SCHOOL governors have given their support to teachers in Blackburn and Darwen borough by voting to oppose performance-related pay.

Eight heads of Blackburn and Darwen schools recently issued a joint statement entitled "Headteachers Speak Out" which condemned proposals for a new appraisal systemincluded in a government green paper. Now school governors, at a conference at King George's Hall, voted against a motion which said the green paper had "considerable merit."

Lancashire NUT secretary Simon Jones said: "I am glad that governors voted the way they did and took the same stance as teachers.

"They too must realise that teachers' pay proposals are both divisive and demotivating.

"I also know that the Church of England and Roman Catholic diocese have both backed the teachers." Teachers are protesting at the Houses of Parliament tomorrow and will be balloted soon about a boycott of the proposed appraisal system.

Mr Jones added: "Teachers see the linking of pay to pupils results as unfair on those who teach children with less academic inclination.

"It could also easily encourage teaching to the tests so that children are crammed for examinations to the exclusion of other important aspects of education."

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