Labels

Labels should help you find information. For example if you want to know when the next meeting is, click on "meetings".

For information about the pay campaign click on "pay"

Teachers will inspect OFSTED

Teachers are organising a No Notice Inspection/Lobby of OFSTED's head office, 125 Kingsway London WC2 Wednesday 13th January 4:30pm – 6:00pm. We'll have placards with some of their latest idiocies.

Conditions of Service Advice

To get advice from the NUT on conditions of service

Click here

DisSATisfied

Video by Andy Woolley, Carly Doyle and directed by Marian Darke

Meet the parents!

From the Teacher Support Network:

In our wellbeing survey a year ago, many of you told us that you had been affected by problems with pupils' parents.

As a result, we are now looking at this issue more closely, and we would really like to hear more about your experiences and opinions on relations with pupils' parents - good or bad.

This new survey comes at a crucial time. The Government will be proposing a host of new measures next week which could strongly impact on parent-teacher relations and your wellbeing.

We want to engage with government and others on this issue and can do so much more effectively if we can give a strong indication of teachers' opinions on these issues. The survey findings will also feed into an influential report that we are preparing with the parent support charity, Parentline Plus, so please spare five minutes or less to take part.

To start the survey, just click here: http://bit.ly/390ZX0

Factsheets:
Meet the parents: http://bit.ly/fH2tH
In the classroom: working with other adults: http://bit.ly/2uECLq
Dealing with difficult people: conflict in the workplace: http://bit.ly/2AaG7G
Seven types of difficult people: http://bit.ly/3JUySq

Press Release on SATS and the Alexander Report

Press Release from the West Sussex Teachers’ Association


The National Union of Teachers is holding an indicative ballot of its members in West Sussex over a boycott of SATS at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 1.

In the light of the Review on the condition and future of English primary education headed by Professor Robin Alexander, SATS are seen by education experts as a block to the creative talents of children and have led to an unacceptable level of "teaching to the test" in order to meet government targets.

The bullying OFSTED regime has not raised standards but has increased the stress on teachers and therefore indirectly on pupils.

The NUT welcomes the Alexander report and does not believe that the political parties should ignore its findings.

The following press release from the NUT nationally is appended for information:

Commenting on the final report of the Review on the condition and future of English primary education headed by Professor Robin Alexander, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;


"It is a testament to primary schools that they are considered by pupils and parents as a haven in an increasingly perilous world. Despite suffering a raft of damaging top-down initiatives, the finding by the Cambridge Review that primary schools are doing a good job is a rebuttal to their detractors amongst politicians and the media.

"While the Cambridge Review is right to highlight the dangers of relying on Ofsted and national tests as measures of pupil achievement, we shouldn't fall into the trap of
believing that we don't know how well primary schools are doing. As Robin Alexander himself says, primary schools are doing a good job and parents and children know that.

"I support Robin Alexander's argument for a fundamental overhaul of the current, unacceptable system of testing and punitive Ofsted inspections. The Review's damning verdict on SATs validates the NUT's campaign to end them. How much more evidence does the Government need before it realises that this is a useless system for assessment which has done nothing but bring unwelcome and unnecessary pressure on schools which are self-evidently successful.

"The fact that such an authoritative report highlights the damaging impact of child poverty on children's learning and wellbeing must make ending child poverty a top priority for this and future governments.

"There is every argument for replacing the current, complicated National Curriculum structure for primary children with a foundation and primary stage. All the evidence shows that proper, in-depth early years education provided by qualified teachers gives the best possible start to children's schooling. Jim Rose's Review, constrained as
he was by endless Government restrictions, could not have considered such a bold recommendation.
"A full review of primary staffing is long overdue. For too long, individual primary teachers have had to juggle a range of National Curriculum subjects and the needs of
enthusiastic children.
"The message from the Cambridge Review is that funding for primary education must be levelled up to match that in secondary education. The point about reducing class size is that it reduces stress on individual teachers, and reduces the likelihood of illness and unreasonable marking and recording demands.

"Robin Alexander is right to highlight our needing a highly qualified, well trained workforce. The fact is that primary teachers are now immensely well-equipped to deal with the challenges of primary education.

"It is absolutely extraordinary that the Government has decided to ignore the Cambridge Review recommendations. Any government worth its salt, particularly in front of an impending General Election, would have embraced this immensely rich report as a source of policy ideas. It is not too late for the Government to recognise that not all good ideas emanate from the minds of civil servants. Let's hope
that the Cambridge Review becomes the benchmark for both Government and opposition parties when formulating future policies on primary education."

Oppose the change to school starting age

Recommendation 14 of the Rose review of the Primary Curriculum proposes a single point of entry which would result in large numbers of children beginning school before they are developmentally ready to do so. It would also result in England being at the bottom of the league in terms of school starting age.

There is a petition against this proposed change which is supported by the National Campaign for Real Nursery Education.

You can sign it here

You can contact and join the NCRNE

Click here

Brighton Schools Not for Sale

People may remember how the Barrow Schools Not for Sale launched a campaign against Academies which unseated the mayor and came within one vote of unseating his deputy.

The Brighton Schools Not for Sale campaign is fighting proposals to bring in an Academy at Falmer. They aim to alert teachers and the local community to the known dangers of academies and the loss of democratic control when religious sects or big businesses take over from elected local authorities.

They have a meeting on Wed 16th July at Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre at 4 pm. Any members who live in Brighton might like to go along, particularly those with experience of the anti-academy campaigns in West Sussex.

There is also an online petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FalmerAcademy

Contact brightonschoolsnotforsale@live.co.uk if you can help in any way.

National Education Conference 2008

Six members of WSTA attended the National Education Conference 2008:

Angela Ahern (President)
Alison Baker (Vice President)
Marjory Hammond (Assistant Secretary and organising genius)
Derek McMillan (Helpline Co-ordinator and Learning Rep)
Veronica Peppiatt (National Executive member and Membership Secretary)
Malcolm Peppiatt (Classrooms for Kenya)

When they have recovered you will be seeing some reports on the conference on the blog.

The first is by Derek McMillan and covers the contribution of Professor Maurice Galton.

Have you ever felt that the introduction of PPA time has just seemed to be an opportunity for more of those “initiatives” which caused the workload crisis in the first place? “You must do this now, we've given you PPA time!”

Professor Maurice Galton's contribution to the conference was to explain his research on the effects of workforce reforms on schools. The most startling of which is that in fact teacher workload has increased rather than been reduced.

