CENSUS OF NEW TEACHERS REQUIRED

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today called on the Scottish Executive to undertake a rolling census of new entrants to initial teacher education and to teaching service.

“We need to have a more comprehensive picture of what is happening to the supply of teachers in Scotland,” said David Eaglesham, General Secretary of the SSTA. “At present, we do not adequately track the destinations of all those who enter training for teaching service. We need to know just what the effective retention rate is to ensure that we avoid future shortages.”

The Association will be asking the Scottish Executive to expand the collection and publication of data to provide a comprehensive analysis of intake to training, dropout within training, uptake of the induction year, intake to the longer probation period, and dropout from teaching service within the first five years.

“ We have tended to concentrate on getting initial teacher education places filled on the assumption that this will provide an adequate flow of teachers into the classroom. With changes in employment in society and a reducing pool of potential teachers, we need to ensure that all aspects of teacher supply are rigorously examined. As demand for new teachers will rise substantially in the coming 5 years, we must ensure that the models used for projected numbers correspond to the actual position in the schools. Theoretical teachers are singularly ineffective at any form of service delivery! Only actual teachers can serve the needs of young people.

Further details from:David Eaglesham

General Secretary

WARNING ON TEACHER SHORTAGE

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today issued a warning to all local authorities about the effects of the treatment of cover teachers on long-term shortages.

“We continue to be notified of attempts by some local authorities to implement ‘Burger King' style contracts for cover teachers, leading to huge differences in pay for teachers doing almost identical hours,” said David Eaglesham, SSTA General Secretary. “Our view is, and always has been, that cover teachers should be employed for whole days and paid for whole days. Despite this, we still see teachers being pressured to accept work for only parts of a day, and even two separate parts within one day. All of this is carried only in an effort to save costs and not for the benefit of young people. We call on all local authorities to revert the original practice of employing teachers for a whole day or days.”

The position of cover teachers will become even more critical to the available pool of teachers in coming months and years. As the age profile sees much greater numbers of teachers retiring, the system will have to work doubly hard to maintain the number of teachers and to increase it to the promised total of 53,000.

“If cover teachers are not properly paid, they are very likely to become disenchanted with either their employer or with teaching in general. Losing these teachers, many of them young teachers with a whole career potentially before them, will only compound the impending staffing crisis which will face our schools. Employers need to act now to avoid the spectre of part-time education and bonus schemes to attract new teachers. Penny pinching now will lead to much greater costs in the future.”

Further details from:David Eaglesham,

General Secretary

SSTA WELCOMES PENSION REFORMS

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) today welcomed the proposals on revised pensions for teachers which have been issued by the SPPA (Scottish Public Pensions Agency).

“These proposals represent a very positive conclusion to a lengthy period of negotiation about what has been one of the most controversial issues in recent years” said David Eaglesham, General Secretary of SSTA.

“Against a background where defined benefits pension schemes are under considerable threat, both for new and existing employees, the proposals will provide the security of a final salary scheme for both all existing teachers and future recruits to the profession, together with improved benefits for death in service and for partners. There will also be greater choice and flexibility with regard to retirement age, and future new entrants will benefit from a 1/60 accrual rate per year of service.”

“There are some adverse aspects of the package which will not please teachers, principally the increased contribution rate (at 6.4%), and significant issues for teachers currently on career breaks. However, the overall effect is to provide a stable and satisfactory pension scheme for all teachers in Scotland for generations to come.”

“When the previous proposals made in 2005 were put out for consultation, this Association and its members made it clear that those proposals were not acceptable. I believe that the current proposals will find a much greater level of acceptance amongst SSTA members and the profession in general. I would urge all teachers to make their views known.”

A summary of the details of the proposed changes is attached. Full details and a response form that can be downloaded for printing can be found at sppa.gov.uk/pension_reform/teachers.htm. The Consultation closes on 5 January 2007,

and the new scheme would take effect from 1 April 2007.

