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"

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

Conference Blog: Workload and Pay

Phil Dufty:

Great to see the workload issues so plainly spelt out and to see the pay campaign broadened to include these.

Derek McMillan

I think Richard Reisser summed the situation up well. For teachers the issues of workload, performance management and pay are not separate, they are all seen as part of the same problem.

Martin Powell Davies' speech was so convincing it led to what is being called "the miracle of Gerry Glazier" where Gerry got up to oppose Martin's view and ended up changing his mind half way through. The Executive are feeling the pressure of members who want action on pay and workload and so long as the pressure is maintained the miraculous transformation will be continued.

I also attended the Socialist Teachers fringe meeting to hear Tony Mulhearn talking about a Labour Council (yes a Labour Council) which stood up for the people of Liverpool against Margaret Thatcher. In fact Tony concentrated mainly on the future rather than the past and the prospects for trade unions to act independently in the political sphere.

Assertiveness Training

Angela Ahern, Derek McMillan and Dave Thomas ran the first taster session on assertiveness training on 28 April. I think it is a measure of the success of the course that everyone who attended the course expressed an interest in John Illingworth's report Crazy about Work and in any further assertiveness training courses provided by the NUT

A number of those who attended were supply teachers and mentioned the difficulty of getting Continuing Professional Development. NUT CPD is free but much of the CPD provided requires funding from schools and supply teachers who are not attached to a particular school are unlikely to receive any.

When we approached West Sussex about this, we were informed "there is no funding stream which can support this" which is unsatisfactory.

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

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.

Workload

The ballot of members showed overwhelming majorities in support of the workload guidelines and of seeking their application in individual schools.

The turnout in the election, some 20 per cent of those balloted, is robust and significant. It was an indicative exercise and empowers the Union to pursue its campaign within individual schools.

Question 1
Do you support the guidelines published by the NUT on removing unnecessary workload?
Number voting YES . . . . . . . . . .40,892 (99.05%)
Number voting NO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .394 (0.95%)

Question 2
Would you be prepared to support a ballot for school based industrial action, without loss of pay, in order to address the problem of unnecessary workload where locally supported negotiations are unsuccessful?

Number voting YES . . . . . . . . . . .35,797 (87.22%)
Number voting NO . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,243 (12.78%)

Guidelines welcomed

The Union’s workload guidelines have been widely welcomed in schools as the most concise compilation available of teachers’ conditions of service and policies on workload. They will be reviewed regularly with a fully updated version being published on the NUT’s website.

Improving conditions in schools

In the spring term of 2007, the NUT will publish and distribute guidance to NUT school representatives on the deployment of the workload guidelines and the procedures to seek support through industrial action where discussion, consultation and negotiation are unsuccessful. These will be local, in-school procedures which will vary from school to school according to the circumstances and the extent to which teachers’ concerns are being met.

Improving education

The removal of excessive and unnecessary workload, the reduction in teachers’ working time and the achievement of a better work/life balance for teachers will benefit the profession. It will be good for teachers, their families and the children in our schools.

NUT General Secretary, Steve Sinnott, said:

“The ballot results fully support the NUT’s campaigns to improve teachers’ conditions and reduce workload.”

Cutting back your workload

The NUT is holding a consultative ballot to determine members’ views on new workload guidelines and on their commitment to the reduction of excessive working time and the removal of unnecessary workload. The Electoral Reform Ballot Services Limited has been appointed as the Independent Scrutineer.

The overall trend, identified in the Workload Survey of the Office of Manpower Economics, in the number of teaching hours worked in a week shows increases for most categories of teachers since 2005. The much vaunted reductions in workload claimed by the Government are proving non-existent or short-lived.

In a recent survey, the Teacher Support Network reported that workload remains a concern for many teachers calling their help line. Their report goes on to say: “Often teachers find themselves overwhelmed and unable to devise, or even implement, strategies to address this situation.”

THE BALLOT

The ballot will include two questions: the first concerns the Union’s workload guidelines; the second asks members whether they would be prepared to take industrial action in the event that theirendeavours within their schools have been unsuccessful.

Along with the ballot paper, each member will receive a leaflet which explains and summarises the Union’s workload guidelines. There will be a Reply Paid envelope for the return

VOTE ‘YES’

The National Union of Teachers is committed to a high quality education service that meets the needs of all our children. At the same time, the Union is determined to achieve for all its members the removal of excessive and unnecessary workload. It seeks to address the need to reduce teachers’ working time and to gain a better work/life balance for the profession. This will be good for teachers, their families and for the children in our schools.

The ballot is being undertaken as part of the campaign to enable members to secure their rights under the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document; their entitlements under regulation and legislation; and, the implementation of NUT policy and advice within their schools.

CONSULTATIVE BALLOT ARRANGEMENTS

The ballot commences on 20 November 2006, and concludes at midday on 11 December 2006. NUT members should receive ballot papers by 23 November. The ballot will include all members in England and Wales, including supply teachers and those centrally employed.

TELEPHONE AND EMAIL HOTLINE

Ballot papers will be despatched 20 November.

For NUT members who do not receive ballot papers, a Telephone Hotline will be open from 24 November to 5 December (9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m). The hotline number is 0207 380 6300.

Please have ready your details, including:

• membership number OR
• postcode of your home/school
• any recent changes of address, including details of former
  addresses.

Members can request ballot papers by emailing workload06ballot@nut.org.uk.

NUT General Secretary, Steve Sinnott, said:

“By responding positively to the Union’s ballotmembers will strengthen significantly the Union’s campaign for a better work/life balance and improved conditions for all. I urge members to vote ‘YES’ to both questions.”

