An all Scotland demonstration and rally, George Square Glasgow . Assemble 10.30am on Saturday 22 March 2014
Further details from http://www.stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-external-events/un-anti-racism-day
An all Scotland demonstration and rally, George Square Glasgow . Assemble 10.30am on Saturday 22 March 2014
Further details from http://www.stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-external-events/un-anti-racism-day
The SNCT has agreed a number of proposals in relation to pay and conditions of service.
Agreement has been reached on:
The pay agreement for teachers and associated professionals covers the period from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2015.
The terms of the agreement are:
Effective Date % Increase
1.4.2013 1%
1.4.2014 1%
Full details are set out in the revised Appendix 2.1 of the SNCT Handbook –Handbook Part 2 Appendix 2.1 Revised 03/14.
Local Authorities will be seeking to implement the backdated increase as soon as possible, likely in salaries to be paid over the April or May paydates. There may be some delay in the backdated increase being paid to supply teachers and those whose employment circumstances have changed during the year due to the additional complication
Arising from the agreement further changes to the Handbook and guidance will be issued by the SNCT in due course.
Yours sincerely
Alan McKenzie
Acting General Secretary
The SSTA conducted a survey of all teaching members for whom a valid e-mail account was available. The survey asked about members’ confidence in delivering the curriculum and assessment for National 4 and 5 courses and gauged their confidence for the same issues in their readiness to deliver the new Highers next session. Members were also asked if the Working Time Agreement for session 2013-2014 adequately met their needs for implementation and associated duties such as assessment and verification. The report on outcomes from the survey can be downloaded using the link below.
Responses to the survey categorised by subject can be downloaded by members from this page. You must login to the website to view the page.
We provide a link for members to view the debate on the Motion tabled by Neil Bibby, Labour asking Scottish Government to respond to the concerns around implementation of CfE by conducting an independent review.
74th Annual STUC Youth Conference, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd June 2014
The 74th Annual STUC Youth Conference will take place at the West Park Conference Centre in Dundee. The theme of this year’s conference “A Just Scotland for Young People – Now and in the Future” reflects the importance of young people being involved in the debate on Scotland’s future as we move closer to the referendum.
Any SSTA member aged 26 or under is welcome to apply to attend. If you are interested, please contact the Association by emailing info@ssta.org.uk before the 24 March. Additional conference details will be sent to you once you express an interest.
We provide a link for members to view the debate on the Motion tabled by Neil Bibby, Labour asking Scottish Government to respond to the concerns around implementation of CfE by conducting an independent review.
The STUC’s 3rd Annual LGBT Workers’ Conference will take place in the Stirling Highland Hotel over the period Saturday 17 / Sunday 18 May 2014.
Any member who would be interested in being part of the delegation attending the Conference should contact the General Secretary by email info@ssta.org.uk by Friday 14 March.
The January 2014 edition of the SSTA Bulletin can be downloaded from SSTA January 2014 Newsletter.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open the Bulletin. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader it can be downloaded from http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/.
It is with deep regret that the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association announces the death of former General Secretary, David Eaglesham. David, aged 63, died peacefully in St Columba’s Hospice on Friday 31 January 2014 after a year long illness.
David Eaglesham was the remarkable, ebullient and indefatigable General Secretary of the SSTA for a period of twelve years from 1996 until 2008. A true “north side of the river” Glaswegian, David was educated at Victoria Drive Senior Secondary School and claimed allegiance to Partick Thistle football club.
David started his career teaching history and modern studies in Govan High School in Glasgow, before moving to Mearns Castle High School. Thereafter he was promoted to Principal Teacher of Modern Studies in Cathkin High School. As a teacher, he always gave of his time freely, taking rugby teams on a Saturday morning and organising exchange trips for pupils to Holland and Germany, through which he made lasting friendships with teachers abroad. He was a keen singer and musician and in each of his schools became heavily involved in staff and pupils’ musical productions. His sense of fun and sense of humour made him popular with staff and pupils alike.
