Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

Category: Information for Members

  • Named Person Questionnaire & Fact Sheet

    The SSTA wishes to gauge teachers’ opinions on the implementation of Children’s and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. In particular of how the role of the Named Person is being implemented in secondary schools and specialist education provisions.

    We would ask you to completing the following brief SurveyMonkey questionnaire by Thursday 19th March 2015.

    The information we collect will be helpful in our forthcoming discussions with the Scottish Government consultation process and in supporting members.

    Named Person Fact Sheet

  • Report to Council from the General Secretary

     GS Report March 2015

    SSTA meeting Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary – 26 February 2015

    1. a) New Higher Qualifications Minister rejected an extension of the existing qualifications
    2. b) Highlighted the importance of Supply Teachers to the education system and the need to restore pay levels and potential national register for supply teachers
    3. c) Measures to be developed to address underachievement in Secondary Schools
    4. d) The return of the SSTA to the CfE Management Board

    New Higher Qualifications

    1. a) The SSTA survey was the basis of the discussion with Education Minister and highlighted the real workload demands on members. The lack of confidence in materials, assessment arrangements and time available to teachers to deliver the new arrangements was highlighted (see press releases on ssta.org.uk)
    2. b) The survey also showed teachers removing themselves from the external qualification process. Further findings to be considered by the Education Committee
    3. c) SSTA gave evidence to the Education and Culture Committee on 3 February

    Supply Teachers

    SNCT is working on improving the current arrangements including a national register and restoration of pay rates.

    Flexible Working

    Any request must be agreed prior to beginning of the school year and the request can be declined (reps bulletin www.ssta.org.uk)

    Absence Management

    1. a) SSTA guidance being prepared for members on the process
    2. b) District Secretaries will be contacted for information to prepare more detailed advice

     Teachers’ Pension 2015

    1. a) Contribution rates for teachers will remain at 7.2% at the start of the range, but will increase up to 12.4% (previously 11.9%) for those at the top of the range. Actual pay rather than whole time equivalent pay to be used to determine contribution rate

    (see reps bulletin www.ssta.org.uk)

    1. b) Contribution rate for employers to increase from 14.9% to 17.2% in September 2015
    2. c) ‘Winding Down’ scheme is not included in the 2015 Regulations but will continue for those with NPA60 tapered protection

     ‘Named Person’ consultation

    1. a) Additional Support Needs advisory panel has produced a questionnaire for identified members to assist in the response to the consultation. School reps will be asked to assist in the process.
    2. b) SSTA will issue a bulletin to advise members of the potential changes

    Scottish Teachers for Enhancing Practice

    (incorporating the Association of Chartered Teachers Development)

    1. a) Saturday 21st March, Stirling Court Hotel 9.00am – 3.00pm
    2. b) SSTA sponsoring and have a stand at the event

    More information at www.STeachersEP.org.uk

    Professional Update

    Guidance for Senior Managers has been prepared by the Senior Mangers Advisory Panel and will issued shortly

    Scottish College of Educational Leadership (SCEL)

    1. a) Headteacher Fellowships has been piloted and the next cohort is being selected
    2. b) SSTA raised concerns over the announcement of a Masters qualification for Headship and for it to be mandatory from 2018
    3. c) SSTA stressed the necessity of opportunities for all teachers

    General Teacher’s Council Scotland

    1. a) The GTCS has been asked to make provisions for Further Education Lecturers
    2. b) Increasing concern of use of Social Media and referrals to GTCS
    3. c) Potential complaints to the GTCS of teachers’ involvement in the period up to the General Election 2015 and Scottish Parliament Election 2016.
    4. d) GTCS has offered an engagement with SSTA on the process/stages of the complaints procedure

     Scottish Parent Teachers Council AGM

    The SPTC 1st Lecture took place in Glasgow with Professor Joyce Epstein, Baltimore USA on the ‘School, Parent and Community Partnerships’ that focus on raising student achievement. A wealth of evidence, information, and practical guidance can be found at www.partnershipschools.org

    Scottish Trades Union Congress

    118th Annual Congress Mon 20 – Wed 22 April, Ayr Racecourse

    1. a) SSTA motions i) To abolish fees at Employment Tribunals ii) Government support for Young Carers and iii) Devolution of Tax-Raising Powers (113 motions in prelim agenda)
    2. b) Education Unions’ reception Mon 20 Western House Hotel from 6-8pm
    3. c) SSTA to take half page space in Congress 2015 Programme

