Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

Category: Information for Members

  • SSTA Guidance – Action Short of Strike Action – Phase 3

    SSTA Guidance – Action Short of Strike Action Phase 3 – March 2017

    SQA Payments for Marking Coursework in Technical and Computing Studies Courses

    SSTA members are continuing to take industrial action to reduce teacher workload and SSTA wishes to support members by clarify the situation regarding the proposal ‘SQA Payments for Marking Coursework in Technical and Computing Studies Courses’.

    The Marking of coursework in Technical and Computing Studies Courses is an issue SSTA has raised on a number of occasions in relation to the ‘unfairness’ of additional responsibility passed to teachers who teach these courses.

    The SQA confirmed the following arrangements for this year:

    “That for certain National Qualifications, payments will be made to teachers who are required to assess students’ work as part of the coursework arrangements.  As you will be aware the decision to make these payments was agreed at national level and is expected to be a temporary requirement pending the Revision of the assessment arrangements for National Qualifications.

    Given the tight timescales, SQA suggested to implement a process that was put in place to allow payment of teachers for undertaking assessment duties under the previous Standard Grade examination arrangements.  SQA has been in communication with members of the ADES (Association of Directors of Education Scotland) Resources Network since late October last year, and they have indicated their agreement to SQA’s proposal to resurrect that process.  

    The forms and guidance associated with that process have been updated and schools will download the necessary form from SQA’s website. The head of department or teacher responsible for the course(s) concerned, will complete the information required on the form, and then submit to the Local Authority to process the authorised payments to the Teachers through the normal payroll procedure” (highlighted by SSTA)

    SSTA view
    The SQA is unable to require teachers to undertake this task as SQA is not the employer. These arrangements were not agreed through the SNCT and ADES has no power to negotiate on behalf of teachers.

    Most importantly, teachers are not ‘required’ by the duties specified by SNCT Handbook of Conditions of Service (see Appendix below).

    SSTA advice

    • Any member who wishes to decline this task even if sufficient time or payment provided will be fully supported by the Association
    • It is important that the member informs the Headteacher of their intention at the earliest opportunity

    SSTA advice to teachers who voluntarily undertake this task

    • Should seek sufficient time within the school day to perform this function
    • The work normally undertaken during this time should be undertaken by the person allocated this duty (this includes preparation and correction of work)
    • A supply teacher should be engaged to undertake this work. It is not a reasonable request  for other colleagues in the school to undertake such duties
    • If a teacher agrees to be paid for undertaking such a task outside of school hours the appropriate payment as specified within the SNCT Conditions of Service handbook (see below) should be made

    Appendix – Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT)

    SNCT is a tripartite body comprising members from teaching organisations, Local Authorities, and the Scottish Government

    The Pay and Conditions of Service for teachers and associated professionals employed by Scottish Councils is set out in the SNCT Handbook of Conditions of Service (Extracts below)

    PART 2: SECTION 1 – PAY

    1.8 The daily rate of pay for teachers and music instructors will be 1/235(1) of the annual rate of salary. The hourly rate of pay will be calculated on the basis of 1/1645(2) of the annual rate of salary.

    Footnotes:     (1) 235 days = 195 working days + 40 days annual leave
    (2) 1645 hours = 235 days x 7 hours

    PART 2: SECTION 2 – MAIN DUTIES

    2.5 The duties of all teachers should be undertaken with due regard to workload and contractual obligations in order to allow them time to focus on their core role as leaders of learning.

    2.6 Teachers will not be expected to undertake the duties generally undertaken by administrative and support staff

    Teachers / Chartered Teachers

    2.8 Subject to the policies and practice of the school and the Council, the duties of teachers are to:
    a)    manage and organise classes through planning and preparing for teaching and learning.
    b)    assess, record and report on the work of pupils’ progress to inform a range of teaching and learning approaches
    c)    prepare pupils for examinations and where required, assist with their administration.
    d)    contribute towards good order and the wider needs of the school
    e)    develop the school curriculum
    f)    contribute to the school and council planning and improvement processes.
    g)    maintain and develop knowledge and skills and contribute to the professional development of colleagues including probationary and student teachers.

    SSTA Guidance – Action Short of Strike Action Phase 3 – March 2017

  • General Secretary Report – March 2017

    ‘Put pupils first – give teachers time to teach!’