Further information fromDAVID EAGLESHAM

General Secretary

PETER PEACOCK, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND YOUNG PEOPLE

It is with regret that the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association learned today of the resignation through ill-health of Peter Peacock, Minister for Education and Young People.

“While we fully understand the choice he has made”, said David Eaglesham, the Association's General Secretary, “and wish him future health and happiness, his departure is a significant loss for the education community in Scotland.”

“In his time as Minister”, Mr Eaglesham continued, “he has undoubtedly had the good of young people in Scotland at the forefront of his agenda throughout and has been one of the most able ministers to have held the post. Representatives from the Association met with him only last Tuesday and he remained as dynamic and committed as ever.”

Mr Eaglesham concluded, “We thank him for his contribution to Scottish education and sincerely hope that he enjoys improved health in the future.”

Further details fromDAVID EAGLESHAM

General Secretary

SSTA CALLS FOR END TO EXAM CHEATING

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today called on the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Qualifications Authority to act promptly to reduce and possibly eliminate cheating which may exist in our examination system.

“Over the years it has become increasingly evident that a small minority of pupils can have access to internet resources which, if used inappropriately, will give rise to an unfair advantage in the examination” said David Eaglesham, General Secretary.

“A wide range of courses at National Qualification and Standard Grade require the submission of course work as part of the examination. It is becoming an increasingly difficult problem to separate legitimate use of external sources and plagiarism in the work of candidates. This is exacerbated by online services which offer a “ready cooked” piece which purports to be capable of gaining a specific grade in the examination”.

“Despite the commendable efforts of the SQA, plagiarism and direct input from third parties is creating a major challenge for our examination system. We have to act now to eliminate the risk in coming years.”

The Association is calling for new standards to be adopted within the Curriculum for Excellence to ensure that all course work is completed in fully verifiable conditions to ensure that plagiarism and collusion cannot play a part in grades awarded to pupils. The Curriculum for Excellence will require some re-design of examinations and will be an ideal opportunity to tackle this growing problem.

“We must act now to tackle what will only become an ever greater problem due to miniaturisation of technology. We must be able to reassure pupils, parents and the wider community that examinations remain a scrupulous, fair and accurate illustration of the true ability of a pupil.”

“We would commend research into verification systems now in use in some schools in the USA which will also help to combat plagiarism by using the technology to police the technology.

Further information from

David Eaglesham

General Secretary22 December 2006

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

The SSTA today commented on the results achieved by Dumfries and Galloway pupils in the Higher examination diet in 2006. The results were published by the Scottish Executive Education Department earlier this month.

Speaking in Edinburgh SSTA General Secretary, David Eaglesham said:“While the SSTA believes that the publication of examination results for individual schools and the arrangements of these “league tables” has no sound educational function nor any value as statistics, the performance of whole authorities can be seen differently. Variations caused by catchment areas, social factors and the relative abilities of the various year groups are able to be disregarded when the performance of the candidates in the whole authority is examined.”

Taking a closer look at the performance of one authority Mr Eaglesham continued:“In August 2003, Dumfries and Galloway took the decision to remove from their posts of responsibility the Principal Teachers of the individual teaching subjects in secondary schools. It is these teachers who have the greatest degree of expertise in preparing candidates for national examinations. The effectiveness of that expertise was significantly reduced by the authority's unilateral abolition of the post of Subject PT.”Referring to the SEED statistics on Higher pass rates Mr Eaglesham said:

“In the year 2000, 28% of the previous years S4 pupils attained the benchmark 3 on more Higher passes at level 6. In 2006 that figure fell to 21%. This represents a 25% fall off in examination performance. The linkage between exam results and subject PT post abolition needs urgent investigation.”

Adding a warning to other authorities, Mr Eaglesham stated:“Other authorities continue, albeit at a slower pace, to move towards the same system as Dumfries & Galloway. It should now be apparent to all, as was clear to the SSTA from the outset, the post of Subject PT in Scottish Secondary schools is vital and its continuance is essential if our young people are to progress as they should. They should not suffer for bad educational policy decisions.”

