would leave a serious shortage until recruitment picked up. So the Government is trying a more gradual way - tying pounds 1bn in pay rises over the next two years to performance. The NUT complains performance-related pay is "divisive". Well, any separation into good and better is divisive. Promotion is divisive. Life is divisive. At least David Blunkett's scheme will allow good teachers to earn up to pounds 35,000 and stay where they are needed - in the classroom.