News from SE Regional Office

The latest edition of the SE Regional Newsletter is available on our website. The text version is as follows:
Time for fireworks?

Vol 2 No 2 November 2005

Broadband



News from the South East Regional Office
As Division Secretaries discussed in detail at
last month’s Briefing, now is the time for a
strong response to any TLR proposals which
result in our members losing status and money.

*Our focus should be on collective responses as
the best way to protect all members, with
threats of industrial action backing up members’
arguments where necessary. Even the threat of
an indicative ballot can be very effective in
persuading Heads and Governors to rethink the
“clean sheet” approach. *

We can obviously give advice to individuals about
how to pursue grievances should they find
themselves disadvantaged, but it is when
collective action is being considered that local
officers really need to get involved.

Division Secretaries have been given full details
of how to organise for a possible ballot in
schools, the first step being a meeting with
members to assess the level of support, as well
as collating information about what steps have
been taken to try to achieve a satisfactory
structure through negotiation, checking
membership details, identifying the position of
other Unions in the school etc.

We have less than 2 months to ensure that
every school adopts an acceptable structure.
Please try to make sure Regional Office gets
plenty of notice of possible requests for
industrial action.

Also, please keep handy the proforma
attached to Circular 05-137. HQ will be
asking for regular updates on TLRs (and other
aspects of remodelling) so do keep the info
coming!

PPA Time

Circular 05-146 gave advice on
how to respond if members
find they are being expected
to prepare lessons for those
employed to cover their PPA
time. Schools, particularly primary schools, are
using the new concept of “assigned teacher” to
expect staff to plan, prepare and assess work
for their class, including those times when they
are being “covered” during PPA time.

Clearly there is little point in having PPA time if
it ends up being used to plan for someone else!
This is one of the main reasons why PPA time
should be properly built in to the school’s
timetable and not seen as periods needing to be
covered. Schools should be examining their
educational “offer” constructively, not papering
over the cracks in a mechanistic way.

Regional Council

Saturday 26 November

Hamilton House

with

John Dixon

recently appointed Assistant Secretary
Regional Coordination & Action

N.B. We will also be seeking nominations for
the TUC Women’s and Black Members
Conferences – please raise at your next
Association meeting

New Members

With half a term behind us, now is the time to check
how many NQTs have actually joined the Union.

Circular 05-145 provided you with some useful
templates for letters and newsletters for new
members (particularly pleasing for Archers fans!) and
those of you who were at the last meeting of Division
Secretaries and Executive members will have
undoubtedly picked up some useful tips and materials
from Kevin Courtney, Camden Div Sec.
He has developed an impressive system
for carrying out all-year-round
recruitment without undue input in
terms of time and effort.

Don’t forget also the request from HQ
for feedback on this year’s
recruitment campaign. There is a proforma with
Circular 05-147 which should be returned to HQ by 2
December which is long enough both for you to
gather plenty of information … and to forget all about
it, hence the reminder.

Soulbury Members

While we’re talking Recruitment, don’t forget those
centrally employed Soulbury staff whom the Union
represents as well as teachers: LEA inspectors and
advisers, Educational Psychologists (EPs) and Youth
Service officers.

Divisions are asked to identify Soulbury-paid staff in
their LEAs and to seek to maximise union membership
among them. (Circ 05-145).

Health & Safety

The TUC has produced an updated
version of its book, “Hazards at Work”.
If you want a copy, contact the TUC on
020 7467 1294 or go to the website:
www.tuc.org.uk/publications.

Circular 05-136 asked all Divisions to examine their
local H&S structures and gave very useful examples
of how some areas have addressed problems in
finding enough Reps in schools.

The H&S unit at Hamilton House is monitoring
developments in this area, so please let them know
what is happening.

You can phone on 020 7380 4775/4875, email
p.bennett@nut.org.uk or write in. If you have
problems or want to discuss how Regional Office can
assist, please contact Marian or Patrick.

New Local Officers

This term we welcome Hazel Pickett who has taken
over as Div Sec in Windsor & Maidenhead. She is
going to come to Regional Office for some basic
training on 17 November. Any new, not-so-new or
prospective new officers are welcome to join us. Just
let us know.

Trade Union Education

For further info on courses in Trade Union studies at
Ruskin College, contact TU Studies, Ruskin College,
Walton Street, Oxford OX1 2HE; visit the website;
www.ruskin.ac.uk; email enquiries@ruskin.ac.uk or
phone 01865 554 331.

Learning to Behave

The Union’s new Charter provides
excellent backup for Divisions and
schools in negotiations for adequate
support for teachers in dealing with
behaviour problems and encouraging
positive parental involvement.

Make sure everyone in your LEA has a copy and acts
on its recommendations.



Union Learning Reps

Forum: 15 March 20

Courses: 28 Nov – 2 Dec 2005

6 - 10 March 2006

26 – 30 June 2006



School Representatives

21 – 13 November

7 – 9 December

6 – 8 February 2006

15 – 17 March

3 – 5 July



Pride in Education Conference

Saturday 19 November, Hamilton House



H&S Courses

28 – 30 Nov, De Vere Belton Woods Hotel

5 – 9 Dec & 13 – 17 March 06



Regional Meetings for Div Secs/Exec Members

2 Feb and 27 April 2006, starting at 10.30 a.m.



A reminder please that all Divisions are asked to
donate £20 to the kitty for refreshments for
these and similar meetings.

White Paper

Education White Paper - NUT reaction

Commenting on the new Education White Paper, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said:

“This is an extraordinarily wrong-headed White Paper. The Education Secretary’s picture of legions of parents knocking on the door to control schools is not based in reality.

“Parents do not want to control schools. They want to know they can turn to their head teacher or teacher if they have questions about their children’s education. They want to know their child is happy, safe and learning. Above all they want a good local school for their children.

“The vision of so-called academy style freedoms with a new and confused role for local authorities is hardly a recipe for stability and confidence amongst both teachers and parents.

“Instead of democratic accountability through education authorities we have a confusing mish mash of trusts and parents’ councils all with a say in the running of our schools.
This is a tangled web of responsibility rather than clear lines.

“The pity is that hidden amongst outlandish ideas, the White Paper has some genuinely good proposals. In particular, the commitment to personalised learning which the Union has been urging on the Government. That is now to be delivered with ring-fenced funding.

“If the Education Secretary is sincere about new freedoms in the National Curriculum, the profession will be delighted.”