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

Workload and Performance Management

13 July 2006




Workload Campaign and Performance Management
The General Secretary referred to the letter from the School Workforce Group, which followed the NUT’s application for a judicial review over the consultation on new performance management regulations. This letter announced the decision of the Minister to extend the consultation period for an additional six weeks and furthermore to give schools until 31 January to agree plans for their staff that reflected the revised regulations. These decisions represented a victory for the NUT.
The Executive decided to prepare guidelines on workload, consistent with the resolution passed by Conference 2006 and including reference to the proposed new performance management regulations. The Executive agreed that preparations should be made for a national ballot of members to provide backing for the guidelines and to ascertain the readiness of members to take action in support of these guidelines. The Executive agreed to the holding of a briefing for division secretaries early in the autumn term and for a special Executive meeting to consider an action strategy to take forward the Union’s campaign on workload and performance management.

Education & Inspections Bill
The General Secretary reported on the highly successful rally and lobby of Parliament held on 27 June. The theme for the NUT had been the marketisation of education. The NUT had made a significant contribution to the day with the second highest number of representatives attending the rally, behind the PCS.
A message had been given to the lobbyists by Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC that, “the whole of the trade union movement is committed to defending our vital public services and celebrating the commitment and dedication of those who deliver them”. Brendan said that the rally was “yet another demonstration of the determination of trade unionists everywhere to oppose privatisation and commit to genuine reform based on upholding the public services ethos.” Brendan Barber had made clear that the TUC would initiate a campaign in support of public services that would match the undertaking given by the unions involved in the Public Services Not Private Profit rally and lobby of Parliament.

Meetings with Government
The General Secretary reported that on the morning of the rally and lobby of Parliament, he had attended a meeting with the Prime Minister as part of a TUC delegation. The topics for the meeting were pensions, energy policy and public services. The belated publication by government, through the Prime Minister’s Unit, of the document “The Government’s Approach to Public Service Reforms” had been considered unhelpful, including as it did a range of questionable assertions about the public service ethos not being destroyed by privatisation. A further separate meeting was being arranged on public services.
A first meeting had also been held with the Secretary of State for Education at which the NUT had been able to explain the history of the Union, its values and concerns, and what had been its motivation across three centuries.
A number of very important issues were touched upon and could be the subject of further meetings. These included the broad issue of the relationship with Government and other unions and the NUT’s publication, “The Costs of Inclusion”.
The General Secretary reported on a meeting with the Chancellor. He had reminded Gordon Brown about the commitment made in the Budget Statement to increase funding per pupil in the state sector to the 2006 levels in the independent sector, in order to match their pupil:teacher ratios. The General Secretary’s comment had been made in the light of remarks made by David Bell, Permanent Secretary at the DfES, that the Chancellor’s promise was merely aspirational. Gordon Brown said he wanted a national consensus on education expenditure.

International matters
The General Secretary reported that he had raised with EI the situation regarding government attacks on teachers in Oaxaca, Mexico. The Mexican teachers’ affiliate to EI had supported EI making a regional case appeal on the issue. The approach from EI had resulted from the NUT’s instigation.
The General Secretary would be taking up with the Foreign Office the effects of the deteriorating situation in the Middle East; on teachers and children in the area; on essential services; and on the economy of Gaza. The General Union of Palestinian Teachers had reported to the NUT that, like most public servants, teachers in Gaza had not been paid for months. The General Secretary reported that he was due to head an EI delegation to the area in a week’s time. Discussions had been held with the TUC to explore initiatives the TUC could take forward in relation to the situation facing teachers and education in Palestine.

TUC Matters
The Executive agreed to submit motions to TUC Congress on the Education & Inspections Bill and on Workplace Bullying. The Executive further agreed that an amendment concerning the Trade Union Freedom Bill should be considered as one of the two amendments to be submitted, if appropriate, once the preliminary agenda was known.
The General Secretary reported that the NUT had done well in the annual TUC Press and PR Awards. It had received a “Highly Commended” award for “The Really Useful Pack” in the recruitment material category and was “Commended” for its website.
The Executive re-elected the General Secretary and Lesley Auger to serve on the TUC General Council for 2006-2007.

Pay Claim
The Executive approved the NUT’s submission to the STRB on teachers’ pay and responsibilities. In its pay claim the NUT opposed the imposition of a two year pay award and called for a return to annual awards. It called on the Government to request the STRB to reconsider teachers’ pay – levels and structure – from 1 September 2006. The claim stated that teachers’ pay must rise significantly in real terms to levels that would enable the profession to compete effectively in the graduate market. The claim set out the changes requested by the NUT to the pay structure. It called for an increase of £2,500 or 10 per cent, whichever was the greater, for all salaries. It called further for the merging of the main and upper pay scales into a single scale; and significant increases in the two London and the Fringe allowances.

Consultation responses
The Executive urgently approved a record number of responses to consultation documents to be submitted before the summer. These included the Early Years Foundation Stage; Changes to Key Stage 1 English; Initial Teacher Training Requirements; and the Education (Performance Management) (England) Regulations 2006.
In this latter response, the NUT criticised the use of RIG as the appropriate forum for the development of the performance management proposals prior to statutory consultation, excluding as it did the largest teachers’ organisation in England and Wales, and being inconsistent with the intentions of legislation. The proposed timetable for introduction was too hasty and should not be before September 2007. The new requirements would have a profound impact on staff relationships within schools and teachers’ ownership of their professional development.

Black Caribbean Boys
The Executive agreed to convene a round table group including teachers, pupils, parents, and experts to look into educational underachievement among black boys from families of Caribbean origin.

Farewell to Andrew Wills, Accountant
The Executive gave Andrew, who had worked for the NUT for 30 years, the last 18 years as NUT Accountant, a very warm send-off and thanked him for his dedicated commitment to the Union over the years. Andrew was retiring from employment and moving to France.