Time spent training and supporting Cover Supervisors has been one factor. While the government gets teaching on the cheap, valuable PPA time is eroded by this kind of activity.

The “Learning to Learn” and “Assessment for Learning” Framework is another. These changes require more time and different complex skills for teachers and are beyond the training of Cover Supervisors.

Teaching Assistants do a brilliant job but are often “glued” to a particular pupil and therefore cannot assist the teacher by lightening the workload.

And he quoted a statistic – concern about pupil behaviour in primary schools has increased; the number of classes being taken by Cover Supervisors or TAs in primary schools has increased. As one TA who was quitting the job put it, “The three day’s training wasn’t quite enough!”

The whole of Galton's work is summarised in the Education Review which can be obtained from the Union Learning Rep wstalearn@yahoo.co.uk for £5 plus P and P. I am aware of the irony, “I don’t have time to read about teachers’ excessive workload – too busy!”

Scrap SATS

The Guardian held a poll with the question, "Should SATS be scrapped?" and the final result was

Yes 92.4%
No 7.6%

Writing on the Education forum discussion board John Simkin said:

"When testing and league tables were introduced by the Tories, Labour opposed them. Once in power, Labour have extended their use. It is clear from the interviews with ministers that they have no understanding of what education is all about. Education ministers in Wales and Scotland were quick to remove SATs once they got independence from London."

Remember the petition on the Downing Street website

Hardship fund update

Hardship fund.

If you were unable to strike for any reason or you are one of the
thousands of members of other unions who supported the NUT strike
then you can help by donating to the hardship fund.

See your rep, email wstalearn(at)yahoo.co.uk or ring the helpline for details

If on the other hand you had difficulty joining the strike
because of financial hardship inform your rep who can pass on the
information to Phil. The purpose of the hardship fund is to
lighten the burden on teachers who want to join us and come to the
rally in Worthing Pavilion Theatre at 10 am on April 24th...

Claims to the hardship fund should be submitted by the end of July. Donations will always be welcomed :)

Day of Action

283 members attended the rally in Worthing on 24th April and it was a great start to the Fair Pay for Teachers campaign.

Veronica Peppiatt gave a moving tribute to Steve Sinnott and emphasised that he could always see the good in people – even those who bitterly opposed him and how he had sought to use all the talents of union members and pull the union together. It is up to us to make use of that unity and take the union forward.

There was a minute’s silence in memory of Steve.

Regional Secretary Marian Darke struck a different note entirely when she sang about Ed Balls seeing the light and deciding to stop the Academy Program and abolish SATS and OFSTED and ended up with the idea that the strike would show the determination of teachers to bring about these changes and achieve fair pay for teachers.

Veronica then spoke about the thinking of the National Executive on how to take the campaign forward after the strike. No serious economist supports the government’s view that public sector pay causes inflation and she wondered aloud how an increase in teacher’s pay could retrospectively increase oil prices!

The government uses one measure of inflation to calculate the debts of young teachers and a different, much lower measure when it comes to calculating teacher’s pay. The National Executive meets next week to decide what action we can take on pay and workload.

The mood of the meeting was electric and speakers were cheered to the echo. The biggest applause was reserved for Marian Darke.

There was a mood of enthusiasm and a feeling that the campaign should be taken forward. Members were keen to take petition forms. The key task now is to strengthen the union organisation – it has been shown that reps were the key to the success of the strike in individual schools – and create email groups of reps to share ideas and to use the union’s facebook group and this blog to keep in touch with each other.

The people at the meeting are the key to the future of West Sussex Teachers’ Association.

If you have experiences of the strike to share with us you can join our facebook group or email WSTAlearn(at)yahoo.co.uk

Meanwhile anybody who did not get the petition can download it by clicking

here

Local Voice preview

Here is a preview of the forthcoming Local Voice based on Classroom Teacher 3

Click here

A qualified teacher in every classroom

There has been a petition to call on the government to insist pupils are taught by qualified teachers. This is the Downing Street response.

You may have your own views on whether politicians always tell the truth or not but this might be a useful response next time your SLT leave classes to be taken by unqualified staff:

"It is certainly the intention that all classes should be led by a qualified teacher.

"The work that teachers and others are allowed to do in schools is set out in regulations. The regulations state that, what is known as 'specified work', which includes the planning and preparing of lessons for pupils, the delivering of such lessons and the assessment and reporting of progress and attainment of pupils may only be carried out in a school by qualified teachers or others included in specified categories of exception. Exceptions would include Overseas Trained Teachers who, although will not be qualified in this country, will have an overseas teaching qualification, and Instructors who, although without a teaching qualification, will have special qualifications or experience that the local authority or governing body will consider relevant. Support staff may be permitted to undertake specified work only if the following conditions are satisfied: it is to support the work of a qualified or nominated teacher; the work is carried out under the direction and supervision of a qualified or nominated teacher; and the head teacher is satisfied that the support staff member has the skills, expertise and experience to carry out such work."

Steve Sinnott 1951-2008

NUT General Secretary, Steve Sinnott, died suddenly on 5 April, 2008. He was 56. His loss will be keenest felt by his beloved wife Mary, his son, daughter, grandchildren and extended family.

Steve was General Secretary from 2004, having served the Union previously as member of the National Executive, President and Deputy General Secretary.

The loss of Steve Sinnott is grievous for the teaching profession; catastrophic for all NUT members; and desperately sad for his colleagues and friends. For the international community the loss of a campaigner against injustice and tyranny is deeply tragic.

In his address to Annual Conference this year, Steve Sinnott opened by saying, “Steve Sinnott, General Secretary, National Union of Teachers”. He took enormous pride from those words. He thought it was ‘smashing!’ No-one loved the Union more.

Steve Sinnott was at the head of the Union during a most challenging period. The Union is in the midst of a major pay campaign. A one-day strike has been called on 24 April. His skillful leadership would have been invaluable in ensuring its success.
The Officers of the Union, acting as a Committee of Urgency, have decided that the strike should continue as planned.

Details of the funeral arrangements and other matters will be published on the Union's web-site.

Acting General Secretary, Christine Blower said: “Our hearts go out to Steve’s family at this sad time.

I know that he would have wanted the Union to go ahead with all its campaigns because he believed in all of them with his heart as well as his head.

At a later stage we will have the opportunity properly to remember Steve Sinnott, to honour his achievements and to celebrate his life.
For now, the best way to mark our respect would be to maximise the effect of the campaigns to which he was so committed.”

TES online survey

The TES online survey shows massive support from non NUT teachers for strike action. Their union leaders should wake up and pay attention!

