81st Annual Congress of the SSTA
Friday 8 May 2026 @ 15:30
[Opening Remarks]
Good afternoon, President, distinguished guests, and esteemed delegates of Congress.
It is with profound gratitude—and a deep sense of duty—that I stand before you today,
having once again been entrusted with the role of General Secretary.
Over the past ten years, I’ve had the privilege of serving this organisation
through a time of significant change.
And as we look ahead, it is clear: even greater change lies before us.
Trust and Professionalism
Teachers must be trusted.
Trusted to think.
Trusted to speak.
Trusted to teach.
Because education is not just about knowledge—it is about shaping the values of the next generation.
But let’s be clear: teachers cannot do this alone.
They need the support of parents, communities, and government.
Because when teachers are supported, pupils succeed.
Our Identity
The SSTA has always been clear in its purpose:
Secondary teachers. Secondary education.
We are principled—but also pragmatic.
We don’t just point out problems.
We work to solve them.
Pay and Value
Let me turn to pay.
Our claim is 6%.
The offer so far is 3%—and it has been rejected.
This is not just about numbers.
It is about value.
Teachers’ salaries must be restored—not eroded year after year.
Delays send a clear message: that teachers are undervalued.
And that must change.
Workload and the Staffing Crisis
Workload remains unsustainable.
The promised reduction in contact time has not been delivered.
And yet we are told to do more—with less.
At the same time, we face a recruitment and retention crisis:
- Too many temporary contracts
- Over half of new teachers unable to secure permanent posts
- Schools carrying vacancies
This means fewer teachers in classrooms,
less support for pupils,
and more pressure on those who remain.
This is not sustainable.
And it is not acceptable.
The Way Forward
We need:
- Real negotiations
- Respect for the profession
- Action on recruitment and retention
- A genuine commitment to reducing workload
And we need education funding to be protected.
Money allocated to education must be spent on education.
Teacher numbers must increase.
And teachers must be given time—to plan, to develop, and to teach well.
Reform—Done Properly
Change is coming. But it must be the right change.
Not change for its own sake.
The curriculum must allow young people to learn—not just pass exams.
The qualifications system must trust teachers, not drown them in evidence.
And inspection must support schools, not punish them.
Because right now, fear of inspection is stifling innovation.
Let me be clear:
If we are going to inspect—then inspect those who hold the power.
Those who control funding.
Those who set the direction.
Not just the schools carrying the burden.
Education is the Priority
We stand at a defining moment.
Education has been held back by political stalemate for too long.
It is time to listen—to teachers.
Because education must be the priority.
Not in words—but in action.
That means proper funding.
Proper staffing.
And proper respect.
Because education is not a cost.
It is an investment in our future.
When we fail to support teachers, we fail our students.
And we are already seeing the consequences—
a growing crisis in recruitment and retention.
Every teacher lost is a loss to the next generation.
Our Responsibility
We must build a system where every young person—
regardless of background—
has the opportunity to succeed.
That requires long-term thinking.
And genuine partnership between government and the profession.
Because education is not just another priority—
it is the priority.
[Change Must Support Teachers]
Reform must support teachers—not hinder them.
As reform takes shape, the SSTA is clear:
Teachers must be at the centre.
[Education is the Priority]
We stand today at a defining moment—
one that calls not for division, but for direction;
not for delay, but for decisive action.
For too long, education has been entangled in political stalemates,
its progress slowed by disagreement rather than guided by those who understand it best.
It is time to change course.
It is time to listen—truly listen—to the voices of our teachers and education staff,
the individuals who dedicate their lives to shaping the minds and futures of our young people.
Let us be clear:
Education must be the priority.
Not in words alone.
Not as a distant aspiration.
But as a lived reality—reflected in our policies, our funding, and our values.
Education must be properly resourced.
It must be supported by fully qualified professionals
who are respected, fairly compensated, and empowered
to deliver the life-changing learning every child deserves.
Because education is more than a system—
it is the foundation of our future.
It is not a privilege reserved for a few.
It is a fundamental right—guaranteed to all, without discrimination.
It uplifts individuals.
It strengthens communities.
It drives the social and economic development upon which nations depend.
It is a force for equality.
A pathway to opportunity.
A cornerstone of sustainable progress.
And yet—we face a widening divide.
A gap between those who have and those who have not.
Between those who can access opportunity—and those left behind.
This is not inevitable.
It is the result of choices.
And it can be changed—by choices.
We must choose to invest.
We must commit to increasing funding for education—
and ensuring that it reaches the classrooms where it is needed most.
Because when budgets are cut, it is not systems that suffer—it is students.
It is the child in the crowded classroom.
The young person without the support they need.
The teacher stretched beyond their limits.
Schools cannot continue under these conditions.
They should not have to.
We must also invest in the people who make education possible:
Teachers.
Classroom assistants.
Support staff.
Their workload must be fair.
Their time must be respected.
Their wellbeing must matter.
Behind every lesson taught lies hours of unseen dedication—
late nights planning, weekends marking, holidays interrupted.
Teaching is demanding.
But it should not come at the cost of personal wellbeing or family life.
Because when we fail to support our teachers—
we fail our students.
We are already seeing the consequences:
A growing recruitment and retention crisis.
Talented educators leaving the profession.
Others looking elsewhere.
This is not just a workforce issue.
It is a future issue.
Because every teacher lost
is a loss to the next generation.
And we cannot ignore those who need support the most.
Young people with additional support needs deserve more than good intentions.
They deserve action.
They deserve trained professionals.
Specialist staff.
The resources required to ensure they are not left behind.
Without this, the burden falls unfairly on classroom teachers—
and we risk failing an entire generation.
We must not accept that.
We must instead build a system where every young person—
regardless of circumstance—
has the opportunity to succeed, to grow, and to reach their full potential.
This requires collaboration.
It requires long-term thinking.
It requires a government willing to work with educators—
not around them.
Because education is not just another priority—
it is the priority.
It shapes the society we become.
It defines the opportunities we create.
It determines the legacy we leave behind.
So let us move forward—
not divided, but united in purpose.
Let us stand up for education.
For teachers.
For every young person whose future depends on the choices we make today.
The time for action is now.
[Conclusion]
We will continue to fight for:
- Fair pay
- Respect for our profession
- Better working conditions
- Real reform that supports—not burdens—our schools
This isn’t about politics.
It’s about classrooms.
About pupils. About learning.
About the future of Scottish education.
Let us speak with one voice.
Let us be the change that teachers—and Scotland’s young people—deserve.
Thank you.