     British Irish Group of Teacher Unions (BIGTU)

    1. a) Collection of evidence on experiences of IT/E-Learning in advance of June meeting that may lead to a formal research project
    2. b) Possible research project on Teacher Workload

     Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) NI Congress 26/27 February

    1. a) Education Budget Cuts ballot being conducted for strike action on 13 March
    2. b) To promote the 2012 Workload Agreement to tackle increasing teacher workload
    3. c) Opposition to the ‘Conscience Clause Bill’ to allow the discrimination of LGBT members
    4. d) One Education Library Board (ELB) to replace the current Five ELB’s from April 2015
    5. e) Pensions – teacher contribution 7.4% to 11.7% and employer contribution 17.7%

    Teacher Union of Ireland ‘Curriculum Development’ Conference

    Alan Mackenzie was invited as keynote speaker at the Conference. The theme was the Scottish Experience an account of Curriculum for Excellence. “Much of our experiences resonated with our colleagues in Ireland in particular with internal assessment and the Junior Certificate. There was a lively debate with contributions from the 200 delegates being incisive and informative. The feedback was positive and an Irish Senator who showed interest in making contact with the SSTA for further information”.

    Forthcoming events:

    1. a) Health and Safety Reps training Fri 22 May, Stirling
    2. b) School Reps training late May/early June date to be confirmed
    3. c) Senior Managers seminar to be re-arranged for autumn term

  • STEP – Association of Chartered Teachers Development

    STEP has developed from the Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland (ACTS) and is now open to all registered teachers in Scotland. This is important news which, especially now that professional update is up and running, will be of interest to all teachers keen to develop their professional learning.

    STEP (as ACTS did previously) exists to provide a community for teachers which helps them practise pedagogy more effectively and explore exciting new developments in educational practice.

    In previous years, ACTS have organised successful and well attended conferences. This year, we have arranged our first conference as STEP and believe that it offers an exciting professional learning opportunity for teachers.

    The National Education Conference is on 21st March at Stirling Management Centre. Details of the Conference can be found via the links below

    Keynote speakers are Ross McGill (teacher toolkit) and Gillian Hamilton (SCEL) and we have a packed programme of workshops delivered by a range of highly regarded people from the world of education.

    Teachers can join STEP, via their website, for the price of £25. This includes free entry to the conference, a two course lunch and tea and coffee throughout the day.

  • SSTA disappointed by Angela Constance decision on New Advanced Higher Qualifications

    The SSTA General Secretary Seamus Searson and incoming Vice President Euan Duncan met with the Cabinet Secretary, Angela Constance, to discuss the compelling evidence in the SSTA survey to seek an extension for the new Advanced Highers to be run in tandem with the existing qualifications for an extra year.

    Seamus Searson said “the survey confirms the view of many secondary school teachers that more time is needed to bring about these important changes. However, the Minister maintained her position that there would not be an extension of the existing system beyond this year”.

    Seamus Searson, went on to say “there will be thousands of teachers disappointed by the Minister’s decision as the overriding issue for SSTA members is that the young people following the existing qualification could be disadvantaged in the switch to the new examination”.

    Euan Duncan said “the SSTA survey clearly showed that secondary teachers lacked confidence in their ability to deliver examination materials for new Higher Qualifications (54%) and in assessment procedures for the new Higher (68%). The Minister was of the view that to extend the existing qualification would be too disruptive for schools”.

    Seamus Searson added “the SSTA is of the view that to allow schools to delay the implementation of the new Advanced Higher by one year would only be a continuation of the existing situation and would have no impact on schools. There could be a small inconvenience to the Scottish Qualification Agency (SQA) but its role is to support schools and seek the best outcomes of Students. I hope the SQA would agree that the students must come first”.

    Further information from

    Seamus Searson
    General Secretary
    0131 313 7300

  • New Higher Qualifications – Crisis in Confidence

    The SSTA has today released results of its survey on the New Higher Qualifications. The response to the survey has been overwhelming and it highlights a teacher crisis in confidence.

    Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said “the survey confirms the view of many secondary school teachers that more time is needed to bring about these important changes. We continue to be alarmed by the clear lack of confidence being expressed by our members particularly in terms of the materials required and in their ability to assess pupils in the New Higher Qualifications. Such alarming rates of lack of confidence must be acted upon. If a teacher lacks confidence then this will be quickly transferred to the young people”.

