COVID-19 Archives - Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

SSTA Members Update – Pay, SQA and Covid

Teachers’ Pay 2021-2022. The story so far……. In the autumn of 2020 the SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee submitted a claim to the SNCT Teachers’ Side for a restorative pay award that promoted the retention and recruitment of teachers. This was expected to be paid to teachers on 1 April 2021. In December 2020 the SNCT Teachers’ Side agreed the following pay claim that would be paid to all teachers without differentiation: “A range of 3%-5% is the…

Message to Members - 25 October 2021

Safety First – the fight against Covid-19 continues Covid-19 has not gone away and the SSTA has welcomed the Government decision to continue mitigations including face coverings in schools. There was a push from some to reduce the mitigations to match other measures in other settings. However, that is not taking into account that the majority of the school population are not vaccinated and it is in the secondary school age group that the highest increase in cases of covid is…

Congress / COVID-19 / Information for Members - 10/25/2021

Members Bulletin - Schools Reopening

Members Bulletin - Schools ReopeningThe Scottish Government confirmed on 6 April that all secondary school pupils would be back in school on a full time basis after the Easter holidays. The Government published its ‘Guidance for opening schools in April 2021’ Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)This guidance includes: Confirmation that a full-time return for secondary schools is on the basis of no physical distancing required between pupilsSchool staff and other adults in the school should…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 04/19/2021

School Reopening - 15 March 2021 - Update

School Reopening - 15 March 2021 On the 9 March the First Minister confirmed the proposal for the return of secondary school pupils from the 15 March. All secondary pupils will return on a part-time basis from 15 March - it is the intention that all secondary school pupils will return to spend some time in school from 15 March until the Easter break.It is expected that all secondary school pupils will be back in school on a full time basis…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 03/10/2021

School Reopening - 15 March 2021

On the 2 March the First Minister announced proposals for the return of secondary school pupils. The First Minister added that the plans are conditional on continued progress on suppressing coronavirus (COVID-19). The statement included: All secondary pupils will return on a part-time basis from 15 March - it is the intention that all secondary school pupils will return to spend some time in school from 15 March until the Easter break.Councils will decide how to balance safely in-school learning…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 03/04/2021

Members Update - 19 February 2021

First Minister Statement – Reopening of Schools 22 February 2021 The First Minister made a statement to the Scottish Parliament on 16 February to confirm the intention to reopen schools to some pupils on 22 February. Following this announcement the government also published their related guidance: The updated reducing risks and mitigating risk guidance, together with the Education Scotland technical guidance regarding the limited senior phase return for practical activities, that was published on 12 February and which is available here The guidance includes Strengthened requirement for pupils and…

Bulletin / COVID-19 / Information for Members - 02/19/2021

Safety First - Secondary Schools Reopening

It is sensible to take a cautious approach to reopening secondary schools on Monday 22 February but it cannot be a return to a way of working that existed prior to Christmas. Schools were closed in January because we needed to control the virus. We now need to ensure pupils and staff are safe during this staged return. The reopening of secondary schools is a controlled exercise that will be evaluated before further decision will be made. Secondary teachers need…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 02/15/2021

Members Update - 5 February 2021

First Minister Statement – Reopening of Schools 22 February 2021The First Minister made a statement to the Scottish Parliament on 2 February that it is her intention to reopen schools to some pupils on 22 February. This decision is to be confirmed in two weeks (16 February 2021). The statement raised a number of issues that are still to be resolved as the detail had not been discussed with teacher unions. The SSTA has been advised that updated reducing risks and mitigating…

COVID-19 / Information for Members / Pensions - 02/05/2021

SSTA Newsletter - January 2021

Please find below a link to the January 2021 SSTA Newsletter. Information included in the newsletter: A message from the SSTA PresidentElection of President and Vice-President - 2021-2023SNCT – Teachers Pay Claim 2021The Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme - Retirement WorkshopsParents EveningsSSTA Subscription Fees for 2021Professional Tax Review Service SSTA Newsletter - January 2021Download

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 01/15/2021

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…

COVID-19 / Information for Members - 01/04/2021