Category: Information for Members

Delivering the 90 Minutes and Protecting Secondary Teachers – Consultative Survey

Thank you to the more than 2,800+ members who took part in the recent SSTA consultative survey. Your contribution is invaluable and will help strengthen our campaign to reduce excessive teacher workload.

📝 The initial findings of the survey are set out below.

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Initial Survey Findings – Teacher Workload

The survey revealed that all teachers are working beyond their 35-hour contractual week:

• 18% work up to 5 extra hours per week
• 43% work up to 10 extra hours per week
• 25% work up to 15 extra hours per week
• 14% work more than 15 extra hours per week

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Contact Hours

• 49% of members reported being asked occasionally to go beyond the existing 22.5 contact hours.
• 3% said they are asked to exceed this maximum on a regular basis.

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Management Time Allocation

A quarter of survey respondents hold management positions, but the time allocated for management duties varies significantly. The SNCT is currently considering national guidance on management time, as practice differs widely across the country:

• 9% – No management time
• 16% – 1–2 periods per week
• 21% – 3–4 periods per week
• 20% – 5–6 periods per week
• 33% – More than 6 periods per week

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Next Steps

Further information will follow on:

• Teachers working outside their specialist subject
• The number of primary-qualified teachers working in secondary schools, and their areas of responsibility

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SSTA Membership Offers

• ALL Part-time members – Pay 50% of the full-time subscription (unique to the SSTA)
• ALL NQTS – Free Until January 2027
• ALL New Members – 50% off subscription fees for the first 12 months

Reduction in Class Contact Time – Some Progress
 
The SSTA, along with other teacher unions, has finally received the COSLA report Reduction in Class Contact Time and the Scottish Government’s Proposal for the Next Steps on Reduced Class Contact Time (RCCT), ahead of a special SNCT meeting on Wednesday, 20 August. Both documents raise significant issues that must be addressed.
 
The COSLA report was confusing, misleading, and lacked the necessary detail to support the practical implementation of reduced class contact time. Many would consider the paper “incompetent,” given that it took more than six months to produce despite the involvement of senior experts. Teachers would face severe criticism if they failed to complete a report within such a timescale.

By contrast, the Scottish Government’s paper offered a number of proposals and, most importantly, set out a work plan for the SNCT RCCT subgroup. This subgroup is tasked with urgently developing a clear route map for the delivery of RCCT. The SNCT Teachers’ Side reminded both COSLA and the Scottish Government that it remains in dispute over RCCT, with consultative surveys on industrial action already underway. The priority, therefore, must be meaningful engagement on how RCCT will be implemented.
 
The SNCT Teachers’ Side has not agreed to any of the proposals presented in the papers, pointing out that these issues could and should have been addressed at any point during the past six months. A series of meetings is now being arranged to develop a delivery plan, but any further delays risk triggering ballots for industrial action. While RCCT alone will not solve the problem of excessive teacher workload, it represents an important first step.
 

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Delivering the 90 Minutes and Protecting Secondary Teachers – Consultative Survey

The SSTA member survey is a vital part of our campaign to reduce excessive teacher workload. The survey closes on Thursday, 28 August, and we strongly encourage all members who have not yet responded to take part and ensure their views are heard.

If you have not received an invitation to complete the survey, please contact SSTA Head Office at info@ssta.org.uk

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Education Scotland’s Professional Learning Sessions – New guidance

Education Scotland has requested that we highlight the following professional learning sessions on the new guidance published in June are now live for school staff. The sessions can be booked via the following links:

• New Guidance: Fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment – 27th August 2025 | Events | Education Scotland
• Violence, aggression and dangerous behaviour risk assessment guidance – 3rd September 2025 | Events | Education Scotland
• Addressing Racism and Racist Incidents: New Guidance and Practice Tickets, Wed, Sep 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

There will also be an initial professional learning session on Thursday 21^st August which will outline the national educational policy landscape, the relationships and behaviour action plan and guidance, and information about Education Scotland’s supporting professional learning programme ‘It’s all about relationships’ running between now and December 2025.

