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SSTA Newsletter - July 2023

The July 2023 Newsletter is now available for members to download. The newsletter contains information from the 78th Annual Congress of the SSTA, including the Presidential Address, Report of the General Secretary, motions passed at Congress and the Financial Statement.

Members Update - June 2023

Education Reform – “the views of teachers will be key to Scotland’s education reform journey”. With the publication of the ‘All Learners in Scotland Matter’ and ‘It’s Our Future’ reports, Jenny Gilruth MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills said, “the views of teachers will be key to Scotland’s education reform journey”. The Cabinet Secretary has asked all schools to provide opportunities to engage teachers at the in-service days in August as most secondary school teachers have only had a limited, if any, involvement in…

Bulletin / Information for Members / Pensions - 06/29/2023

Report of the General Secretary

SSTA General Secretary Report to Congress 2023 Friday 12 May 2023 What can happen in a year? Last year I said. We are on the verge of a new era in Scottish education. The things that we have accepted as normal, if there ever could be anything normal in education, is about to change. But we must learn from the past and not make the same mistakes again. As you all know, the Government embarked on a new direction for…

Congress / Information for Members - 05/12/2023

Presidential Address to 78th Annual Congress

Catherine Nicol, SSTA President Address to the 78th Congress of the SSTA The Trade union movement is still a force to be reckoned with. Trade union members need to be alert to the neoliberal forces in the press, political sphere and social media that strive to create division in our ranks. There is no room for unilateral and partisan action if we are to achieve our shared aims. Holding the line when others seek to break it down is crucial.…

Congress - 05/12/2023

Secondary Teachers Tell SQA To Think Again

The SSTA conducted a survey of members delivering national qualifications following the SQA announcement that National Qualifications course assessments in session 2023-24 will return to full requirements – including reinstating coursework and exam assessment and the National 4 added value unit. The majority of SSTA members are opposed to the change with only 19% wanting a return to the pre-pandemic arrangements. Seamus Searson, General Secretary said “The SSTA survey has shown that SQA must go back and reconsider its decision…

Information for Members / Press Releases / SQA - 05/10/2023

SQA 2024 – 90% of Teachers say their Pupils are not ready

Following the SQA announcement that National Qualifications course assessments in session 2023-24 will return to full requirements – including reinstating coursework and exam assessment and the National 4 added value unit - the SSTA sought views of members. In responding to the survey, secondary teachers who are delivering national qualifications were clearly opposed to a full return. More than 2,000 members have responded in a week with the survey closing on Friday. Seamus Searson, General Secretary said.“The initial results indicate that…

Information for Members / SQA - 04/26/2023

SSTA ready to Boycott the SQA Exams next year

The SQA has announced that National Qualifications course assessments in session 2023-24 will return to full requirements – including reinstating coursework and exam assessment and the National 4 added value unit.Seamus Searson SSTA General Secretary said:“The SQA pushed this decision out on a day when all focus is on Holyrood, just two days before the Easter break when teachers and learners are in the final furlong for the 2023 exams. This is a bad news story for all secondary school…

Information for Members - 03/30/2023

Teachers Face “Aggression Epidemic”

The SSTA Additional Support Needs and Education Committees organised a members’ consultative survey to assess the increasing evidence of disruptive pupil behaviour in secondary schools. 2478 members responding to the survey. The survey revealed both the extent of verbal and physical aggression being faced by teachers in Scottish secondary schools as well as systemic failures to address these issues. While facing verbal aggression at work would be uncommon in most occupations, 75% of secondary teachers reported having experienced verbal aggression in the…

Information for Members / Press Releases - 03/21/2023

Teacher Pay Settlement 2022 – 2024

At the SNCT Teachers’ Panel meeting on Wednesday 14 March to consider the 2022-2024 pay offer. The pay offer was formally accepted by all unions and the decision was communicated to employers at the close of the meeting. The SNCT Handbook is to be updated to include SNCT 23/93 Pay Agreement April 2022-July 2024 SNCT Part 2 Appendix 2.1 Salary Tables SNCT Part 2 Appendix 2.5: Annex A (Remote School, Distant Island and Residential Special School Allowances) Local authorities will…

Conditions of Service / Information for Members - 03/15/2023

SSTA Pay Ballot – Vote to Accept

The SSTA conducted a formal pay ballot of members on the latest pay offer from the employers (COSLA). Members voted overwhelmingly to accept and brought the SSTA pay dispute and further industrial action to an end. The SSTA members returned a 85.3% in favour of accepting with 14.7% rejecting the latest offer. The formal ballot had a turnout of 79.9%. Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said. “The SSTA is an autonomous teachers’ union and the response to the ballot gave a clear statement.…

Conditions of Service / Information for Members - 03/09/2023