Source: TES online survey of 7,336 teachers, of whom 3,521
were NUT members

Is the one-day strike on April 24 a good idea?

All teachers Yes 62% No 38%
Non-NUT members Yes 52% No 48%
NUT members Yes 73% No 27%
(The same proportion of NUT members said they intended to
walk out on April 24)

Will it cause your school to close?

All teachers Yes 47% No 53%
Non-NUT members Yes 39% No 61%
NUT members Yes 55% No 45%

Lots of teachers are joining the NUT so that they can join their colleagues in the strike action on April 24th.

To be covered for the strike they can join anytime up to Wed April 23rd.

The easiest way to join is by ringing 0845 300 1669.

Joining rates - full time permanent

If joining by Direct Debit the fee for the rest of the year for a full time permanent teacher is pro-rata'd down to £99.40

Signing up to DD instalments before the 17th April will thus result in 7 payments from 1st May to 1st November of £14.20 each.

Supply and part-timers
Rates are less for teachers who work 0.6 or less, and lower again for 0.3 or less ( broadly half and quarter the above rates)

Teachers on day-to-day contracts also pay less.

Unqualified teachers on routes to qualified status.
Student teachers and teachers who are on employment based routes towards qualified teachers status can all be members for FREE until they get their qualification.

Teachers who have already paid some subscription to another teachers union.

Teachers who have paid subscriptions to another union can join the NUT for £7.10 for the remainder of this year - providing they are making a commitment to remain in membership of the NUT.

Deal or no deal?

All out on 24th April

Jumping the gun slightly here.
The Classroom Teacher leaflet on what to do if the union votes to strike on 24th April can be downloaded here

You can download it and print it out at no extra charge.

HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT

NUT AND National Education Association HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT

The US National Education Association (NEA) and National Union of Teachers are planning to hold a joint seminar for teachers focusing on civil liberties, human rights and freedom. The NEA and NUT are keen to draw on the experience of their highly successful professional development programmes and to work together to build on this.

It is expected that this will be a remarkable professional development opportunity for those involved. I am writing to ask if you are aware of any colleagues that would be interested and able to attend the initial two day seminar on Tuesday 15th April and Wednesday 16th April 2008.

The aim of the programme is to focus on the Magna Carta, a document of its time, but which encompasses values that are now seen as the very embodiment of the ideas of freedom, justice, fairness and human rights. In particular there would be analysis of the Magna Carta and how it relates to human rights, freedom and democracy; this would underpin further work developing strategies and materials for teaching and learning about the Magna Carta. A trip to Lincoln to learn about the Magna Carta is planned as part of the programme.

The format of the programme will provide an opportunity for teachers to work together during a two-day seminar, followed by further work through communication with a partner teacher. Participating teachers, from the NUT and NEA, will be 'linked' to provide professional support to each other (using telephone, e-mail etc) as they try out teaching and learning strategies in their classrooms. Participants may be teachers of any subject.

I hope that you may pass this information on relevant colleagues. If you have any questions regarding this initiative please contact my colleague Samidha Garg on 020 7380 4716 or via international@nut.org.uk . I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely


STEVE SINNOTT
General Secretary

Pay campaign information

Pay offer

Details of the current pay offer are available here

Let's win the ballot

Faith McGrath, NUT rep., Adamsrill Primary School, Lewisham NUT wrote this in Classroom Teacher 2 out now Click here to download


Let’s win the ballot

Most teachers have never taken part in a ballot for strike action so be ready to answer any queries:

How do I get my ballot paper?

Ballot papers will be sent to home addresses. Make sure the NUT has the right details for all your staff.

How can I help win the ballot?

Make sure all your colleagues know about the vote. Call a school meeting to discuss it. Call or visit other nearby schools as well. Some Local NUT Associations, like mine, have set up campaign committees - help build one in your area too.

Can my school stop me striking?

No! You will be protected by our official action ballot. If the NUT gives the go-ahead, thousands of teachers will take united action. We can all join together on the day, with local rallies and meetings too.

Can I afford to take strike action?

Can you afford not to?! You will lose a day’s pay - about £60 - but you will lose thousands if these pay cuts are imposed. With all the hoops we have to jump through, you can’t even rely on going up the pay spine to earn more. We have to rely on union action instead!

Will one-day action be enough?

From a solid first day’s strike, we must build the united public sector action that can make ministers think again. So vote YES for action!

NUTS about Facebook

There is a group for everything on Facebook. There is now even a group for NUT members.

Click here

Pay – Something We Can Achieve

West Sussex NUT Extraordinary General Meeting,
Saturday 1st Dec.
10 – 11 a.m.
Southern Area Professional Centre,
Worthing
Click here for the leaflet
Map


International Resource Centre, Southern Area Professional Centre,
Glebeside Avenue, Worthing BN14 7PR Tel: 01903 847625


The centre is approximately 15 minute walk from West Worthing station and 20-25 minutes from
Worthing Central.(Taxis available)


Have Your Say on Pay


Ian Murch (National Treasurer) looks at the prospects for our pay campaign

Teachers’ pay has been eroded in purchasing power by about 2% over the last year. A similar situation prevails in the rest of the public sector, but not in most of the private sector, where earnings are keeping pace with inflation.

From September 2007, we are facing a year in which another pay rise of 2.5% will see us around half a percent behind the rise in the cost of living.

At the end of October, the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) will report to Government on what the increase in teachers’ pay should be for the three years beginning September 2008. The Government’s evidence to the STRB, on what it expects them to report, is unequivocal – and underlined in the evidence itself - “a three year pay award with a basic settlement of a maximum of 2% per year”.

The evidence from the Government, and its trade union partners in the Rewards and Incentives Group (RIG), is a catalogue of the allegedly good things the Government has done for teachers. Delivery of the workforce remodelling agenda, they say, has improved teachers’ morale and reduced our workload.

These arguments will of course only annoy most teachers when they hear them.

Shamefaced Distortion of Reality
The argument for 2% a year is that this is the Government’s inflation target. It is the target for inflation on the new Consumer Price Index that the Government prefers to use instead of the old Retail Price Index (RPI). The CPI, which largely excludes housing costs, consistently measures inflation at around 1% less than the RPI.

So the Government’s intention is to cut our real standard of living by about 1% a year up to 2011, if it meets its inflation target. It generally fails to meet the target, so the real cut in livings standards is likely to be greater.

This puts the ball very firmly in the court of the NUT and other teacher and public sector trade unions.