Relationships and behaviour: policy, guidance and professional learning – 21st August 2025 | Events | Education Scotland

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Recruit a Member

The start of the new term brings fresh faces to our staffrooms. Please take a moment to welcome new colleagues and encourage them to join the SSTA. One new member in every school makes a real difference. There are several great offers for new members—just direct them to the SSTA website, where joining is quick and easy.  www.ssta.org.uk/join 

SSTA Membership Offers

• NQTS – Free Until January 2027
• New Members – 50% off subscription fees for the first 12 months
• Part-time members – Pay a reduced subscription of 50% off the full-time subscription.

The SSTA continues to hear from members that disruptive behaviour by young people is a growing barrier to effective learning and teaching. Such behaviour not only impacts learners’ attainment but also increases stress and anxiety for teachers. The SSTA has consistently pressed the Scottish Government for a unified approach to supporting teachers in meeting the needs of young people in our schools, and we welcome the introduction of the Relationships and Behaviour Action Plan (see below).

We now wish to hear from members whether the Action Plan has made a difference in managing challenging behaviour in schools. The SSTA previously conducted a pupil behaviour survey in 2023, and this follow-up survey will inform our discussions with the Scottish Government and contribute to the further development of the Action Plan. 

Email invitations to take part in the survey were sent to members on Wednesday 20 August at approx. 12.45pm

The Scottish Government published the Relationships and Behaviour Action Plan in August 2024. The 3-year action plan was developed by the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools (SAGRABIS) Improving relationships and behaviour in schools: ensuring safe and consistent environments for all Joint action plan 2024 – 2027

As part of the action plan the following documents have been published.

• Gender based violence
• Guidance on Mobile Phones in Scotland’s Schools 
• ‘Respect for All’ – Anti-Bullying
• Restraint and seclusion

As part of the next stage of the action plan on the 17 June the Government published Fostering a Positive, Inclusive and Safe School Environment guidance (the ‘consequences’ guidance) and the Violent, Aggressive and Dangerous Behaviour Risk Assessment guidance.

• “Fostering a Positive, Inclusive and Safe School Environment guidance”.
• “Guidance on risk assessments for violent, aggressive and dangerous behaviour”

Reduction in Class Contact Time – ‘More Excuses’ 

The SSTA, alongside other teacher unions, has been waiting for four years to discuss the proposed 90-minute reduction in teacher class contact time—without success. The most recent SNCT meeting, held on 25 June, saw no progress, as COSLA refused to share any documentation.

Throughout the summer, however, information not shared with teacher unions has been freely circulated via the TES. These articles are worth reading (links provided below).

Misinformation and assumptions have been shared publicly while unions remain excluded from the discussion. This only strengthens concerns that decisions—or excuses—are being developed to block the implementation of this critical measure to reduce teacher workload.

Our ‘Delivering the 90 Minutes and Protecting Secondary Teachers’ member survey is a vital part of our campaign. Thank you to the thousands of members who have already responded. Reminders will be issued shortly for those yet to participate.
Related articles:

• Swinney threatens councils to cut class contact time (16 July 2025)
• Revealed: Government contact time proposal rejected by councils (22 July 2025)

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SNCT Pay Claim 2025–2026 – ‘Late Again’

Scottish teaching unions have expressed their frustration over the lack of progress in pay negotiations. As a result, the deadline to implement higher salaries by the start of August has been missed.

The SSTA’s concerns were featured in a TES article on 3 July 2025, which included a statement from COSLA claiming a two-year deal had been offered to the entire Scottish local government workforce—including teachers. This raises serious questions: is COSLA again undermining and bypassing the SNCT pay negotiating process?

Related article:

• ‘Swift’ Scottish teacher pay deal sought after summer of uncertainty

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National Qualifications – ‘Teachers Have Done Well

Scottish secondary teachers have once again demonstrated professionalism and dedication in delivering this year’s national qualifications. Every effort has been made to ensure all students had the opportunity to fulfil their potential. This marks the second year of full course assessment since the Covid pandemic.

