A federal government review says paying teachers $130,000 would attract high achievers to the job. 

The final report of Quality Initial Teacher Education Review, obtained by reporters ahead of its release, says high-achieving students avoid teaching because of its low status. A survey conducted for the report found teaching suffers from the perception among high-achieving students that it is not a “prestigious” profession.

However, the analysis says more would be won over if the top pay was lifted to $130,000 a year. 

Lifting the top rate of pay for teachers by $30,000 to $130,000 would make young high achievers 13 per cent more likely to choose teaching as a career, the report says. It would also be a motivator for mid-career professionals to switch to teaching.

“The surveys undertaken to support the review indicate that workforce and pay structures affect the attractiveness of the profession and the decision of high performers to enter ITE [initial teacher education],” the report found.

The review also suggests teacher quality would be improved by pushing universities to prepare students better for managing classroom behaviour, teaching children with disabilities and engaging with parents. 

It proposes giving teacher training faculties a performance rating and rewards for high scores, while making them publicly report how many of their academic staff have “substantial recent experience” teaching in schools.

The report is expected to be made public in coming days.