The government is finalising plans for a fourfold increase in the number of "superteachers" employed in state schools, according to reports.

Ministers want to increase the number of "excellent" classroom teachers paid as much as £46,000-a-year for passing on teaching tips to others from 2500 at present to 10,000 by the year 2006.

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Gwen Evans, deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "Since Advanced Skills Teachers (AST) have yet to find their role it may seem a bit unstrategic to throw more money in the AST direction.

"A lot depends on the detail. ATL would welcome the development if it came with opportunities for a re-design of the concept that would increase practitioner autonomy and properly reward teachers for their part in school level curriculum development and innovation. The flying superteacher idea may sound good to policy makers but it clearly lacks teacher appeal."

Forum Response: National Union of Teachers

John Bangs, assistant secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said: "Giving substantial pay rises to a handful of teachers would have an 'impact' on the overall settlement for the rest of the profession. The union maintains that a considerable rise above the level of inflation is needed to recruit and retain enough teachers to fill vacancies in some subject areas.

"Ministers have already introduced a higher pay scale for teachers who pass MOT-style performance tests when they reach the top of the salary scale. The 'superteacher' scheme is on top of that. A blueprint on the future of advanced skills teachers says they will spend almost 400,000 days a year improving teaching and learning skills in schools by 2006. Ministers have earmarked £33 million to help schools to meet their wages bill next year - funding almost a third of their salary costs.

"The boost to their number is one of several elements of the government's modernisation package being negotiated with the unions. Other plans include guaranteeing teachers the equivalent of a day a fortnight away from the classroom for marking, preparation and professional development.

"The NUT is defying plans to employ 50,000 classroom assistants, saying that would 'dumb down' the profession."

Forum Response: Professional Association of Teachers

Jean Gemmell, general secretary for PAT, said: "PAT has been concerned about the concept of Advanced Skills Teachers, or 'Super Teachers', since they were proposed in 1998. We have always maintained that the introduction of such a grade is divisive.

"Obviously we have members who are ASTs and who are doing an excellent job. However, we believe that the government should recognise the work of all good teachers - through higher salaries and more training - rather than allowing employers to pay very large salaries to only a few individuals.

"We are in favour of disseminating good practice wherever it exists, but we would prefer a wider range of teachers to have the opportunity to contribute to this.

"Most schools should already have a 'super teacher' - their head teacher. Head and deputy head teachers should be fulfilling the role of developing and spreading good practice in schools - as many are."