We will know our fate potentially for 4 years into the future by the end of the month, because of the introduction of multi-year pay awards. A campaign that includes a willingness to take action is now more needed and justified than during any of the period since 1987. Quite a lot of our colleagues (maybe a majority) have never taken any form of industrial action. We therefore need to prepare and inform them, generate confidence and to create a campaign that consists of a range of activities that lead on to strike action if these do not succeed.

We have a responsibility to generate the most effective campaign that we can, and that we can and must overcome the scepticism where it exists.

Prepare for the Ballot
The National Executive is committed to a ballot in the Autumn Term to protect teachers from ‘boom and bust’ pay policies detrimental to the teaching profession.

As one of the factors that will determine when and how successfully we can act is the willingness of other unions to act with us. With NASUWT and ATL, the most we can hope for is probably that our campaigning puts them under pressure from their members. There is certainly no way they will act before the Government pronounces in November on the settlement for 2008-2011, and they are so tied in with the Social Partnership that it will take a lot to get them to move, even if that settlement is as bad as we fear.

If teachers are feeling the pinch, housing costs are a big factor in this. Every cohort of new young teachers faces the problem of getting on the housing ladder – a problem that is worse than it has been for 25 years.

We are committed now to this campaign.

Let us put all of our energies into generating enthusiasm and engagement among our fellow members and our colleagues in other unions.

Send your MP an E-mail about your Pay

One of the miracles of the internet is that you can email your MP directly from the NUT website.

Just click here

Bullying and Harassment

Another Dave Evans cartoon.

The NUT's Campaign for a Pay Review

The NUT is launching a major campaign for a review of teachers’ pay. Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, must decide whether or not the Government will honour its commitment to an inflation-related review of teachers’ pay.

Teachers are facing pay cuts in real terms. The 2.5 per cent pay increase in September 2006 was below inflation - Inflation has now risen further to 4.8 per cent. This has cost teachers hundreds of pounds - a teacher on M6 would have received over £300 more in September if the 2006 pay increase had matched inflation. The 2.5 per cent pay increase due in September 2007 will cause further pay cuts in real terms.

At the same time, your living costs are rising. Housing in particular is going up faster than inflation - house prices rose by over 10 per cent in 2006, rents are also rising and interest rates may soon follow.

The Union is calling for a review of pay and for higher pay increases to match the increased cost of living caused by inflation. You can read General Secretary Steve Sinnott’s letter to all NUT members here.

Tell us how your living costs and living standards are being affected by below inflation pay rises: click here to go straight to the form. Read other teachers' comments below.

Contribute to the debate and help the Union develop its case.

Click Here to add your voice. You can scroll down the page and read some of the existing comments before you add yours.

Peanuts anybody?

From Bradford NUT newsletter:
APRIL 2007

First, A Few Facts....

1. As teachers, our pay increases have been held down to, or below, inflation in recent years.
2. We received a 2.5% rise from April 2004; 2.5% from April 2005; 0. 75% from September 2005; 2.5% from September 2006 and will receive 2.5% from September 2007.
3. On top of this, anyone who is still in receipt of management allowances has not had a rise in the allowance since April 2003.
4. Also, from January 2007, we are all paying an extra 0.4% towards our pensions, cutting our rise from last September down to effectively 2.1%.
5. Annual inflation is currently running at 4.2%. Pay rates in the private sector are rising by more than 4% per annum.
6. Teachers begin their career earning 10% less than other graduates. After 5 years in the job, the gap has widened to more than 20%. This is in an era when far more jobs have graduate status.

Then, a Proposal from Mr Johnson, the Secretary Of State For Education, to the School Teachers’ Pay Review Body....
“I request the STRB, in line with our school funding reforms, to make recommendations on an award which runs from September 2008 - August 2011;....
….whether teachers' pay should increase and if so, the appropriate increase....
….in particular you should continue to base pay settlements on the achievement of the inflation target of 2 per cent, and the need for education funding to meet a range of priorities linked to school improvement.”
Then, An Opinion From Mr Brown, The Chancellor...
"You will have seen our determination to address public sector pay with this year's public sector settlements down to just 2.25 per cent. We will maintain vigilance in the fight against inflation. We recognise that around the world what's driving public sector inflation is rising public sector labour costs.
"Public sector payments must now be founded on meeting that 2 per cent inflation target."
Finally, A Comment From Us....

Peanuts till 2011?

No thank you Mr Johnson!
No thank you Mr Brown!

It’s an old trick to try to get teachers and other public sector workers to pay for public services by cutting their standard of living. It was tried to disastrous effect by Labour in the late 1970s. It does you no credit to think about repeating it.

We won’t let it happen now!

Nor will we allow Regional Pay to be used as a mechanism for reducing pay in areas such as ours, as is now being proposed for some of the Civil Service.

Our Conference was quite clear that we would seek united action with other teachers’ organisations and other public sector workers to defeat these proposals.

NASUWT, UNISON and PCS have already expressed similar intentions to fight a public sector pay freeze.

Action on Stress

From John Illingworth's survey:

"I often wake in the night and can't get back to sleep because I am thinking about work"

Agree: 59%
No view or disagree (obviously) 41%

1) See if you can get a similar survey in your school or in your area

2) A useful outcome would be if any "initiatives" had to take account of the increased teacher stress as well as the possible benefits to pupils, parents or administration.

3) No new initiatives which increase teacher workload in one area can be brought in without initiatives which reduce teacher workload in another area.

The survey, including the questions, can be downloaded from
here

Post your comments here or email them to wsta_addresses(at)yahoo.co.uk using the @ sign in place of the (at)

There is also a discussion of this topic on the education forum

click here

which reveals, among other things, interest in the survey as far afield as Tasmania.

and on the Times Ed website
click here

Crazy about work

A copy of John Illingworth's survey about mental health problems "Crazy about Work" can be downloaded from the WSTA website

here

Academies threaten teachers and education

Copies of the NUT document on Academies are on our website as a Word or Open Office document. Download it, print it out and discuss it.

http://wsta.org.uk/ACADEMIES_BEYOND_SPIN.doc
ACADEMIES: LOOKING BEYOND THE SPIN

The NUT’s Opposition to the Government’s Academies Initiative

Academies Put Schools in the Hands of Sponsors

Creating Academies involves the transfer of publicly funded assets to the control of an unaccountable sponsoring body, set up as a company limited by guarantee. Sponsors receive the entire school budget directly from the Government.

Sponsors have responsibility for all aspects of the Academy, including staff appointments, pupil admissions, curriculum and governance arrangements.