    “Equally alarming is the finding that nearly 54% of respondent indicated no confidence in their ability to deliver course materials for new Higher Qualifications and 68% indicated their lack of confidence in assessment procedures for the new Higher”.

    “Furthermore, our survey attempted to capture the attitude of our members to the quality of support being offered. It is clear that the great area of dissatisfaction is with Education Scotland (79% dissatisfaction) and the SQA (82% dissatisfaction)”.

    The SSTA teacher survey showed that

    • 54% were not confident in their ability to deliver appropriate course materials
    • 68% were not confident in their ability to assess pupils for the new Higher Qualifications
    • 42% were presenting pupils this year in the old Higher Qualifications
    • 92% believed that School Working Time Agreements gave insufficient time to implement the New Higher courses/qualifications
    • 79% not satisfied with support from Education Scotland
    • 82% not satisfied with support from SQA
    • 76% not satisfied with support from Local Authorities
    • 55% not satisfied with support from the school

     

    The SSTA will be meeting Cabinet Secretary, Angela Constance, this week and believes this survey is further compelling evidence for the new Advanced Highers to be run in tandem with the existing qualifications for an extra year.

    Comments made by SSTA members in the survey

    “Over assessment has created serious workload issues, taking away from teaching and is very demoralising for pupils”

    “In 30 years of teaching I have never experienced stress levels and workload issues like I have in the past few years.  I feel sorry for the young teachers coming into the profession as their work/life balance is extremely poor”.

    “The amount of paperwork surrounding each qualification and the micromanagement of assessment standards is beyond ridiculous”.

    “I’ve been teaching for 25 years; I’ve never felt so uncertain of my own subject’s curriculum, nor so much like a rudderless ship”.

    Robert Macmillan, SSTA Acting President said

    “We hope that the Cabinet Secretary will reconsider her decision in the light of these comments and present circumstances, and allow schools to delay implementation of the new CfE Advanced Higher by one year if they wish, as many opted to for the new Higher. This practical measure would demonstrate to secondary teachers that the Government is genuinely listening to their concerns and will show the public that the educational needs of young people are put first. The overriding concern of SSTA members is that the race to bring about change will adversely impact on our young people”.

    Further information from

    Seamus Searson
    General Secretary
    0131 313 7300

    Please find attached the results of the survey. The survey was conducted in February 2015 and had 919 responses covering all subject areas.

     

  • Cancellation of the Senior Managers Seminar

    Due to circumstances out-with our control we have had to cancel the Senior Managers Seminar being held on Saturday 14 March. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

  • Penison Contribution Rates – School Rep Bulletin

    Pension Contribution Rates – February 2015

    STSS
    New Pension Contributions rates from 1 April 2015

    For all scheme Members

    1. The tiered structure and rates for employee contributions are changing.
    2. A members actual pay rather than whole time equivalent pay should be used to determine the
    contribution rate due.

    [table id=2 /]

    Employer contribution rates from 1 April 2015
    1.  The current employer contribution rate of 14.9% will continue to apply until 31 August 2015.
    2.  Employer contributions from 1 September 2015 will rise to 17.2%.

  • Flexible Working – School Rep Bulletin

    Printable Version

    Flexible working is not an ad-hoc arrangement. It is not directed by the local authority and cannot be imposed.  It is not normally a solution to short term cover difficulties. Reps are reminded that:

    • Any arrangement must be agreed prior to the beginning of the academic year and the request can be declined.
    • A school may operate flexible class contact time, preparation and correction time and remaining time over a longer period, normally 2 weeks, but not exceeding 4 weeks.
    • Maximum class contact time in any single week is restricted to 25 hours, subject to an average of 22.5 hours over the agreed period of variation.
    • Any reconfiguration of class contact time would be subject to discussion and agreement between the Headteacher and the relevant teaching staff.
    • Preparation, correction and collegiate activities are key elements of the work of teaching professionals and Headteachers must allow appropriate time for such core activities.
    • The working week must average 35 hours over the agreed period of variation. Preparation and correction remains, as a minimum, one third of the class contact time delivered each week.
    • The remaining time is for collegiate activities, as per the school’s Working Time Agreement. Where class contact time is varied from 22.5 hours per week the agreement must show how this will be averaged out over the period of variation, including staffing arrangements; time for preparation and correction will be guaranteed within that period.
    • When attempting to cover short term supply difficulties SSTA advises that ‘flexible working requests’ should be declined except in the most extreme circumstances.

