Huge rise in pay-offs for bad teachers: Use of golden goodbyes soar five-fold in a year Use of so-called compromise agreements has risen five-fold in a year Teachers promise not to complain about their former employer In return they receive a large pay-off before they leave Critics have likened the deals to "rewards for failure" Schools are giving golden goodbyes to soaring numbers of bad teachers. The use of so-called compromise agreements has risen five-fold in the past year according to one union official. In return for a big pay-off, the teachers promise not to complain about their former employer or take them to a tribunal. In return for a big pay-off, the teachers promise not to complain about their former employer or take them to a tribunal The rise of the agreements suggests headmasters are taking a harder line on weak staff in the face of tougher Ofsted inspections. But the deals were likened to "rewards for failure" yesterday. "If a teacher is not up to the job, they should expect to be out on their ear - not in a position to negotiate a five-figure lump sum to send them on their way," said Matthew Sinclair of the TaxPayers" Alliance. The unions would do well to remember that every pound spent on paying off poor teachers is a pound less available to be spent on educating children, which surely ought to be their top priority. Matthew Sinclair of the Taxpayers Alliance said that teachers should not be rewarded for a bad performance The agreements do not prevent teachers from working at other schools - meaning they could walk into a new job after receiving the windfall. Ofsted last year announced that schools would no longer be classed outstanding if teaching was only good. Since then barely a quarter of top schools that have been re-inspected have maintained their status. "No notice" inspections have put further pressure on headmasters. Dave Evans, an NASUWT rep in Sefton, Merseyside, said compromise agreements made it much cheaper and quicker to get rid of staff. The number of teachers who have benefited from such pay-offs in his area has risen from two to 11 in a year. Their pay-offs, which ranged from £6,500 to £19,000, came from the budgets of individual schools. "It's not surprising my members say they feel bullied and brassed off due to the pressure they are getting from above but that is because schools are under so much pressure to do well in their Ofsted reports," Mr Evans said. The goal posts have changed, which is why outstanding schools are now suddenly being classed as inadequate. He said schools would justify getting rid of staff by receiving an improved Ofsted report. Liverpool NASUWT vice-president Pam Rotheroe-Hay also reported a significant increase in compromise deals. "Head teachers are stressed and that puts downward pressure on classroom teachers, who feel the full extent of it," she said. Compensation won by unions for members broke through the £30million barrier for the first time last year. Education Secretary Michael Gove has given schools the power to sack the worst staff in a term, rather than a year This included £12.5million for 984 NASUWT members under compromise agreements and £4.3million for Association of Teachers and Lecturers members. It was not clear last night how many of these were arranged in relation to poor performance. Education Secretary Michael Gove has given schools the power to sack the worst staff in a term, rather than a year. A three-hour annual limit on headmasters observing lessons was also lifted, enabling them to swiftly identify low-quality teaching.