For a £2m stake, sponsors receive enormous benefits, for example school buildings and grounds, Academy supply contracts, advertising, developing the kind of workers they need.

Academies Threaten Fair Admissions Procedures

Academies are independent schools operating under the national Government’s oversight. This national structure has the potential to disrupt fair and efficient admissions arrangements within local authorities and in neighbouring authorities. Academies have the ability to effect schools’ capacity to achieve a balanced pupil intake through the provisions enabled by central Government.

Academies are responsible for their own admission arrangements, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. This ability to undermine the operation of a comprehensive education system could re-introduce a damaging selection process. Pupils with special educational needs, those who are learning to speak English as an additional language and those whose home circumstances are difficult, could be further disadvantaged in these situations.

The facility to give priority to children of a particular faith means it is possible for Academies to refuse places to local pupils.

As Academies receive considerably more capital funding than community or foundation schools, they have the potential to destabilise local admissions by sending the message that they are better than maintained schools.

Academies Have a Damaging Effect on Other Local Schools

Academies are designed to replace schools facing challenging circumstances. The initiative is based on the idea that to close and re-open schools will automatically remove the problems that existed.

Local Authorities may have to make up any shortfall in funding from the sponsor or DfES. This is likely to be at the expense of other local schools, many of which are in need of substantial funding. Academies have already received more money from the DfES than was originally planned.

Academies cost more than comprehensive schools - £21,000 per pupil place, compared to £14,000, according to the House of Commons Education and Skills Committee.

Where originally sponsors were asked to provide up to 20 per cent (capped at around £2m) of the capital costs for each Academy, this is now providing only 8 per cent or less. All future costs are guaranteed by public money.

Academies may undermine the support local authorities can give to other schools by refusing to participate in collaborative projects organized by the authority to support learning.

Academies damage the operation of local democratic accountability and make it difficult for parents to make representations or seek advice on educational issues from their elected councillors who have no responsibility for academies.

Academies Threaten Children’s Entitlement to a Broad and Balanced Curriculum

The Government has said that Academies, “can combine a greater flexibility over the curriculum with the sponsorship and expertise of religious, private or voluntary sector contributors...” The curriculum in Academies is therefore likely to be susceptible to being influenced by the ethos of the sponsoring bodies.

Very few of the announced Academies have an arts subject as a specialism and the NUT is concerned about the influence of some faith groups on the curriculum, in particular on sex and relationships education.

The facility to give priority to children of a particular faith additionally means that it is possible for Academies to refuse places to local pupils.

Academies Undermine the Independent Role of School Governors

The constitution of the governing body of an Academy is not prescribed and the DfES advice suggests that a typical governing body of an Academy might consist of 5 or 6 sponsor governors, 1 Local Authority or council governor, 1 staff governor, 1 teacher governor, the head teacher and 1 or more parent governor.

Sponsors may want to ensure that sponsor governors have a majority on the governing body.

The Times Educational Supplement’s investigation of the accounts of Academies highlighted the influence that sponsors have over the spending of school funding and the governing body. In several cases the accounts showed that the majority of directors of the company, which manages funding from the DfES and the sponsor, and are also governors, have been appointed by the sponsor.

Academies Threaten Teachers’ Pay and Conditions of Service

Academies, as independent schools, can operate outside the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document. It is the responsibility of the Academy to agree levels of pay and conditions of service with its employees and to employ appropriate staff numbers.

Whilst teachers in Academies which replace existing schools have their conditions protected on transfer, newly appointed teachers are often placed on separate contracts that involve longer working hours and less favourable working conditions. Having teachers working on different contracts can lead to a divided, two-tier workforce.


WHAT TO DO IF AN ACADEMY IS PLANNED IN YOUR AREA

Teachers

In the first instance, contact your NUT Division/Association or your NUT Regional Office for further information.

Look on the Privatisation section of the Union’s website at www.teachers.org.uk for further information.

– For further advice on admissions, governance, and curriculum issues contact the NUT Education Department on 020 7380 4717, for guidance on pay contact the Salaries and Conditions of Service Department at NUT Headquarters on 020 7380 4774.

Parents

Contact your local branch of CASE (The Campaign for State Education) www.casenet.org.uk.

Talk to the parent governors of your school about your concerns.

Look on the Privatisation section of the Union’s website www.teachers.org.uk.

EXECUTIVE NEWS No. 132

Teacher Trade Unionists from Iraq
The Executive gave a very warm welcome to teacher union representatives from Iraq who were on a TUC organised visit to the UK. The leader of the Iraqi delegation thanked the Executive for the support and solidarity shown by the NUT to the people of Iraq and to the teachers’ union, at a time when they were experiencing extreme difficulties. He said that they would spare no efforts as teachers in Iraq and as trade unionists to seek to ensure that there was national unity, with one country for all Iraqis. The teachers’ union would face head on without fear the issue of sectarianism and the violence that was gripping their country.
They were campaigning to make sure that there was a modern curriculum in schools, one that addressed human rights and democracy. They were concerned about women’s issues in Iraq and were campaigning for women’s rights, including within the union itself. They faced the challenge of building an independent and democratic union at the same time as campaigning for a government that respected human rights and rights to organise, free from fear and oppression. Teachers in Iraq were at the forefront of attacks because of their position as teachers and the knowledge they could give to society to secure its future health.
The General Secretary made the point that the NUT sent its solidarity greeting to colleagues in Iraq and pledged support as Conference had determined.

The Primary Education Review
The Executive agreed the NUT’s submission to the Primary Education Review. The key recommendations from the NUT were:
there should be an independent review of the Primary National Curriculum and its assessment arrangements, which should focus on giving teachers more freedom to introduce play based activities into their lessons;
school leaders must be qualified teachers and have both teaching and senior management experience in schools;
there should be an independent review of the 5-14 curriculum to put in place a framework for a common curriculum entitlement that would support pupils’ learning;
school performance tables and targets should be abolished;
equality issues should be mainstreamed;
QTS standards should give more emphasis to aspects of primary teachers’ day-to-day pastoral work and child development;
there should be legislation banning all advertising and marketing on school premises;
early years provision, designated as “education”, should be provided by a qualified teacher; and
a funding review group, to include representatives from teachers’ organisations and support staff unions, should establish a mechanism for schools and LA services based on activity led funding, costing the requirements placed on schools.

Statutory Guidance on Schools Causing Concern
The Executive agreed the NUT’s submission to the consultation on the statutory guidance. The response called for a requirement that local authority policies on intervention be published and be drawn up following consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Such policies should include early warning to schools of any concerns by the local authority. Governing bodies should be able to appeal against a warning notice with a longer deadline than the 15 days proposed.
Conference Motions and Amendments
The Executive agreed that it should be the body to decide on the constitutional legitimacy of material submitted for debate at Annual Conference.

