Category: Information for Members

Notes for teachers leaving their current employer prior to the SNCT reaching a pay settlement.

This only applies to teachers who are retiring, or who are leaving their current job to work for a different authority or employer.

• Once the SNCT agrees on a pay settlement you will be entitled to backdated pay.
• Most authorities expect you to write to them and request it.
• Around the time you leave your employer, print out, complete and send them the attached proforma.
• It is important to note that there is no need to wait until settlement is reached. In fact, some employers may expect you to make this claim within 3 months of leaving irrespective of the date of settlement.
• After you send it, make sure you receive an acknowledgement, and keep it safe.
• Check you receive payment within a few weeks of settlement being reached. This can take up to 2 months depending on payroll deadlines

If you require further advice, please don’t hesitate to contact a Professional Officer.

Email: info@ssta.org.uk

Telephone: 0131 313 7300

Backdated Pay Claim Proforma

The National Teachers’ Pay Rally in Glasgow was a great success with the attendance going far beyond expectation. I would like to thank all members who were able to attend the rally in Glasgow and make the event such a success. I would also like to thank all the members who were unable to make the journey and sent messages of support. The Rally has sent a clear message to Government and COSLA that teachers need to be taken seriously. Well done to all.

Please see the photographs below of the SSTA members and SSTA banners. There is a link to my contribution (as SSTA General Secretary) to those assembled in George Square in Glasgow.

The next step of the campaign is for teachers to firmly reject the pay offer in the Consultative Ballot. I cannot emphasis how important it is that all members respond to the ballot. Please encourage all your colleagues to take part in the ballot. Ballot closes on Tuesday 20 November at 12.00 noon.

Further details on the Consultative Ballot can be found here

It is time for all teachers to work together and get a pay rise they deserve.

SSTA STANDING UP FOR TEACHERS’ PAY

Seamus Searson
General Secretary

Teachers Pay – April 2018 

SNCT 2018 Pay Claim submitted on the 8 February

• 10% restorative claim for all grades SNCT Pay Claim
• EIS and SSTA are the only negotiators for the Teachers’ Side

COSLA (employers) offer – 6 September (SNCT REJECTED offer on 18 September)

• This offer was for 3% across all SNCT grades except those over £80,000 (previous pay offer of 2% for those above £36,500 and 3% for those below).
• COSLA also supported a Scottish Government proposal to amend the Main Grade Salary Scale by reducing the number of points from 6 to 5 with a higher starting and finishing point
• SNCT Negotiations Ended – Thursday 4 October

SNCT Career Pathways Committee

• Moyra Boland of Glasgow University chair of the independent committee established by the SNCT
• Committee seeking evidence and views from all stakeholders including a teachers’ survey and public meetings
• The working group is due to submit its report to the SNCT in December 2018.
• SSTA will be making a formal response by 25 October

Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme Advisory Board – 28 September 2018

• The scheme has breached the ‘cost cap’ (the way that the cost of pensions is balanced against the value of pension scheme member contributions).
• The cost cap exists to ensure a fair balance of risks between scheme members and the taxpayer.
• It takes into account the past and future service costs of all members of the reformed schemes, together with factors such as life expectancy, growth in salaries and career paths
• Further meeting to take place in the coming weeks

Education Bill June 2018 (deferred)

• COSLA/Government Agreement included commitments to:
• Headteachers’ Charter to empower headteachers in the following areas:

Curriculum, School Improvement (also a review of planning across the system), Staffing (LA still able to intervene), Funding (Headteachers will make decisions on the spending within that delegated budget),

• Parental and community engagement
• Pupil participation
• Regional Improvement Collaboratives (£10m funding announced in Sept)
• Education Workforce Council consensus on the principle of widening registration to others but significant change should be carefully considered.

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2018/06/8745/downloads

• Education Scotland are currently conducting LA inspection for ‘empowerment’ in preparation for moving forward with the Headteachers’ Charter

2019 NIF and Improvement Plan

• Review to be undertaken – little appetite for change
• Focus on Health and Well-Being and Early Learning and Childcare
• Health and Wellbeing Census P5 to S4.Further discussion on S5 and S6
• Evidence report to become a dashboard to allow further investigation

International Council of Education Advisers (ICEA)

• ICEA reappointed for a further 2 years
• Report published June 2018 (19 recommendations) includes:
• Develop the 4 capacities of CfE
• Define and gauge the health and wellbeing of young people
• Continue with the Attainment Challenge Fund
• Systematic steps to strengthen fairness, inclusion, and equity in education through ongoing investments in excellence
• An implementation plan for furthering educational improvement with co-ownership and engagement across the system
• Use of the term Improvement rather than Reform
• Move towards an empowered and self-improving learning system
• A collaborative approach to improvement rather than a legislative approach
• Focus on capacity building
• Three key policy imperatives for improvement: professional empowerment, responsibility and ownership
• Collaboration remains the central focus of system improvement
• Ensure that the RICs are providing additional capacity and have adequate capacity and resources to directly impact on learning and teaching
• Provide funding and support for RICs to take forward regional pedagogical networks linked to teaching and learning

https://beta.gov.scot/publications/international-council-education-advisers-report-2016-18/

