PERFORMANCE-related pay for teachers is proving unpopular, according to a union.

National Union of Teachers representatives for teachers in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen said members were unenthusiastic about a new system.

It comes amid claims the scheme could result in top teachers earning up to £70,000 a year, according a report the Policy Exchange.

The think tank said teachers would be able to earn up to £70,000 a year within an estimated five to eight years, compared with 12 years to reach a salary of £52,000.

The think tank also refer to a YouGov poll published in September which found 89 per cent of teachers want to be paid based on the quality of their teaching.

However Simon Jones, who is Lancashire’s NUT representative and Blackburn with Darwen secretary, said: “That is exactly what happens at present with teachers only moving up the pay scale if they have performed to the satisfaction of the school leadership. However, just two per cent of respondents in the same YouGov poll felt it ‘significantly more likely’ they would choose to work in a school where PRP was actually introduced.

“Measuring teachers' individual contributions is next to impossible. Teaching is based on teamwork and every teacher contributes in some way to a student’s development. Decisions will be unfair, subjective or even discriminatory.”

New powers for schools to reward teachers will see the first performance-linked pay increases made from September .

The NUT says it is currently trying to arrange talks with Education Secretary Michael Gove over pay and conditions.

If talks do not take place, a joint national strike will be called no later than February 13.