    The national criteria can be found in Appendix 2.17 of the SNCT handbook at www.snct.org.uk

    School WTA Negotiating Groups are encouraged to engage with SSTA District Secretaries or a Professional Officer if advice is required on formulating an approach to flexible working.

    Please see the SSTA website www.ssta.org.uk for more advice on Working Time Agreement negotiations and the composition of School Negotiating Groups.

     

    LATEST NEWS: Teacher Side 5% Pay Claim for 2015-16

    The negotiation on 5% Pay Claim for 2015-16 is on-going. SSTA will update members in early March of the progress of the claim.

  • Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

    The Scottish Government has launch a Consultation on the draft Statutory Guidance for Parts 4, 5 and 18 (Section 96) and related draft orders of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Association would welcome the views of members.  The consultation is open until 1 May 2015.   Please send any comments you have on the Consultation to info@ssta.org.uk with the subject header of “Children and Young Person Consultation” by 20 April 2015.

    The document relating to the Consultation can be downloaded using the links below.

    Consultation on the draft Statutory Guidance for Parts 4, 5 and 18 (Section 96) and related draft orders of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

    Executive Summary

    Children and Young People(Scotland) Act 2014 – Draft Statutory Guidance for Parts 4, 5 and 18 (Section 96)

    Children and Young Persons – The Child’s Plan (Scotland) Order [2016]

    The Named Persons (Training, Qualifications, Experience and Position) (Scotland) Order [2016 ]

  • SSTA challenges Angela Constance to defer CfE Advanced Higher in 2015/16

    Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said “we continue to be alarmed by the lack of respect for teachers’ professional judgement shown by the Cabinet Secretary Angela Constance in refusing to sanction a dual running of the Advanced Highers in 2015/2016. The overriding concern of SSTA members is this will adversely impact on our young people”.

    Angela Constance said, on 3 February, that she had not yet heard a “compelling case” for new Advanced Highers to be run in tandem with the existing qualifications for an extra year. This is in spite of the SSTA writing to the new Cabinet Minister with detailed concerns on the dangers of pushing ahead on 15 January.

    The SSTA used evidence brought forward from members in an Edinburgh Secondary School which echoed the views and experiences of SSTA members across Scotland.

    The SSTA members in the school had embraced Curriculum for Excellence from its inception but felt that the manageability of the changes was overwhelming and it would be to the detriment of the young people in their school if flexibility was blocked.

    It appears that

    • the race to implement is more important than the needs of the students
    • the difference in the examinations has been under-estimated
    • the continuous expectation that teachers will deliver improvements regardless of the extra planning and increased assessment despite the lack of materials and the time to study and prepare materials

    In addition to these concerns, the teachers pointed out the following:

    • We are still trying to evaluate, amend and develop National 4/5 courses.
    • We are trying to meet the needs of all learners by developing National 3 courses, which we did not have time to offer last year.
    • We need to adapt National 4/5 courses to meet the needs of mixed level classes.
    • We have to maintain the learning and teaching experience for all year groups, who have come to expect engaging lessons. Currently we have too little time for daily planning of lessons for pupils in S1-S3 and our ‘new’ broad general education courses have still not been evaluated and amended, due to lack of time.

    Robert Macmillan, SSTA Acting President said

    “We hope that the Cabinet Secretary will reconsider her decision in the light of these comments and present circumstances, and allow schools to delay implementation of the new CfE Advanced Higher by one year if they wish, as many opted to for the new Higher. This practical measure would demonstrate to secondary teachers that the Government is genuinely listening to their concerns and will show the public that the educational needs of young people are put first”.

    Seamus Searson added

    “Throughout the implementation of CfE the SSTA has attempted to signal real concerns about progress. We have been careful about appearing alarmist and at all times wished to contribute positively to its successful implementation. There is still time to achieve this and it is for that reason we insist that that the Cabinet Secretary listens to the voice of the professionals in our schools”.

    Further information from

    Seamus Searson
    General Secretary
    0131 313 7300

    Advanced Higher 2015-2016 11 feb 15