    Members are being advised to work within the contracted 35 hour working week and focus on teaching and learning. Additional guidance is to be issued on School Improvement Plans, Working Time Agreements, Pastoral Support and Posts of Responsibility.

    Current guidance and presentations are available at www.ssta.org.uk

    Teachers Pay Claim 2017

    The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) has submitted a pay claim for 2017 and discussions are to continue with the Government and Employers.

    The SNCT claim includes

    • an uplift to meet the decline in ‘real’ value in teacher salaries since 2003 and bring Scottish Teachers into line with average teachers’ salaries across the OECD
    • the importance of reward at the top point of the main grade scale in the retention and recruitment of teachers particularly following the removal of the Chartered Teachers scale and the decline in career opportunities
    • the restoration of pay of short-term supply teachers
    • a reduction of class contact time and a reduction in class sizes to control teacher workload.

    Assessment and National Qualifications working group

    National 5 – published 31 January

    January 2017 – Implications of removal of unit assessments from Nat 5 course

    • extension of the existing question paper
    • extension/modification of the existing item of coursework
    • a new question paper
    • a new item of coursework

    April 2017 – course materials

    August 2017 – specimen papers and coursework

    • Extending grade D to 40% being considered
    • Nat 5 ‘free-standing’ units ONLY
    • Confusion in schools and need for a clear statement to schools

    SSTA Survey on National 5 changes

    • Within the first 48 hours 837 members had responded
    • Highlighted a concern that the new arrangements may increase teacher workload
    • Need to assess the impact upon student’s workload, and time for teachers to implement
    • SSTA delayed publishing the returns to allow time for discussions between the SQA and Government officials
    • The survey was broken down by subject and changes to the elements within the course. The results to be published shortly


    Education Scotland

     Bench Marks

    • being prepared by Education Scotland for publication
    • Benchmarks launched by the end of March
    • The Benchmarks will have opening text on their effective use in promoting more holistic assessment (and will set out some do’s and don’ts)
    • exemplification to support the dissemination and introduction of the Benchmarks
    • The exemplification will highlight how some teachers have streamlined and simplified planning and assessment though using Es and Os and Benchmarks, and how this has impacted on improving learning and helping to reduce workload
    • Possibility of providing guidance and support to local authorities and schools through ‘Understanding Standards’ approach to help local authorities and their schools look at how best to introduce curriculum area Benchmarks.

     

    Teacher Workload

    • Local authority ‘good practice’ is to be published on the Education Scotland website following discussions with trade unions

    Four identified areas below

    • Continuous profiling and reporting – primary schools
    • Simplification of paperwork
    • Team Around the Child Model
    • Tracking, monitoring and reporting in the primary sector

     

    National Standardised Assessments (NSA)

    • Statutory in school year 2017 – 2018 in P1, P4, P7 and S3
    • Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) the contractor
    • Assessments are to be available for all students
    • All platforms will work together seamless with SEEMIS and Glow
    • Scholar for training (administration and using the data) – materials for teachers by August 2017, online, webinars, face to face, etc
    • TWIG develop a video to fit in with teacher judgment and a help desk
    • Wide engagement with stakeholders, teachers, parents and local authorities

    Implementation of NSA 2016-2017

    • 5 LAs volunteered – Glasgow, Fife, Stirling, Western Isles and South Lanarkshire (100 schools in total)
    • A trial not a pilot, not a final version of the assessment
    • 35 – 40 mins but no more than 50 mins to take place after February break (P1, P3, P7 and S3)
    • Discussions on S3 Assessments and impact upon the existing tracking and monitoring practices and should be replacing not an addition

    International Council of Education Advisers

    • 27 -28 February – Advice to FM and DFM
    • Focus – ‘closing the gap’ and collaborative working
    • Meeting with children’s cabinet, child poverty advisor
    • No engagement with Trade Unions

    Innovative Routes to Teaching

    • STEM 1 – Combined PGDE and Induction Year – Probation and master degree in 2 years. Registration achieved in 9 months.
    • STEM 2 – Combined PGDE and probation in 1 year. Based in schools and paid standard salary during the year.
    • Concurrent Degrees for Secondary Education – physics and chemistry. To be extended to Technology.
    • Primary Specialism/Transitions 1 – subject specialism and Maths P6 to S3
    • Primary Specialism/Transitions 2 – additional subject specialism literacy, numeracy, ASN and STEM
    • Local Authority Employees into teaching – STEM subjects
    • Newly Qualified Teachers from Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland – undertake Masters degree whilst working in partner local authority
    • Returners to Teaching – out of the classroom who never taught in Scotland
    • Two Year Masters – Transformative Learning and Teaching MSc that allows ability to teach in the primary/secondary sectors

