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…

President's Address, Annual Congress 7/8 May 2010

President's Address Peebles Hotel Hydro 7 May 2010 It's been thirteen years since an SSTA Congress coincided with a UK General election. The result then was rather different from the one we face today of course. But, whatever judgement History finally makes on the events of the last thirteen years, there are one or two lessons for us as trade unionists and of course not a few consequences also. For obvious political reasons, none of the party leaders have been…

SSTA Position on CfE Not Changed

Dear Colleagues SSTA POSITION ON CfE NOT CHANGED You will know by now that the Management Board have recommended not to delay implementation of CfE in secondary schools after assurances from the Cabinet Secretary. Our representative on the Board (Peter Wright) decided he had no choice but to accept the Cabinet Secretary's assurances after Michael Russell stated he was "absolutely committed to make sure the problems are solved". At its meeting on Friday 24 April Executive reaffirmed its continued demands…

Bulletin no 417/10 - 17 March 2010

1. CfE Survey   The Association is conducting a survey to ascertain your views on CfE using fair and unbiased questions. Your school rep has been sent paper copies and an electronic copy can be completed online via the SSTA website. Please use one of these to enable the Association to represent your views to the Cabinet Secretary, and campaign for the best possible outcome for secondary teachers in Scotland. If you do not respond it will be assumed that…

CfE Survey

Curriculum for Excellence Questionnaire In January an SSTA delegation met with the Cabinet Secretary, Mike Russell to discuss our concerns about progress with Curriculum for Excellence. During the course of the discussion the Cabinet Secretary stated that he was aware of the need for more detailed information within the secondary sector. Our view on this is very clear. Only subject specialists, working in classrooms across Scotland are in a position to provide a considered professional opinion on the readiness of…

Workload Survey 2009/10

As part of a campaign to reduce the excess workload imposed on teachers the SSTA is collecting evidence through a workload survey. Part 2 of the survey can be found here. We would appreciate if members could complete the form and return it to the Association at our freepost address noted below. Alternatively, you can complete an online version of the form here on our website. (Please note that you will be required to login to the site to compete…

Letter to School Representatives

Dear Colleagues   Please accept my apologies for adding to your workload at an already very busy time of year.   I hope you will find the content of the letter both informative and helpful.   As always please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish further information or support.   Many of you will have been aware of the problems faced by a teacher in Glasgow who was injured at work.   The response of her employer…

SSTA Temperature/ Humidity Campaign

As you will know concerns relating to classroom temperatures/humidity are an annual problem. Some rooms are always too cold in winter and some are too hot in summer. It has become clear, given the current financial climate that some councils/schools have reduced the ambient temperatures as an efficiency saving. The Association is supplying schools with one Digitech temperature/humidity meter to aid members to monitor/record the temperature/humidity in their classroom. Members who wish to record the temperatures of their classroom should…