Pension Proposals Update

Recent press reports suggest that the Government may be planning to amend the legislation to break the current link between annual increases in pension payments and the RPI, replacing it with a link to the much lower CPI. Teacher unions throughout the UK are working together to stop this proposal ever happening.   At present the campaign is being conducted through the Pensions Working Group and is of a very technical and legal nature.   If this is unsuccessful a…

Financial Statement to members

As required by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 the Association's financial statement to members for the period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009 can be downloaded here. Adobe Acrobat reader is required to open the document and can be downloaded from http://get.adobe.com/reader/

16+ Learning Choices Policy and Practice Framework

16+ Learning Choices is being implemented across Scotland as the Scottish Government's mechanism for ensuring an offer of a place in post-16 learning for every young person who wants it.   The 16+ Learning Choices Policy and Practice Framework has been developed to support implementation and sustainable delivery.   It sets out the Scottish Government's policy on 16+ Learning Choices; its expectations for implementation; and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the wide range of partners involved in supporting young…

Indicative Ballot on Industrial Action but not Strike Action

Indicative Ballot on Industrial Action but not Strike Action: Closing Date 25 June 2010 The Association has had a series of meetings with the Cabinet Secretary over the last few months to explain our concerns over the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence. At every stage we have been clear about what teachers need to successfully implement the new curriculum. With less than two weeks left of this term little progress has been made and huge concerns remain. An indicative ballot…

Teacher Union Ballots on New Curriculum

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, representing 8500 Secondary Teachers, is to hold an indicative ballot on the Scottish Government's proposals for a new curriculum for Scottish schools. Following a meeting of the Executive Committee today SSTA General Secretary, Ann Ballinger commented "Our members will be balloted on the same issues which have concerned us since the early days of the Curriculum for Excellence proposals, namely: Inadequate curriculum guidance for teachers planning the implementation of this initiative. A complete lack of…

Bulletin no 418/10 - 28 May 2010

PrintableVersion 1. REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT Many of you will have received a copy of the Association CfE survey by email. The Association hopes to use this method of communication as often as possible for 2 reasons To reduce our carbon footprint To reduce our postal costs and to assist in maintaining our annual subscription at the lowest possible rate. If you are willing to participate in this method of communication, please email the office at info@ssta.org.uk, add "carbon footprint"…

SQA Subject Working Groups

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SQA's Curriculum for Excellence Progress Reports

  The first of SQA's Curriculum for Excellence Progress Reports are now available to view on the dedicated Curriculum for Excellence pages of the SQA website.     The Reports represent the next stage in the development process of the next generation of national qualifications to support Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) and are an important opportunity for all stakeholders to provide their feedback on the development.   A feedback facility is available on the SQA website.   Reports have been…

Keynote speech by Lindsay Paterson, Professor of Educational Policy, University of Edinburgh

Printable Version st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } 1 ASSESSMENT AND CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE [(1) Introduction] My intention today is to ask some questions about the role of assessment in encouraging sound learning, with particular attention to Curriculum for Excellence. I'll be dealing with the actual proposals made for the National Qualifications, but I'll also deal with the role of assessment more generally. Two general principles seem to be at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence: the importance of students' believing in themselves, and…

Advice to members employed by Glasgow City Council

The Association is aware of the decision of the Council to terminate the contracts of many long-term temporary teachers. The validity of any such dismissals will be discussed with the relevant members. The Association is also aware that the effect of the loss of these teachers will be substantially addressed by instructions to headteachers to re-timetable existing classes. The Association is clear that there is no contractual impediment to the concept of re-timetabling and advises members as follows: 1. Members…