Read the SQA’s statement here:

• Results Day: 2025 marks ‘landmark year’ of achievement by Scotland’s learners

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Recruit a Member

The start of the new term brings fresh faces to our staffrooms. Please take a moment to welcome new colleagues and encourage them to join the SSTA. One new member in every school makes a real difference. There are several great offers for new members—just direct them to the SSTA website, where joining is quick and easy.  www.ssta.org.uk/join 

SSTA Membership Offers

• NQTS – Free Until January 2027
• New Members – 50% off subscription fees for the first 12 months
• Part-time members – Pay a reduced subscription of 50% off the full-time subscription

The June 2025 SSTA Newsletter is available for members to download. The newsletter contains information on:

• Presidential Address to Congress
• Report of the General Secretary at Congress
• Cabinet Secretary at Congress
• Motions Passed at Congress 2025
• Behaviour Action Plan Presentation
• Pauline Stephen, GTCs at Congress
• Health & Safety Walkabout in Secondary Schools
• Financial Statement to members for period ended 31 December 2024
• National Awards

Press Release – 23 June 2025

As part of the SSTA’s campaign to reduce teachers’ class-contact time by 90 minutes, the “Delivering the 90 minutes and protecting secondary teachers” member survey was launched last week. Within days, the SSTA received nearly 1,700 responses.

Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary, said:
“The survey shows that all secondary teachers work beyond their 35-hour contractual week and provide huge amounts of ‘free overtime’. Yet the employers (COSLA) fail to recognise the significance of the Scottish Government’s promise to reduce contact time by 90 minutes for teachers’ wellbeing and effectiveness. Despite government funding, COSLA continues to ‘fiddle while teachers burn,’ watching teachers leave the profession exhausted and burnt out.”
 
Seamus added:
“The teaching profession in Scotland is in crisis. The failure to recruit in the secondary sector—and the exodus of many teachers before retirement—are a massive indictment of COSLA’s inability over the past four years to implement a ‘no-brainer’ solution to retain and recruit teachers. The survey also shows the strength of feeling among members: 92% are prepared to take industrial action (the survey is still live).”
 
Peter Brandon, SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Convener, said:
“Scottish teachers teach well above the OECD average, yet our employers seem unable to understand how much better teaching and learning would be with less-exhausted teachers. Reducing class-contact time is vital in addressing excessive teacher workload. Our children suffer daily while this situation continues unchanged.”
 
[ENDS]
 

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Early Survey Findings

1. How many hours do you work beyond the 35-hour contractual week?
   
   • 18%: up to 5 extra hours
   • 43%: up to 10 extra hours
   • 25%: up to 15 extra hours
   • 14%: more than 15 extra hours per week
     
      
2. How many hours do you spend on planning, preparation, and correction during the school day?
   (Maximum contractual time: 7.5 hours/week)
   
   • 31%: less than 2 hours
   • 24%: less than 4 hours
   • 14%: less than 6 hours
   • 31%: receive the full 7.5 hours
     
      
3. Are you asked to teach or cover beyond your maximum 22.5 hours of class-contact time?
   
   • 48%: never
   • 49%: occasionally
   • 3%: regularly

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Member Comments

• “More planning time—well used by professionally motivated teachers—will surely lead to improved learner experiences and better educational outcomes.”
• “I work every night and weekend, far above my 35 hours.”
• “More than 50% of our school population has an ASN, yet we have fewer PSAs than ever. Some pupils arrive at secondary school still at an early level in literacy and numeracy. Trying to support these pupils in class and differentiate work appropriately is impossible within the current allocated time.”
• “Imagine someone in the private sector being expected to perform all day with no break between performances; no time to reflect on each performance and no time to prepare for the next. We are constantly on high alert with no headspace to plan, prepare, and reflect, yet we are expected to work miracles in our classrooms every day, managing all kinds of needs and abilities.”
• “As a teacher of 25 years, I feel the profession is failing. Teachers are under immense pressure to deliver BGE and national qualifications to classes so differentiated that the job has become completely impossible.”

‘Delivering the 90 minutes and protecting secondary teachers’ member survey

As part of the ‘Delivering the 90 minutes and protecting secondary teachers’ member survey we asked about teachers workload. You have shown how much ‘Free Overtime’ you give in the interests of the children and the school. Nearly 1,700 members have responded within a few days of the survey starting and it has shown the importance of getting a reduction in class contact time. 

At this point we can share some of the early findings

In answer to the question how many hours over the 35 hour contractual week? 

• 18% said up to 5 hours extra,
• 43% up to 10 hours extra,
• 25% said up to 15 hours and
• 14% beyond 15 hours extra per week.

When asked how many hours for planning, preparation and correction do you use during the school day (7.5 hours is the maximum per week)?