Academies
The General Secretary drew attention to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). He highlighted omissions from the report, including the failure to address the admission policies of academies; their higher than average exclusions; and the lower percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals compared with other schools in the same area. The General Secretary referred to the Prime Minister’s goal to double the numbers of academies planned by 2010. He also referred to the NAO report identifying Excellence in the Cities as achieving better results than Academies despite the injection of much higher levels of resources in Academies.
The Executive agreed a motion on Academies and Marketisation to be promoted within TUC Regional Councils. The motion referred to the decision of Congress 2006 and called on affiliates: to support the TUC in pressing for achievement of the Chancellor’s targets for school investment; to participate actively in local anti Academy campaigns and to affiliate to the Anti Academy Alliance. The motion called for the Academies programme to be abandoned.

STRB Report
The General Secretary commented on the STRB’s re-emphasis in its latest report of dialogue with “all interested parties”. In responding the Secretary of State referred to taking forward areas of work with “partners”. There were key issues in the STRB report concerning part time teachers and the roles and responsibilities of teachers. On the definition by the Government of “partners” these discussions would not include the NUT, even though the NUT was without question an “interested party”. This issue of involvement would continue to be addressed by the NUT. It would be taken up with the TUC in relation to the motion agreed by Congress 2006 condemning “sweetheart deals”.

TUC Matters
The General Secretary reported on the success of the TUC’s campaign, much influenced by the NUT, in respect of the Sexual Orientation Regulations. He gave particular thanks to Lesley Auger, General Council member, and Tim Lucas, LGBT Committee member, for their efforts in the campaign. The recent TUC Report “Out At Work” was praised. The TUC had been attempting to organise a meeting of General Secretaries of education unions following the motion agreed by 2006 Congress on levels of education funding in the state sector compared to the private sector, which picked up on the Chancellor’s commitment. The meeting was being held up by one organisation being unavailable until the end of May.
The General Secretary reported that there was a need to press the TUC for a co-ordinated campaign on pay across the public sector, to include reference to the trigger mechanism for reviewing teachers’ pay.
There were a range of other campaigns being taken forward and supported by the NUT, including equal treatment for agency workers on which there was a Private Member’s Bill to be debated in Parliament on 2 March.
A further campaign related to the Trade Union Freedom Bill, also the subject of a Private Member’s Bill. A rally was being held prior to the debate, at which Christine Blower, NUT Deputy General Secretary, would speak.
The campaign on a Trade Union Freedom Bill would address the restrictions against industrial action over individual Academy proposals.
Further activities were planned on 3 March as part of the NHS Together campaign and these would be circulated to associations and divisions.

Developments in Wales
The General Secretary reported that the forthcoming elections in Wales had impacted on the level of activity by the Wales Assembly Government and by the Minister. The NUT would be distributing a Manifesto for Education in Wales, consistent with the Union’s policy objectives in Bringing Down the Barriers. The Manifesto would be launched at a meeting that would be addressed by the spokespersons of the main political parties in Wales, with the exception of Plaid Cymru.

TLR Action
The Executive received an up-date on TLR action. There had been 310 indicative ballots; 109 formal ballots; 93 disputes had been resolved and 17 were on-going; and there had been 2,690 strike days. There were no current plans for further days of action. Acas was involved in one dispute and another was the subject of further negotiations.

Broadband Vol3 No2

The latest edition of Broadband is available by clicking here

It is published by regional office and is of interest to all union officers and reps.

It also has some quite interesting news about the Haywards Heath office.

Union elections 2007-2011

2007-2011 Elections for · National Disciplinary Panel
· National Appeals Committee
· Advisory Committee for Young Teachers
· Advisory Committee for Retired Teachers

You can vote online at
https://secure.votebyinternet.com/nutrpc07/default.asp

The end of SATS (NCTs)?

The Government is consulting on proposals to change National Curriculum testing. If you are interested you can give your views on the NUT website http://www.teachers.org.uk/consult.php .

Are you under 35?

YOUNG TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE
2 – 4 MARCH 2007
APPLY FOR YOUR CONFERENCE PLACE TODAY!

‘The young teachers’ conference provides so many opportunities and has helped me develop as a teacher and a professional’
2006 Young Teachers’ Conference Participant

The 2007 Young Teachers’ Conference is being held in the tranquil splendour of the Union’s National Training Centre, Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham in Lincolnshire.

All young teachers, aged 35 or under, are eligible to attend.

It is both a fun and stimulating weekend. This year’s conference is focusing on environmental issues and climate change.

There will be plenary sessions, subject based workshops and campaign based task groups.

The keynote speakers are:

* Steve Sinnott, General Secretary, NUT
* Caroline Molloy, Green Workplaces Project Leader, TUC
* Chris Southwood, Development Coordinator, Groundwork UK
* Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary, Education International

Workshops will include:

* Behaviour Management
* Being a School Rep
* Financial Matters
* How to be Assertive
* Managing Workload/Personal Stress

Task Groups will cover:

* A Charter for Young Teachers
* Climate Change

For your place at the conference please contact your 01342 410805 or email WSTAlearn@yahoo.co.uk

Need to know more?
Call the NUT Young Teachers’ Unit on 020 7380 4822
Your presence will help make this year’s Conference a success

Against the White Paper - from the NUT website

The Government’s White Paper, ‘Higher Standards, Better Schools for All’ proposes legislation to establish Trust Schools and Academies with considerable control over their own admissions. NUT is asking you to write to your MP and express your concerns' over the proposals.

You can find more about the NUT's campaign on the White paper here

I should appreciate if in your reply you could express your views on the potential of the Government’s proposals to:

* favour affluent and articulate families over those who are less advantaged
* fuel damaging competition between schools rather than the collaboration needed to make the education service effective for all pupils
* extend selection by ability, allowing schools to select pupils rather than parental choice; reduce the direct influence of parents currently exercised through school governing bodies
* remove the accountability of schools currently exercised by and through the local authority.

Write to your MP about the White Paper

The White Paper on Education has many worrying aspects for the education of children in the UK and for the employment conditions of teachers. Schools will be encouraged to establish independent Trust status, often with private partners.

Trust schools will be encouraged to "disapply" teachers pay and conditions.

MPs are likely to respond to individually written letters from constituents and it is important that MPs of all parties are made aware of any opposition to the White Paper proposals.

