Category: Information for Members

  • Feedback on SQA Exam Diet

    The SQA are seeking feedback on the exam diet.   They particularly welcome your views on the questions and on any issues you believe will have affected pupil performance. They are also delighted to receive suggestions for improvements to future exam papers.     If you have any comments to make (positive, negative or a combination of both) please send them by email to info@ssta.org.uk adding SQA feedback to the subject line.   We will collate these and forward them to the subject teams during June.

  • Research project on post induction teacher employment

    The Association has been asked to invite appropriate members to take part in a Glasgow University Research Project dealing with the career trajectories of post induction teachers.

    This research should provide an accurate picture of what paths teachers actually take on completion of their probationary period and will be a valuable marker for all those involved in teacher planning. Additionally the project may focus on transition from university to employment; induction experiences; support during first year of teaching; support following first year of teaching and longer term employment prospects. It is self-evident that this represents an important piece of research.

    Members who may be interested should be aware that they may be interviewed by the research team. This may be conducted by phone or on a one to one basis and would require only one hour of time. We would encourage as many members as possible to volunteer.

    If you are interested please contact Alan McKenzie in the offices of the Association for more details.

  • Scottish Pensioners’ Forum

    Scottish Pensioners Forum Manifesto Launch

    PENSIONERS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

    “THERE IS A BETTER WAY”

    4 April 2011 at 10.30am

    Tea/coffee from 10am

    STUC, 333 Woodlands Road

    Glasgow

    G3 6NG

    HUSTINGS 2011

    THE CONTINUING ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE WELFARE STATE

    II THERE A ‘BETTER WAY’ FORWARD ?

    Parties invites

    Communist Conservative
    Green Labour
    Liberal Democrat Scottish Nationalist
    Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Scottish Socialists

    4 April 2010 at 6.00pm

    Tea/coffee from 5.30pm

    STUC, 333 Woodlands Road

    Glasgow

    G3 6NG

  • Consultative Ballot regarding Proposed Changes to Conditions of Services

    Due to a clerical error in the preparation of the ballot papers a small number of members will receive duplicate papers. Unfortunately we have not been able to identify exactly who received duplicate copies of the papers. We ask that members who do receive duplicate papers disregard them. The number of duplicate ballot papers issued should have no real impact on the result of the ballot.

    Before any formal action is taken we will hold a formal ballot under TU legislation.

  • Timesheet to record Working hours

    As an additional service to members and as a result of enquiries we have created a timesheet which can be used to record your working time during the year.   The spreadsheet programme does the calculations for you and new copies can be downloaded from here.

    Our most recent survey showed that many members are working in excess of 45 hours per week.   This will allow you to maintain a record for your own use.   It will also enable you distinguish between contractual and voluntary tasks.   Please note:   you must ask a line manager to determine which tasks you should not complete if the allocated tasks do not fit the time available. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the office on info@ssta.org.uk.

    Guide on how to use the timesheet

    All times must be entered in the 24 hour clock format of   hh:mm.

    – Enter the number of hours you are contracted to work per week in the cell with the red border (F4). (i.e. 35 hours should be entered as 35:00)

    – Enter the date (dd/mm/yyyy) of the Monday   in the week you wish to begin recording time in the cell with the purple border (B8)

    – For the sheet to calculate the number of hours worked correctly you must follow the 3 rules below.

    •   If you enter a time in the “Start Work” Column you must enter a time in the “Time Out (Lunch)” Column.

    •   If you enter a time in the “Time In (Lunch)” Column you must enter a time in the “End Work” Column.

    •   If you enter a time in the “Home Start” Column you must enter a time in the “Home Finish” Column.

  • Aberdeen City Indicative Ballot Results

    Dear Colleagues

    The indicative ballot closed at midnight on Wednesday 26 January 2011.   Part 1 related to ballot verification then two questions were asked.   The response to questions 2 & 3 were:

    2. In the event of compulsory redundancies:
    64.4% in favour of a ballot on action including strike action
    35.6% in favour of a ballot on action short of strike action

    3. In the event of a pay cut being imposed:
    80.5% in favour of a ballot on action including strike action
    19.5% in favour of a ballot on action short of strike action

    This Association will be carefully monitoring the situation in Aberdeen City and would ask every member to contact us immediately if they are threatened with any of the actions listed above. Members will be kept fully informed of any information received and will be contacted as soon as the situation becomes clear.   In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact either the office or your District Secretary, John Gray, if you have any questions or require support.

    Yours sincerely

    Ann Ballinger

    General Secretary

  • Communicating with pupils via email

    Dear Colleagues

    You may have been asked to communicate with pupils via electronic means during this inclement weather enabling staff to work from home in severe weather and avoid possible injury attempting to travel to a building already closed to pupils.    

    Some schools even ask staff to use electronic means to distribute, discuss and mark homework.    

    This type of communication should only be undertaken using the authority Intranet.   Properly set up and monitored intranet systems protect their users from abusive communications and from malicious accusations.   Other forms of electronic communication do not provide teachers or pupils with the necessary protection.     Do not, under any circumstances, give your personal email address to pupils.

    If you have any doubts at all about the electronic system you are being asked to use please contact the office at info@ssta.org.uk

    With best wishes

    Yours sincerely

    Ann Ballinger

    General Secretary

  • Warning to Members – Teaching resources – A SCAM?

    The Association has become aware of the behaviour of a company, who run a web-site containing the term “teaching resources”, have caused considerable concern within the teaching profession.

    Their web site offers teachers a chance to ‘trial’ PSHE resources. However, only in the very (easily missed) small print of the terms and conditions is it explained that, after the 14 day trial, schools will be automatically invoiced for a two year contract with the company. This will only be stopped if the teacher who requested the trial writes directly to the company to cancel before the 14 days have expired. The invoices can be for many hundreds of pounds, with the threat of debt recovery if they are not paid.

    Members are advised that they should only take the offer of their FREE 14-day trial if they are fully aware of legal consequences of failing to cancel that trail period.

  • Meeting of Council: Saturday 4 December 2010 – CANCELLED

    Due to the recent bad weather the meeting of Council due to take place on Saturday 4 December has been cancelled.   The meeting is being rescheduled to take place at St Colm’s Church Hall, Dalry Road, Edinburgh on Saturday 15 January 2011 at 10.30am.

    The General Secretary will e-mail Council members over the coming weekend with news of any updates or urgent business.

  • Teachers: Russell: I’m sorry but don’t blame me young teachers can’t find jobs

    The Scotsman (By FIONA MACLEOD) – 28/10/10 01:02

    THE high number of teachers unable to find jobs has been blamed on “cavalier” councils and over-recruitment to teacher training universities by education secretary Michael Russell.

    After being grilled at the education committee yesterday,   Mr Russell was accused of giving a “grudging” apology to the hundreds of teachers unable to find work.

    Full story available from The Scotsman