A new category of “middle leaders” for heads of department and subject leaders could also be in the offing, after education and lifelong learning minister Jane Davidson gave the green light to plans for a professional development framework for teachers. The framework includes the new categories alongside headship and newly-qualified teacher status.

But, unlike in Scotland, the new titles will not lead to pay rises.

Ms Davidson said the framework, developed by the General Teaching Council for Wales, would provide a “focus and direction to teachers’ current development activities and other opportunities”.

Mal Davies, chairman of the GTCW, said the minister’s approval meant it could now look actively at introducing chartered teacher and middle leader status for teachers in Wales.

“It will also enable us to investigate how teachers might attain additional and higher academic qualifications as a direct result of their teaching practice and continuing professional development activities,” he added.

The GTCW has already consulted on the five-stage framework, designed to mark out teachers’ career progression from NQT to headship. It will now work out what training or standards teachers will have to undertake or meet to earn chartered or middle leader status.

But NASUWT Cymru said the proposals would mean more workload for teachers.

www.gtcw.org.uk