Modern Foreign Languages

The following resolution to be submitted to the annual conference of the NUT was passed by West Sussex Teachers Association at a general meeting on 27 09 2006

“Conference notes that the Government’s action in making Modern Foreign Languages optional at KS4 has resulted in far too few students leaving school with a qualification in a language. According to ambassadors to the UK this will have the effect of reducing the UK’s standing in Europe as the country is seen as “the language dunce of Europe.” It may also have the effect of reducing the UK’s competitiveness in the global market.

“Conference notes that as a result of the Government’s decision, Languages will again be seen as an elitist curriculum area in which only the most able can be successful.

“Conference welcomes the Primary Languages Strategy, but believes that the decision to make Languages optional at KS should be reversed for the large majority of pupils. “

Headteachers told to prepare for new Performance Pay regime in schools

STOPP PRESS

This is a press release from STOPP - School Teachers Opposed to Performance Pay - 21 September 2006

Headteachers told to prepare for new Performance Pay regime in schools

On Friday, September 22nd, Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, is expected to make an announcement confirming the Government’s proposals for a new ‘performance management’ system, now likely to be introduced in 2007.
The advice already being given to Headteachers makes clear what the Government intends. Schools will be expected to introduce a rigorous system of individualised performance pay. In future, teachers who fail to reach their performance management targets can expect to be refused further progress up the pay spine.
The DfES’ consultation paper on performance management, released in June, had already spelt out the Government’s intentions that, in future, “financial rewards will go to those who are making the biggest contributions to improving pupil attainment” 2 Ministers have always seen performance pay as a vital part in their drive to “raise standards”. But STOPP has always explained that it will have the opposite effect.
Performance pay will dangerously undermine the teamwork and morale that is vital to a good school. Staff will opt for schools where results are easier to obtain. As the history books show, “payment by results” deadens education instead of enhancing it.
Teacher concerns at the Government’s original introduction of performance pay, which led to the building of STOPP, forced Ministers to tread carefully at first. Instead of severely rationing pay as many teachers feared, most successfully crossed the performance “threshold” 3 when it was first introduced. But, already, increasing numbers have found their progression to the top levels of the Upper Pay Spine being blocked. The new proposals introduce this threat to teachers at every spine point.
Briefings being conducted by “Head Support Limited” earlier this week have brutally confirmed STOPP’s analysis. Advice to Headteachers in training sessions in at least two South London Local Authorities included:
 That Heads needed to make more ‘robust’ pay decisions – and that, if they didn’t, OFSTED teams will want to know why.
 That the criteria of “substantial and sustained” achievement now used to judge Upper Pay Spine progression was too weak, harsher judgements were now required.
 That inexperienced teachers should not be allowed to progress up the main spine every year to make sure they do not have an expectation of crossing the ‘threshold’.
These threats are already provoking an angry response in staffrooms. For example, a meeting of the Lewisham 4 Association of the National Union of Teachers on Monday 18th , agreed to call on their Union to consider national strike action to oppose the imposition of performance pay. STOPP expects this demand to be widely supported.
1. STOPP was launched by teachers in 1999 in response to the introduction of performance management and the “threshold”. It organised a number of protest events, including a march and rally in London in February 2000.
2. Paragraph 7, ‘Performance management for Teachers and Headteachers’, DfES June 2006.
3. A “threshold” assessment has to be passed to go from the top of the main pay spine to the upper pay spine.
4. Lewisham was one of the Local Authorities where Heads have been briefed by “Head Support Limited”.

Workload and Performance Management

The next general meeting of the West Sussex Teachers' Association will be on Wednesday 27th September 2006 at Durrington High School, The Boulevard
in Worthing. The focus of the meeting will be Workload and Performance Management.

These are major issues for all teachers so come and hear from our National Executive member how the NUT is representing you. We would also welcome your views and experiences on this.

Discussion on this issue will be ended by 5.30 at the latest. After this you might like to stay for the remaining part of the General Meeting.

A map of how to get to the meeting is here

CPD from the NUT

This is not just CPD, this is NUT CPD.

Details of the 2006/2007 program are available as pdf files:
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4

We few - we happy few.

First results from the learning needs survey.

So far we have only had the survey online and 8 people have responded. We have a membership of about 4000. More emails about the survey will be going out every Wednesday from now on. WSGFL mail enables us to contact a large number of our members, effectively for free.





The survey is online at
http://www.wsta.org.uk/test.htm

The NUT is providing Intermediate ICT training at Central Sussex College this term at no cost to West Sussex County Council. However the demand for ICT courses is high. We already have 38 members expressing an interest in ICT courses.

In the light of this we will be promoting the setting up of self-help groups and seeking the assistance of schools - such as the use of ICT equipment after school hours .

The NUT maintains a database of members interested in ICT training. If you email us at the address below with the following information you can be added to the database.

Name
Home address or school address
Whether you want a basic course or an intermediate course.

If you want further information email wsta_addresses(at)yahoo.co.uk replacing the (at) with an @ sign. You can also ring the helpline 01342 410805

Trust schools – young minds put at risk

Commenting on the Government’s announcement of the schools which are to pilot trust status, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said:

“The Government’s Trust Schools take power away from parents and teachers and give control of our schools to the sponsors. Parents will have no choice about the future of their schools – the Government rejected a parental ballot. Instead the sponsors – who may come from any extremist group or none – will be in charge."

Making for Most of Your Coach or Mentor

Making the Most of Your Coach or Mentor

The National Union of Teachers is delighted to offer its members unique and innovative distance learning resources for making the most of mentoring and coaching. Too often, those who provide training and materials for mentoring and coaching focus exclusively on the skills of coaches and mentors themselves.

The Centre for the Use of Research and Evidence in Education (CUREE) has developed an interactive, multimedia, distance learning resource for use by NUT members. It enables teachers who are being coached or mentored to act confidently when they are discussing their teaching and learning with their coaches or mentors. This resource puts NUT members in charge of their own learning and enhances their skills.

Try it out here

General Meetings

Wednesday 27 September 2006 4.30 pm
Durrington High School
The Boulevard Worthing BN13 1JX

Wednesday 17th January 2007 4.30 pm
Ifield Community College
Crawley Avenue, Crawley Avenue, West Sussex, RH11 8NF

Executive Committee Meetings

Meetings start at 10 am and there is an opportunity for any NUT representative to bring issues to the meeting.

09 September 2006 Horsham Professional Centre
Clarence Rd, Horsham, RH13 5SQ

02 Decembter 2006 Worthing Professional Centre
Glebeside Avenue, Worthing, BN14 7PR

27 January 2007 Crawley Professional Centre
Furnace Drive, Furnace Green, Crawley, RH10 6JB

24 March 2007 Chichester Professional Centre
Stockbridge Road, Chichester, PO19 2EF