    Empowering teachers, parents and communities to achieve excellence and equity in education: A Governance Review – consultation closed 6 January

    • Governance Review – 1100 responses, 700 individuals at events, timing of White Paper to be determined
    • Focus on supporting decision making in schools, empowering teachers, parents and communities, strengthening ‘the middle’ (clusters, education regions), national framework and professional capacity, fair funding and accountability
    • SSTA response https://ssta.org.uk/ssta-response-governance-review/

    7th International Summit on the Teaching Profession 29-31 March 2017 in Edinburgh

    • An Education International (EI) /OECD event hosted by the Scottish and UK Governments.
    • Invitations made to the top 25 countries in the OECD with a joint teacher union and government presentations.
    • Pre-summit activities – School visits being arranged (29th)
    • Opening public session (30th am)
    • a) What do teachers need in terms of professional learning and development, now and in the future, to support their work?
    • What can governments, and unions do to ensure we have the right national structures and policy environment to support this?
    • Striving for Sustainable Excellence & Equity in Learning

    Increase in General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) Fees

    SSTA meet with the GTCS following the announcement of an increase in fees from £50 to £65 in January and asked that

    • the GTCS should reconsider its decision to increase the fee and show solidarity with its members and work within the current fee of £50
    • the GTCS should focus on its essential role of registration and accrediting teacher programmes.
    • should the GTCS sees itself as an agency that carries out functions that should be undertaken by the Government and/or the Employers then those bodies should be expected to meet the additional costs and not the GTCS members.

    Scottish Trades Union Council (STUC) – General Council

    Annual Congress – Aviemore 24 -26 April 2017

    • Guest speakers to include: First Minister, Labour Party, ICTU, TUC, Wales TUC and an International speaker due to the implications for Brexit.

    Union Modernisation Fund

    • Funding up to March 2017 approved. Awaiting new funding from April

    Organising for Fair Work & Trade Union Fair Work and Modernisation Fund

    • 24 March 2017 at the STUC Centre Glasgow, 12.00 noon

    Trade Union Act Briefing Session (Thompsons)

    • Thursday 23 March 2017, Glasgow 30pm

    Stand up to Racism – Scotland

    ·        Stand up to Racism march/rally on 18 March 2017.

    ·        Meet 11am, Holland St, Glasgow http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk

     

    SSTA Forthcoming Events

    Health and Safety and Senior Management Training – Friday 12 May, Stirling

    SSTA 2017 Congress Friday 19 and Saturday 20 May, Crieff

    District Secretaries Training early September 2017 to be confirmed

    School Representative Training – to be delivered locally details to be circulated

     

     

  • SPPA Circular 2017/03 – Summer Retirals

    Please see the link to the SPPA  circular 2017/03 issued Wednesday 15 March 2017.

    The purpose of this circular is to:

    • highlight the timescales for submission of summer retiral applications
    • clarify process for late applications
    • confirm the information required
    • highlight facility for accepting electronic submission of applications
    • direct requests for benefit estimates to My Pension online service

     

     

  • Letter to Deputy First Minister

    The SSTA wrote to John Swinney, Deputy First Minister, on Thursday 9 March 2017 asking for an urgent review of the changes to National 5 Qualifications introduced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and intended for implementation in 2017-2018 session.

    A copy of the letter is available to view below.

  • SSTA Newsletter – February 2017

    A newsletter containing updates on the Teachers Pay Claim 2017, SSTA Survey on National Qualifications Changes and the Increase in GTCs Fees is available for members to download using the link below.

     

    February 2017 newsletter

  • Vice-President Election 2017-19

    The result of the Vice President Election for 2017 – 2019

    [table id=8 /]

    I would like to congratulate John Guidi on his election and offer him all the best wishes during his term of office.

    Seamus Searson
    General Secretary

     

    The scrutineers report is available from SSTA HQ on request.

