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SSTA Advice – 4 January 2021

The First Minister is introducing new laws that will require people to stay at home and work from home where possible from 5 January. There is now confusion is some areas as some schools and local authorities are still instructing teachers to attend school in person this week when pupils are nor present (See advice below). The SSTA advises members that: Teachers should only attend school if they have been assigned child supervision dutiesAll meetings should be conducted remotelyTeachers should…

Reopening of Schools - SSTA Advice

The SSTA has been contacted by a large number of members concerned about their safety and the arrangements for the return to schools in January following the Covid-19 statement made by Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister on Saturday 19 December 2020.The following was issued by Government on Monday 21 December - ‘Arrangements for the phased reopening of schools in January 2021 – supplementary guidance’. The guidance provides details regarding the phased start to the spring term 2021. This guidance supplements the existing Coronavirus:…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 12/22/2020

Report of Meeting with SQA

Please follow the link to the report of the SSTA meeting with SQA. The report includes: National Qualification Group 2021Quality AssurancePrelimsTeacher AssessmentsRemunerationAdditional In-Service Days

Information for Members - 12/16/2020

Members Update – Christmas Arrangements for Schools

Members Update – Christmas Arrangements for Schools – 11 December 2020 The SSTA met with John Swinney, Deputy First Minister this week and urged him to: reconsider the arrangements for Secondary Schools prior to Christmas anddelay returning to face-face teaching in January in order for everybody to be kept safe over the Christmas period.This followed the SSTA letter to Local Authorities asking that schools move to ‘remote learning’ and fulfil their duty of care to keep everybody safe. Please see…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 12/11/2020

Members Update - 1 December 2020

Examinations 2021 The SSTA has called for an early announcement as to the arrangements for the Higher and Advanced Higher examinations next summer. The assumption that the examinations should continue as normal ignores the damage that has been inflicted upon all pupils as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Teachers and pupils are under severe pressure, trying to ensure all candidates are prepared fully for the examinations next summer, whilst increasing numbers have contracted the virus or are required to…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 12/01/2020

FACE COVERINGS – The Official Position

The SSTA has focussed throughout the covid-19 pandemic that safety of staff and pupils must be the first consideration. The SSTA continues to insist that all safety measures (such as face coverings, hand sanitisers/cleaning materials in all classrooms and strict physical distancing) should be in place in all schools.There has been reluctance in some quarters to take all necessary steps to protect all staff and pupils during the course of the pandemic. As a consequence, there is much confusion as…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 11/16/2020

Lockdown Learning Depended on Teachers’ Resources and Resourcefulness

The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, Scotland’s specialist union for secondary teachers, recently carried out a survey of its members to establish the extent to which they felt employers had ensured they had the right ICT tools for the job both during and since lockdown. Over 1900 secondary teachers from all over Scotland responded. The pandemic has brought the use of educational ICT into sharp focus. Teachers have been relying on ICT to maintain contact with colleagues and learners in a…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 11/11/2020

Safety Measures in Schools are Putting Teachers at Risk

The SSTA conducted a survey of SSTA School Representatives on the measures being used in schools to keep staff safe. The survey highlighted the inconsistent approach to staff safety taken by local authorities across Scotland.Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said“The SSTA has argued for a consistent approach to safety during this crisis but unfortunately some local authorities are interpreting the guidance as optional rather than mandatory”.“Safety in School must be the first priority. SSTA conducted a survey of school representatives…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 10/29/2020

SSTA Members Briefing

The SSTA has arranged briefing sessions for members on the challenges facing secondary teachers at this time. The General Secretary Seamus Searson will give the latest information regarding Covid-19, national qualifications and the OECD senior phase review. There will also be a presentation on the impact of the Teachers’ Pensions consultation by Stuart McCullough, Independent Financial Advisor from Llife Ltd. The briefings will be conducted remotely and will take place on: Monday 2 November at 5.00pmTuesday 3 November at 6.00pmWednesday 11 November at…

Information for Members - 10/15/2020

Pension Consultation – closes 11 October 2020

The Government are currently consulting with all members of the public sector pension schemes which includes the Scottish Teachers Pension Scheme. This is regarding the unjustified age discrimination in relation to the transitional arrangements to the 2015 pension scheme. Within the consultation they are asking you, the scheme member, to make a choice. It's very important that you understand what this choice is and the implications that it could have. The consultation paper is 74 pages long and can be summarised…

Consultations / Information for Members / Pensions - 10/02/2020