A consultation is underway over moves to speed up the dismissal of underperforming teachers.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) has launched the consultation on proposed changes, which includes moves to issue temporary suspensions and speed up the process of allowing a teacher to accept disciplinary action without going to a full hearing.

"We believe that listening to the views of the education community on our proposals will contribute significantly to the relevance and quality of the framework," GTCS Chief Executive Anthony Finn said. "This is an important time for GTCS as we work towards becoming the world's first independent professional body for teaching," the Scotsman reports.

In England, it was revealed last week that headteachers will be given the power to sack underperforming teachers in a term rather than a year, in a new reform announced by the Government.

Many of the teaching unions have spoken out against the proposal in England.

Dr Mary Bousted, General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) commented: "We do not need to make it easier to sack 'bad' teachers. Those teachers who discover this isn't the job for them leave the classroom long before it gets to this stage. What we do need if we are to raise performance, rather than grab headlines, is to improve CPD and methods of supporting teachers."

Commenting on this issue, Julian Stanley, Group Chief Executive of Teacher Support Network stated: "We are concerned about the impact of labelling teachers as underperforming too quickly."

"Of course, underperformance must be addressed in schools, but Teacher Support Network has found that some of the teachers who have been labelled as 'bad' are simply lacking skills and experience. With advice from one of our trained coaches, these teachers have often been able to identify how they can take a pro-active role in improving their skills and gaining the confidence to seek support. Many can go on to have very successful, rewarding careers in education."

"The cause of underperformance may not be as clearly definable as some might think. We know, as the only charity providing practical and emotional support to teachers and staff working in FE and HE, and from the nearly 2,500 calls and emails that Teacher Support Network received last year on this issue alone that some teachers are concerned about a lack of support and mentoring. Others are struggling to thrive in the climate of fear or bullying that can occur when a manager or headteacher takes charge, who has not been sufficiently trained or developed themselves."

"Teaching is a rewarding, yet uniquely challenging profession, and, as in any profession, there will be teachers that will find these unique demands too hard to deal with over the length of their career and will need help to address performance issues or indeed support to change their careers with dignity, rather than a label."

"Moreover, with reports that two in five teachers leaving the profession within five years of training, and an education system faced with cuts, pensions disputes and structural changes and with the public's perception of the teaching profession at a low, the real cause for concern is how we will attract, recruit and retain the next generations of teachers to the profession."

If you are concerned about your performance in the classroom, or are feeling stressed or anxious at the thought of an inspection, try these links:

• Inspection concerns
• Stress
• Behaviour
• Tools for effective classroom management

Read Julian Stanley's comments in The Mirror by clicking here.