Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has unveiled a new $535 million ‘ground-breaking plan’ aimed at improving teacher quality and student outcomes.

Mr Newman said the new Great Teachers = Great Results direct action plan would build on Queensland’s existing school funding model and extend the current reform agenda to focus on improving teacher quality.

Mr Newman said that the $535 million will be delivered to Schools over a four year period starting in 2015.

“International research shows that student outcomes are closely linked to the quality of teaching in the classroom,” State Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said.

“A teacher in the top 10 per cent will teach in six months what a teacher in the bottom 10 per cent will teach in a year.

Mr Langbroek said the plan focused on two crucial areas; professional excellence in teaching and boosting school autonomy.

“The initiative consists of 15 actions including a structured annual performance process, mentoring for beginning teachers, accelerated progression and paid post-graduate study for high performing teachers and fast-tracking autonomy initiatives for schools,” he said.

“We will also enhance discipline powers across the state schooling system and allow the school community to play a greater role in the principal selection process by removing union representatives from selection panels.

“This is about concentrating funding on policies backed with research and challenging the notion that higher funding in itself guarantees success.”

For more information on the Great Teachers = Great Results action plan visit www.dete.qld.gov.au/great-teachers