It was during his time at Cathkin that David’s keen sense of fairness and justice led him to become involved in the work of the teaching union, the SSTA. In the 1980s he became District Secretary of Glasgow Division and later Convener and driving force of Strathclyde Executive, looking after the interests of members across Strathclyde, almost half of the SSTA membership in Scotland. David was always a fair negotiator, keen to listen and to contribute to discussion with the sole aim of achieving the best outcome for teachers. In doing so, he sparred ably with senior education officials such as Frank Pignatelli and Keir Bloomer and gained their respect. His forward-thinking approach and love of technology led directly to the Association (somewhat reluctantly) adopting computers for all District Secretaries.
In 1994 David became Assistant General Secretary and in 1996 was elected General Secretary, steering the Association through a period of constant educational change with his usual drive and enthusiasm. At this time he was one of the chief negotiators of the McCrone Agreement, which despite some flaws, made a significant positive step forward for teachers’ pay and conditions.
David had particular skills in obtaining the best from the lay officials of the Association particularly the Presidents who came and went during his time. The challenge of “managing” Presidents is considerable but David exercised a combination of charm and empowerment that did the trick. Those of us who served the Association in this way alongside David always felt we were in control whereas David skilfully controlled us.
The SSTA beyond Scotland was an area that David developed tirelessly. He was convinced that our small Association should “punch above its weight”. Those of us who accompanied him on foreign trips were aware of this as he secured status for the SSTA in the international context. Well I remember grappling with the niceties of single transferrable voting when the SSTA was given the responsibility for administering an ETUCE election in Brussels.
However, lighter moments abound and David in characteristic full Highland dress in tropical Thailand at an EI dinner was a sight to behold. My own memory of David abroad, however, involved a visit with to the downtown bar area in the fleshpot of Thailand Pattaya. It all ended in the usual singing with most of us doing our tuneless raucous party pieces. When David’s turn came he silenced an entire bar full of international revellers with a fantastic rendition of the Irish Ballad “She Moved Through the Fair”, Here truly, was a “lad of pairts”.
David’s contribution to the development of the SSTA was huge. As was his determination to modernise our practices and achieved this with remarkably little ruffling of feathers. Outstanding was his management and direction of our move from Dundas St to Dalry. All of us on the Property Sub-Committee will recall trudging around countless premises under David’s military style direction, hard-hatted and exhausted until suitable premises were found. Without David this would never have happened! I used to joke with David that we should apply the Louis XVth tag to his post-retirement – “après moi le deluge”. Though not entirely true, David was a hard act to follow.
David retired from his work with the SSTA in 2008 and was able to spend more time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Doreen, his three children and his four grandchildren, all of whom he was very proud.
The SSTA with great sadness announces the death of their former General Secretary David Eaglesham, 1996 – 2008.
Alan McKenzie, Acting General Secretary, today said:
“David was an outstanding General Secretary of this Association, taking up office following the death of Alan Lamont. David brought to the post a sense of tirelessness and, sometimes in the face of much opposition, a determination to change the SSTA and increase its profile nationally. Those of us who worked with him remember his huge contribution. We are all deeply saddened by his death following a long illness”.
Further information from
Alan McKenzie
Acting General Secretary
0131 313 7300
The SSTA has today released interim figures following its survey on N4/N5 and the New Higher. The response to the survey has been overwhelming and it is for this reason that we have decided to issue an interim statement.
Acting General Secretary Alan McKenzie said “We continue to be alarmed by the clear lack of confidence being expressed by our members particularly in terms of the assessment materials for N4 and 5. 80% of the respondents indicated that they were not confident in the ability to assess pupils in N4 and 5. Such alarming rates of lack of confidence must be acted upon. If a teacher lacks confidence then this will be quickly transferred to young people. Equally alarming, but with slightly less urgency, is the finding that nearly 78% of respondent indicated no confidence in their ability to deliver course materials for new Higher Qualifications and 86% 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 (93% dissatisfaction) and the SQA (93% dissatisfaction).
Alan McKenzie 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 the successful outcome of this curricular initiative. There is still time to achieve this and it is for that reason we have decided to release an interim statement on this important survey”.
SSTA CfE Survey- Interim Results
Further information from
Alan McKenzie
Acting General Secretary
0131 313 7300