• Government response to report due in September
• Joint meeting with the Scottish Education Council to discuss the ICEA Report and COSLA/Government Agreement also published in June

Scottish Education Council

• Members by invitation of DFM and includes all six Regional Improvement Collaborative (RIC) Lead Officers and Chief Inspector
• Notes of June meeting

https://beta.gov.scot/publications/scottish-education-council-minutes-june-2018/

Education Leaders Forum – 1 October

• 70 organisations (including public and 3^rd sector) – to look at ‘wider issues’
• Agenda to include:
• Education Reform – Joint (COSLA) Agreement and ICEA Recommendations
• National Improvement Framework Review and Improvement Plan for 2019

BGE Benchmarking Tool

• Meeting with LAs, Headteachers and teachers
• Not a performance tool – to support dialogue and assist improvement

School Information Dashboard/Parentzone Scotland

• School information in a wider context – launch 29 August
• 3 sections – primary, secondary and special schools
• Using existing data in one place
• Developing supporting materials to help parents

Strategic Board for Teacher Education (SBTE) – 12 September 2018

     Report from the Headteacher Recruitment Working Group

• Career Pathways and Preparation for Headship – into, within and beyond Headship
• Support for existing Headteachers – from Local Authorities and Education Scotland
• Promoting the Role of Headteacher – awareness-raising campaign Autumn 2018
• Terms, Conditions and Incentives – SNCT impact of potential education reforms

    Report from the Diversity in the Teaching Profession Working Group

• Closing the awareness gap
• Attractiveness of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) to students from minority ethnic background
• Effectiveness of university admissions processes in attracting a diverse range of applicant
• Student placement experiences and support for students
• Retaining students and teachers from minority backgrounds while supporting promotion at all levels
• Responsibility of the Education Sector

Education Policy Conferences

• Education Scotland organising a national conference on 20 November with 6 regional conferences to follow

STUC General Council

Research Update

• Within its strategic priority – the Economy and Industrial Sectors, the General Council agreed to conduct 3 pieces of research:
• The South of Scotland Economy
• The Aberdeen / Aberdeenshire Economy
• The shape and structure of the Construction Industry

First Minister Biannual Meeting – 31 October 2018

• Agenda – Economy, Scottish Budget, Programme for Government, Fair Work by increasing Collective Bargaining coverage.

Forthcoming Events

Professional Courses (5.30 to 8.00pm)

Understanding Mental Health

North Ayrshire – September

Aberdeen – September

Dementia Awareness

Aberdeen (Northern Hotel, Aberdeen) – Tuesday 6 November

Glasgow (STUC) –Tuesday 27 November

 Tackling Homophobia

Edinburgh (SSTA) – Wednesday 24 October

Glasgow (STUC) – Wednesday 5 December

**SSTA seeking additional SUL funding for further courses**

 St Andrew’s Day Anti-Racism March and Rally 24 November 2018

 The theme “Still We Rise: Internationalism, Freedom, Justice”.

• Assemble at Glasgow Green at 10.30am, march through Glasgow to a rally at Adelaide’s, Bath Street at 12 noon.

 STUC Women’s Conference, Dundee, 29-30 October 2018

 STUC Congress, Dundee, 15-17 April 2019

 SSTA Congress, Crieff, 17-18 May 2019

Pay Offer Rejected

The Teachers’ Side of the SNCT met on the 18 September and all organisations present rejected the offer which had been made previously by the employers (COSLA). The Teachers’ Side regarded the offer  as being “derisory” in terms of the 3% offer across the board and “divisive” in relation to proposing changes to the main-grade scale whilst leaving promoted scales untouched.

This meeting was followed by a meeting of the SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (EIS, SSTA, COSLA and Scottish Government) where the Teachers’ Side formally rejected the employer’s pay offer.

The offer was for 3% across all SNCT posts except for those earning £80,000 or above, whose increase would be limited to £1,600. In addition to the 3% pay increase COSLA also supported a Scottish Government proposal to amend the Main Grade Salary Scale by reducing the number of points from 6 to 5 with a higher starting and finishing point.

It was made clear that the 3% offer doesn’t come close to matching the ambition of the SNCT 10% claim for all members at all grades.

During the discussions reference was made to the OECD report ‘ Education at a Glance’ that indicated the average teachers’ salary was equivalent to £42,000 and that Scotland was one of only 5 countries where teachers’ pay has fallen, relative to graduate earnings, over the past decade.

The Teachers’ side were clear, also, that changes to only the main grade scale would be divisive. This is effectively a differentiated offer pay and this was not acceptable. The Teachers’ Side is willing to consider improvements to scale points but these would need to be financially equitable across all the scales.

Both Scottish Government and COSLA were asked to consider the Teachers’ Side response and to return to the next meeting. The SSTA will continue to negotiate in good faith, with both COSLA and Scottish Government, with the next negotiating meeting of the Extended Joint Chairs to take place on the 4 October. Members will be kept informed of any progress made at that meeting.

When the final pay offer is made SSTA will consult the membership on its views and the possibility of a formal ballot for industrial action.  It is therefore, essential that member’s details are updated and accurate. Members can update their details by completing a form on the SSTA website at www.ssta.org.uk/updatedetails .