Calling for a change of approach Mr Eaglesham concluded:“It is not too late; the vast majority of the former PTs are still available. The situation can be remedied if there is a will to recognise the error in educational policy.”As Professor Gavin McCrone concluded in his Report of May 2000:

“Committee recognises the key role played by Principal Teachers and recommends that the grade should continue.”

Further information fromDavid Eaglesham

General Secretary

29 December 2006

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today welcomed the analysis of “Better Behaviour – Better Learning” (BB-BL) issued by HMIE.

“It is very helpful to have this analysis of the position we face with regard to issues surrounding indiscipline” said David Eaglesham, General Secretary.

“The conclusion, however, indicates the extent to which the problems remain unaddressed. The BB-BL initiative has not impacted on a significant number of teachers with the result that it is largely irrelevant to them. In our view, the statement that 33% of secondary teachers perceive indiscipline as a problem represents a significant under-assessment. Our own surveys have indicated a level of over 80% in recent years.”

“Whilst much good practice has been going on in many schools, we have not yet reached a level where progress can be seen as being anything like sufficient. The variation in provision among local authorities is of great concern to the SSTA. If resources are not made available to all schools, initiatives will not happen. The overall lack of in-class assistance is an issue of great concern to SSTA members.”

“It is crucial that the intended funding actually reaches the classroom and the school. It is equally crucial that other partners working with schools are adequately resourced and staffed to maintain joint initiatives.”

Further details fromDavid Eaglesham

General Secretary

STRIKE THREAT LIFTED FROM SCHOOLS The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today announced that it was suspending its ballot on Strike Action pending further talks with the Government.

“Although it is clear that SSTA members were extremely angry about the proposals to change pensions, we are a union which is always prepared to seek to reach a resolution through negotiations rather than coercive action,” said David Eaglesham, General Secretary.

“The Pensions Minister has asked us to talk about how to take the issues forward and our Executive has decided to accept the invitation to this meeting.”

“However, from the correspondence to date, there is no indication of any concrete plans to make changes to the proposals already issued, and it is not clear whether the Government really intends to make radical changes or whether it is only seeking a temporary relief from the pressure ahead of a General Election. Events over the next few days and weeks will reveal the truth of this.”

“What I can predict is that if the Government has not had a genuine change of heart on its policy, then there will be a considerable backlash from the profession about the use of a cheap political trick to buy time for electoral purposes.”

“If members are angry just now, it will be as nothing compared to their reaction if they find they have been duped into calling off their proposed action.”The Association will review its position on pensions at its Annual Congress on 13 May by which time it is expected that a General Election will have been completed.

In the meantime, the ballot for a one day strike on 26 April has been cancelled and as a result, no strike action will take place on that day. Members and employers will be informed of this decision in the next few days.

Further details from David Eaglesham

General Secretary

SSTA CALLS FOR TOTAL BAN OF DRINKS MACHINES IN SCHOOLS

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today called on all schools to take immediate steps to remove all “fizzy drink” machines from schools as part of the current healthy lifestyles initiative and in order to help improve behaviour in schools.

“It is now well established that healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle are key components of a better education system,” said David Eaglesham, SSTA General Secretary. “Whilst much of the focus with this has been, quite rightly, on food, we want to emphasize the importance of tackling the issue of carbonated drink as well. Whereas the consumption of water has been well documented as being beneficial to learning and health, the consumption of carbonated soft drinks has often been criticised as unhelpful. Many of our members report that pupil behaviour often deteriorates after morning break or lunchtime, and they believe that the effect on pupils of the consumption of significant amounts of sugar within many carbonated drinks is at least partly to blame for this.”

The existing Association policy favours the ready availability of good quality drinking water for pupils and staff as part of a healthy balanced diet.

“There is also an element of concern that a profit motive in the installation and use of vending machines for carbonated drinks may lead to a retention of these machines, even when they are potentially unhelpful with regard to pupil behaviour. We need to ensure that better behaviour and thus better learning, as well as better health, are the priorities in schools, and not the pursuit of profit.”

Further details from:David Eaglesham

General Secretary