• 31% less than 2 hours
• 24% less than 4 hours
• 14% less than 6 hours
• 31% were receiving their contractual 7.5 hour

In addition Are you asked to teach and cover beyond your maximum 22.5 hours maximum class contact time?

• 48% said never
• 49% said occasionally 
• 3% said regularly

This clearly shows teachers are working beyond their contractual hours and offering huge amounts of ‘free overtime’. This information will be used at meetings with the COSLA and the Scottish Government to deliver the 90 minutes reduction in class contact time.

Reducing class contact time is a crucial step in addressing excessive teacher workload. Despite this, employers have failed to recognise the significance of the promised 90 minutes for teachers’ wellbeing and effectiveness. 

The SSTA is seeking the following:

• That agreement is reached, at the SNCT, ensuring that the full 1.5 hours resulting from the promised reduction in weekly class contact time is used to increase weekly “preparation and correction” time to a minimum of 9 hours, as a key step forward in addressing unsustainable levels of workload.
• That agreement is reached, at the SNCT, on the timescales and practical implementation of the reduction in weekly class contact time to a maximum of 21 hours per week.

 
All members are being encouraged to complete the ‘Delivering the 90 minutes and protecting secondary teachers’ survey to help resolve the ongoing dispute with the employers. Further findings from the survey will be shared in due course.
 
Reminder – Members are urged to check their personal details to ensure they receive the link to the survey. Email invitations for the consultative survey have been sent to members ‘preferred’ email address. SSTA recommends using a personal email address as their ‘preferred email address’ to avoid employer security controls. 

Relationships and Behaviour Action Plan – Welcomed by SSTA

The Scottish Government published the Relationships and Behaviour Action Plan in August 2024. The 3-year action plan was developed by the Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools (SAGRABIS) Improving relationships and behaviour in schools: ensuring safe and consistent environments for all Joint action plan 2024 – 2027  
 
As part of the action plan the following documents have been published.

• Gender based violence
• Guidance on Mobile Phones in Scotland’s Schools 
• ‘Respect for All’ – Anti-Bullying
• Restraint and seclusion

As part of the next stage of the action plan on the 17 June the Government published Fostering a Positive, Inclusive and Safe School Environment guidance (the ‘consequences’ guidance) and the Violent, Aggressive and Dangerous Behaviour Risk Assessment guidance.

• “Fostering a Positive, Inclusive and Safe School Environment guidance”.
• “Guidance on risk assessments for violent, aggressive and dangerous behaviour”

The SSTA met with Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary Education and Skills on 18 June and welcomed the developments in the action plan. As it ensures a national approach to pupil behaviour in schools. The SSTA emphasised for the action plan to be successful it was important that additional professional support in schools such as school counsellors, school nurses, school social workers, etc. as an essential component and must be provided for all secondary schools. The SSTA pushed for protected Government funding for this purpose and for the additional staffing not to be left to the discretion of local authorities.

 

Inclusion, Wellbeing and Equalities – Education Scotland

The SSTA has been working with Education Scotland’s Inclusion, Wellbeing and Equalities team to meet the evolving needs of learners and educators. The team has asked that we circulate the following message and survey.

In order to continue strengthening our support and driving positive outcomes, we are inviting you to complete a short, 10-minute questionnaire. Your insights will directly inform how we shape future support for learners and practitioners across Scotland, helping us better align with the needs of the system. We would be grateful if you could consider taking part in our short questionnaire, to ensure Scottish education system’s vision of achieving equity and excellence for all learners.

 
Please follow the link to the questionnaire for Educational Practitioners (frontline, middle and senior system leaders).
 
The questionnaires will close on the 30 June 2025.
 

SPPA – Teacher Pension Benefit Statements

The SPPA has been busy attempting to complete the ‘Remedial Service Statement (RSS)’ for those members who have service prior to April 2022. To ensure you receive your benefit statement or any communications regarding your pension you must ensure you are registered with the SPPA. It is recommended that you check your details and use your personal email address. 

 
Members who have started since April 2022 will be members of the CARE scheme and should normally receive your benefit statement in September.
 
To register and check your details please go to https://pensions.gov.scot/teachers


Expected High Temperatures

With the expected high temperatures in the next few days, members may find the ‘Heating Regulations and Ventilation‘ section from the SSTA Health and Safety Handbook useful.  If you require specific advice, please contact SSTA HQ at info@ssta.org.uk. 

