Poor teachers rarely face sack according to survey

Data obtained by the Times Educational Supplement (TES) reveals discrepancies in the approaches taken by councils in dealing with staff who might be under-performing.

More than 3,200 teachers have been subject to investigation in the past five years, the TES found. Of these, 273 were fired or accepted severance pay. A further 550 resigned and 357 showed improvement after being subject to an investigation.

The Department for Education has announced plans to overhaul rules on regulating teachers. A spokesman said: "The vast majority of teachers are highly competent professionals who are committed to providing a good education.

"But where teachers do not meet the standards expected, it is important that headteachers have the freedoms they need to tackle underperformance."