GEO is ultimately a timescale position. FOR RANK AND FILE TEACHERS. (Caps to emphasise)
SEO is created for Middle Management, with every paygrade clearly pegged to an appointment. SEO1 for LH, SH, AYH; SEO2 for HODs; SEO3 for VPs; and superscale for Ps.

Yes, maybe it is fair for workers to prove their capability before officially promoting them. But people shouldn't be undercut by so many paygrades.

If GEO3 is tasked to do GEO4 work, and after 1 year of showing that they can handle GEO4 work, promote them already! To intentionally keep someone at a lower paygrade, and demand greater responsibilities without the corresponding pay, is exploitation.

And what we are seeing is exploitation on a grand scale.

Nobody should be asked to do things many levels above their paygrades, without the due compensation. It is so common to see GEO4s doing SEO1,SEO2 roles, and being stuck in those roles without being promoted.

If they are really incompetent, give the KP role to the next person. If they are competent to hold that role, they should be promoted as such.

And given the size of the teacher population, it is ridiculous that schools cannot find KP replacements from among staff with more appropriate paygrades.

In private sector, if someone is deemed capable of holding a certain appointment, they will be paid the appropriate salary of that position immediately. E.g. Managerial role will come with managerial pay. No such nonsense as paying managers executive -level salaries for them to 'prove their competency'.