     

     

  • Interview with SSTA President on Newstalk Ireland radio

    Please find below an interview with our President Euan Duncan on Newstalk Ireland radio discussing Curriculum for Excellence and National Qualifications.

     

  • SQA Changes to National 5 Courses

    The SSTA was represented at a meeting of the Assessment and National Qualifications working group on 31 January where SQA gave a presentation on the changes to National 5 Course for the 2017-2018 session. SQA made these changes following consultation with SQA subject groups and feedback to SQA surveys of pupils, teachers and schools.

    The changes for each National 5 course will result in one or more of the following:

    • extension of the existing question paper
    • extension/modification of the existing item of coursework
    • a new question paper
    • a new item of coursework

    Following this meeting the SQA published these changes to school. Please follow link to the message from Dr Gill Stewart, SQA. http://mailer.sqa.org.uk/general-newsletter/2017/10/31/921067d9-fcf3-4e38-b2eb-a70c012ae92d

    The SSTA said it would seek views from its members on the changes from all National 5 course. We have emailed members with links to a short questionnaire to gauge members response to these changes.  Any member who has not received an email should contact SSTA HQ to check we hold up-to-date information for them.

     

  • Election for Vice President 2017-2019

    There are two candidates for the election for Vice President 2017-2019.

    The candidates are:

    John Guidi

    Ward McCormick

    The Candidates’ Election Statements can be can be downloaded using the link below

    VP Election 2017-2019 – Candidates’  Election Statements

    The election opens on Tuesday 17 January and closes at 12noon on Tuesday 31 January.

    Ballot papers are being sent out to members’ home addresses on Tuesday 17th January 2019.  If you do not receive a ballot paper please contact the office at info@ssta.org.uk with details of your home address.

  • SSTA response to the increase in GTCS Fees

    SSTA response to the increase in General Teaching Council for Scotland(GTCS) Fees

    The SSTA Head Office has been inundated with members complaining about the planned £15 (30%) annual increase in GTCS fees from £50 to £65 in 2017. SSTA members are extremely angry about what they see is an unjustified increase at a time of education cuts.

    Teachers have had to face a cut in ‘real’ salary in the last few years and work in an education service that has had to face significant reductions in funding. Schools budgets have been cut resulting in cuts to teachers, support staff and teaching resources. The GTCS seems to be insensitive to its members and current situation within education by approving a substantial increase in the annual fee.

    Like other teaching unions, the SSTA is not formally represented on the GTCS and was not consulted on the £15 (30%) increase. The decision to increase the fee was made by the GTCS Council in December. GTCS Council members are elected as representatives of a sector but are unaccountable to GTCS members in schools.

    Whilst the SSTA recognises the importance of GTCS Registration as a confirmation of teachers’ skills and suitability to teach in schools in Scotland, the SSTA is concerned about the expansion of the work of GTCS at the expense of its teacher members. These were highlighted in a GTCS response to a SSTA member:

    “As part of our work we offer multiple services each year such as:

    • Processing the applications of hundreds of teachers from across the world who wish to teach in Scotland
    • Managing the Teacher Induction Scheme and supporting over 2,500 probationers teachers and their supporters each year
    • Managing the Student Placement System which involves placing hundreds of students in schools
    • Managing the teacher profiles of probationers, those on the flexible route etc.
    • Managing and administrating Professional Update and the new MyProfessionalLearning service
    • We hold hundreds of professional learning meets and events each year to support teacher professional development
    • We are launching professional learning awards this year which will further support teacher professional learning

    The GTCS fee and the increase can be allocated to the expenditure contained in the GTCS Annual Report 2015-16. This information will only heighten a review of the work of the GTCS and what teachers in schools should be asked to pay for.

    • Council Governance 4% (£2 to £2.60)
    • Registration Services 20% (£10 to £13)
    • Fitness to Teach 20% (£10 to £13)
    • Support 11% (£5.50 to £7.15)
    • Education Services 25% (£12.50 to £16.25)
    • Customer Services and Communications 20% (£10 to £13)”

    SSTA is of the view that

    • The GTCS should reconsider its decision to increase the fee and show solidarity with its members by working within the current fee of £50
    • The GTCS should focus on its essential role of registration and accrediting teacher programmes.
    • Should the GTCS see itself as an agency that carries out functions on behalf of the Government and/or Employers then those bodies, and not GTCS members, should be expected to contribute to the additional costs.