You can fax or email your MP from your computer by going to the website:
http://www.faxyourmp.com/index.php3

It will cost nothing. More information about the White Paper proposals will be added to this blog as we get it.

If we treat schools like market stalls

If we treat schools like market stalls, we will end up with vegetables

This is a quote from a newspaper article on the White Paper:

"Parents are deeply concerned about education, but few have the time, motivation or expertise to change, open or run schools. Schools can't even recruit enough parents to serve as governors."

The link to the article is here
http://education.guardian.co.uk/policy/story/0,,1686218,00.html

Executive Report December 2005

Executive Report

December 2005.

Education & Equal Opportunities.

White Paper – Union Response.

The NUT’s opposition to many of the Government’s proposals in the White Paper was explained by the General Secretary in a meeting with the House of Commons Select Committee on Education. The issue of admissions is a key area of concern and one where the NUT’s submission is exactly in line with the "alternative white paper" drawn up by a number of Labour backbenchers – the operation of individual school admissions criteria (as proposed for self-governing schools) would lead to chaos at a local level.

The alternative white paper is not as firm as the Union would wish in its opposition to the proposals for Trust schools, but it does say that the proposal that LEAs would not be allowed to open any new community schools should be modified.

Public Sector Duty to Promote Gender Equality.

Following the introduction of statutory duties on the public sector to promote race equality as well as disability equality, the Government is now proposing to introduce a similar duty regarding gender equality, however the DTI consultation document says that it would not apply to schools. The GS has written to the Secretary of State querying the logic of this and pointing out the link between promoting equality and tackling bullying.

"The NUT believes that one of the outcomes of personalised learning should be a guaranteed entitlement for all pupils to a range of experiences and activities which are not restricted by gender or limited by stereotypes about masculinity and femininity. Such stereotypes not only restrict boys and girls in their ability and achievements but also encourage the abuse and belittling of those who do not fit nearly into either categories of masculinity or femininity."

The Equal Opportunities Commission has been grateful to the union for its support on this issue and it now seems that the new specific duties will apply to schools.

Key Stage 2 Assessment.

Following a statement agreed by all six teaching unions calling for an independent review of KS 2 Assessment which was sent to the Secretary of State, a reply has been received from Jacqui Smith, Minister for Schools, which rejects the call for a review and insists that "national curriculum tests will remain at the heart of an effective public accountability system for primary schools". The Minister referred to "a poll of parents by the TES [which] showed that parents in deprived areas placed particular value on the information in the achievement and attainment tables. In the same poll nearly 7 out of 10 parents were in favour of tests for 11 year olds."











Organisation & Administration.

Generic e-mail system.

The problems with this were discussed yet again. A new specification is being drawn up and the intention is that the generic e-mail system will work within "Hearth" (when that is eventually rolled out nationwide.)

Conference Venue.

It was agreed that Manchester International Conference Centre will be the venue for 2008 and St.David’s Hall, Cardiff for 2009 (despite reservations regarding the hall.)

Full Executive.

General Secretary’s Report.

The GS recognised that this has been a particularly busy term, especially for Division Secretaries, with all the work arising from re-structuring proposals in schools, but it is nevertheless very important that time is found to organise lobbying of MPs at a local level on contentious issues in the White Paper. He emphasised that this can be very effective with wavering MPs and at the very least prevents others from being able to say: "Well, not a single one of my constituents has contacted me to express any concern whatsoever about any of the proposals" and interpreting this as support for them.

STRB.

In its evidence to the STRB, the Rewards and Incentives Group (RIG) proposed that a list of a teacher’s professional duties should be drawn up and the Secretary of State should use her reserve powers to incorporate this into the Pay and Conditions Document. In its report the STRB has recommended that further thought needs to be given as to whether such a list is desirable or not. In her response to the STRB report, the Secretary of State says on this point that she intends "to discuss how this can be taken forward with partners" – i.e. with RIG!

Pensions.

Representatives of public sector workers are now embarking on scheme specific negotiations with regard to changes to pension schemes. [In discussion with Barry Fawcett I ascertained that one of the things the NUT will be arguing for is a change to the way the final salary on which the pension is based is calculated, from the best year in the last 3 years worked to the average salary over the best 3 years in the last 10 (referred to as dynamisation.) However, it is by no means certain that this will be agreed and negotiations on changes to the scheme will not be concluded until after Easter anyway.]

Stoke Rochford.

The centre is up and running for courses with the restaurant and bar having been refurbished. Progress on the rebuilding of the main part of the mansion is still awaiting the outcome of negotiations with insurance companies, English Heritage and numerous other bodies.

Veronica Peppiatt

Education White paper - response from the NUT

Opposition to the Prime Minister’s plans for major structural reform to the education service could be ended by following proposals set out in the first of a series of new pamphlets by the National Union of Teachers.

It points out that there is no evidence to support Government claims that the structural changes will, of themselves, bring about improved standards of achievement. Indeed, what evidence exists, suggests the contrary.

The NUT wants to see:

1. All state funded schools, including academies, required to adopt common admission arrangements determined by Local Admission Forums after consultation.
Without such a requirement, selection by stealth or even more overt methods will be inevitable as schools compete for pupils who will ensure high league table positions, leaving the children most in need struggling.

2. A cap on schools’ abilities to expand.
The number of pupils each school admits should be governed by two criteria: the need to prevent damage to neighbouring schools and the efficient use of resources. To allow a school to grow without constraint will undermine the character of the school and the very factors which made it popular and successful.

3. Proposals for the establishment of new schools and the expansion of existing ones should be decided by School Organisation Committees including proposals from local authorities and local communities.
Establishing new schools without consideration of the impact on existing schools and the economic use of scarce financial resources, makes little sense. The desires of a part of the community must be balanced against the needs of the whole community rather than allowing one group to hold sway. Local authorities must be able to continue to establish community schools.

4. A ‘Schools Commissioner’ is unnecessary.
This would be an unnecessary new layer of bureaucracy. A Schools’ Adjudicator already exists with powers to intervene on admissions and school provision. It is the powers of the Schools’ Adjudicator which need review to ensure fair admissions access.

5. Curriculum flexibility should not be used as bait to encourage schools to opt for Trust status.
The Prime Minister should make up his mind: either all schools should be granted new curriculum flexibilities within a revised National Curriculum because it is right for children’s learning or the current arrangements should apply to all schools. The National Curriculum is overloaded and needs a fundamental review but that is not the same as suggesting it should be disapplied in some but not all schools simply because of a change of status.. Parliament should ask itself whether the concept of a broad and balanced curriculum is an entitlement for all young people or a punishment for schools.