‘Delivering the 90 minutes and protecting secondary teachers’ member survey

Reducing class contact time is a crucial step in addressing excessive teacher workload. Despite this, employers have failed to recognise the significance of the promised 90 minutes for teachers’ wellbeing and effectiveness. Alongside other teaching unions, the SSTA has reached the limit of its patience and will now ask members whether they are prepared to escalate the dispute and move toward industrial action.

The SSTA is seeking the following:

• That agreement is reached, at the SNCT, ensuring that the full 1.5 hours resulting from the promised reduction in weekly class contact time is used to increase weekly “preparation and correction” time to a minimum of 9 hours, as a key step forward in addressing unsustainable levels of workload.
• That agreement is reached, at the SNCT, on the timescales and practical implementation of the reduction in weekly class contact time to a maximum of 21 hours per week.

 
The ‘Delivering the 90 minutes and protecting secondary teachers’ members survey will ask members their preparedness to take both action short of strike action and strike action to resolve the ongoing dispute with the employers. The survey will commence on Wednesday 18 June and close on Thursday 28 August.
 
Reminder – Members are urged to check their personal details to ensure they receive the link to the survey. Email invitations for the consultative survey will be sent to members ‘preferred’ email address. SSTA recommends using a personal email address as their ‘preferred email address’ to avoid employer security controls. 

Cabinet Secretary at the SSTA Congress

Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, attended the SSTA 80^th Congress at Stirling in May. The Cabinet Secretary addressed Congress and answered questions from delegates. Ms Gilruth spoke on school funding, protecting teacher numbers, ASN, reducing class contact time, pupil behaviour and consequences, mobile phones and SQA.  View the Cabinet Secretary address Congress.

‘Industrial Action Sanctioned’ – Reduction in Class Contact Time 

As no progress has been made toward the long-promised reduction in class contact time, the SSTA National Executive has sanctioned a consultative survey of members for industrial action. The reduction of 90 minutes class contact time was promised by the Scottish Government four years ago and COSLA has baulked at every turn to progress the promise. The reduction of class contact time is a small step in addressing teacher workload and the employers have failed to acknowledge the importance of the 90 minutes to teachers. The SSTA together with other teacher unions has reached the end of their patience and now will be asking members to progress the dispute and move towards industrial action.
 
The ‘Delivering the 90 minutes and protecting secondary teachers’ members survey will ask members their preparedness to take action short of strike action and strike action in resolving the dispute with the employers. The survey will commence the week beginning 16 June and close at the end of August. For the avoidance of doubt this is an informative survey for national executive to gauge members views before moving to a formal official postal ballot for industrial action. Further information to follow.

Members are urged to check their personal details to ensure they receive the link to the survey. Email invitations for the consultative survey will be sent to members ‘preferred’ email address. SSTA recommends using a personal email addresses as their ‘preferred email address’ to avoid employer security controls. 

Any member who wishes update their details can do so by completing a form at www.ssta.org.uk/updatedetails or by emailing info@ssta.org.uk with the change or details.
 

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SNCT Pay Claim 2025-2026  ‘No Pay Offer Received – Time is Running Out’

The SNCT Extended Joint Chairs met on 4 June with the Teacher Side(SSTA and EIS) expecting an improved pay offer, after rejecting the initial 3% offer in March. The COSLA Leaders met on 30 May and failed to progress a new offer. Consequently, this has reduced the time to reach an agreement before the end of term (25 June). The COSLA Leaders are due to meet again in the coming weeks and the Teachers’ Side has urged a follow-up meeting to receive a new offer. The Teacher Side said it would be difficult, but it would be prepared to process a suitable offer before the end of term. 

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Health and Safety Walkaround in Secondary Schools

The SSTA Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee held an online meeting to explain the process of ‘Health and Safety Walkaround in Schools’. The session was led by the Convener Grant McAllister and Iain Glennie Assistant General Secretary who explained the importance of H&S school inspections in a straightforward and interesting way (no jargon). Please follow the link below to see the presentation. If you would like more information about being a SSTA Health and Safety Rep, do contact the SSTA Head Office at info@ssta.org.uk

Health and Safety Walkaround in Secondary School recording