6. No school should have the ability to vary teachers’ pay and conditions.
There is already sufficient flexibility in the statutory arrangements for teachers’ pay and conditions of employment to deal with problems of shortages or retention. Allowing individual schools even greater flexibility will put schools in less well-heeled areas at an even greater disadvantage.

Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said: “Many aspects of the Prime Minister’s White Paper command the support of teachers and parents. But the Government has got it wrong on its structural proposals.

“Neither parents nor teachers want to see yet another type of school to add to the existing profusion. Nor do they want to see schools under the control of commercial sponsors or individual groups of parents.

“Education is a service for all children and should not be used to meet the narrow needs, interests or prejudices of a rich sponsor, an individual employer or pressure group. Education has to equip young people for a future of change and development not a society and economy set in stone.”

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.”

Broadband

Broadband is a newsletter for Divisional and Association Officers with a lot of useful inside information for members of the union.
The original document is available on our website
http://wsta.org.uk/vol2no1.doc
This is a word document which can be opened with Microsoft Word or Open Office.


Ready…Steady…Recruit!
We hope you all had a good summer and are raring to go! Our first task is, of course, the annual recruitment round so we’re gearing up here ready to assist and support you in your efforts to ensure that every possible NQT, student and new appointee joins the biggest and best teachers’ union.
If you haven’t yet let us know the date of your NQ function and what assistance you require from Regional Office, please do so.
The first meeting of this year for Division Secretaries and Executive members is on
Thursday 15 September
10.30 a.m. at the Regional Office
when a major item on the agenda will be Recruitment & Retention and I am hoping that, as suggested last term, Kevin Courtney, Camden Div Sec, will be able to attend to share with us the systems he has developed to make membership work thorough and consistent.
Workforce Remodelling is of course a standing item at these meetings at present, so please bring along your latest reports and experiences.
But don’t forget to let us have an up-to-date summary of what is happening in your LEA by September 6 as requested in Union Circular 05-112.
Let us have also any suggestions for other items to be on our agenda for 15 September.

MAs to TLRs
Many thanks to all Local Officers who have worked so hard to brief School Reps so that we are as prepared as we can be to meet this challenge.
Please keep up the pressure on LEAs not to encourage a radical "clean sheet" approach, but to give helpful guidance to schools on how to amend current job descriptions in the light of the new TLR criteria and avoid unnecessary disruption, bureaucracy and disaffection.
We have had one or two queries from centrally employed members and you will have received Circular 05-122 which gives advice on how to support members in central services currently in receipt of MAs. As with schools, our aim is to get such members transferred onto an appropriate TLR level with minimum hassle.
Education Review Champions
Circular 05-124 announced a new initiative to boost the profile of this outstanding Union publication.
Does your Association/Division order bulk supplies of the Review for schools … or as a recruitment incentive?
We hope that all Associations and Divisions will identify a "champion" for the Review. Alongside the work of Union Learning Reps, publicising the educational work of the Union broadens our appeal in membership terms.
Young Teachers
The Conference Memorandum on Union Democracy highlighted the importance of building Union membership among young teachers. Training courses and campaigns on international issues are proving very successful in attracting young members to become involved in "less traditional" areas of Union activity.
Circular 05-089 asked Divisions and Associations to consider allocating a place for a young teacher as delegate or observer to Annual Conference.
The first Young Teachers’ Forum took place last term and there is to be a Young Teachers’ Forum Conference in November. We are being asked to nominate up to 5 young members, in addition to those already nominated for the Forum, to attend the Conference. Such members must be under 35 (that’s certainly young!!), not student members and should represent a wide range of groups and interests.
As nominations are requested from ROs by the end of September, I would be grateful for any names by or at the Div Secs/Exec meeting on 15 September.
SERTUC Young TU Reserved Seat
As of this year, there is a reserved seat on the SERTUC Executive Committee for a young trade unionist. This seat remains vacant, so we are being asked for nominations.
Young trade unionists are clearly younger than young teachers as the cut-off age for this position is 27. Any nominee must also be a delegate to the SERTUC Regional Council.
If you have such a member who would like to be nominated, please let us know. As nominations have to be in by 12 October, it will not be possible for this to go to Regional Council as would normally be the case.
£££ Salary Sacrifice schemes
We have had enquiries from members about the exclusion of teachers from these schemes whereby employees can surrender part of their salary in return for childcare vouchers and home computers.
The current situation, as outlined in Circular 05-078, is that teachers who are paid under Schoolteachers’ Pay and Conditions are excluded because the document does not give the legal right to such employers to vary the salary. Teachers in independent schools, agency supply teachers etc can participate and the Union is trying to negotiate arrangements whereby all teachers can benefit.
Administration of Medicines
The DfES and Dept of Health have issued x new guidance on medicines in s schools, available on the DfES website (\medicine) and the Union has also updated its guidance. If you can’t find it on the website, we can send you a paper copy.
Health & Safety
The latest H&S bulletin included information about a new School Travel Forum, the aim of which is to help schools ensure that major components of school trips, (travel, food and accommodation), will be handled in a safe and professional manner. The NUT and other teachers’ unions are supporting the Forum.
The same bulletin reports on a Somerset LEA initiative to monitor H&S in schools. It has an "escalation procedure" whereby schools failing to rectify H&S shortcomings will be subject to increasing levels of sanction, culminating potentially in removal of delegated powers. A commendably proactive approach …
Facilities for Union Reps
The latest training module produced by HQ deals with Union facilities (attached to Circular 05-077) and Circular 05-119 points out the arguments for increased facilities time as a result of increasing workload for local officers. Please let us know if you would like assistance from Regional Office, either in training or in negotiations with your LEA.
TEN briefings
TEN, The Education Network, provides regular briefings on a huge range of educational issues via email. Regional Office is on the mailing list and could forward the briefings to Divisions and Associations if you think this would be helpful. Please let us know if you would NOT want these briefings forwarded.
Local Officers’ training …
returns to Stoke Rochford; see Circ 05-115
Division Secs’ Briefing, 12-14 Oct
Belton Woods Hotel, nr Grantham
Make sure your Division is represented
New Secretaries’ Training, 10-12 Oct
Stoke Rochford
H&S Advisers’ Briefing, 28-30 Nov
Belton Woods Hotel
SE Regional Council, 26 November
Hamilton House
Trade Unions Against Racism, Paris, 21-22 October
Further details from Regional Office