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Close up of student using cell phone during class at school.

92% OF LESSONS INTERRUPTED BY PUPIL MOBILE PHONES

In the 2023 SSTA survey, 71% of members highlighted that the misuse of mobile phones was having an impact on poor pupil behaviour and learning.

The SSTA Education Committee wanted to get further information on the use of mobile phones in school and commissioned a survey to find out members views. The survey took place in February 2024 with 1,451 members responding.

Seamus Searson SSTA General Secretary said.

“92% of members said their lessons were being interrupted by asking pupils to put away their mobile phones. 13% of members said half their lessons were interrupted but more worryingly 75% said the majority to all their lessons were interrupted”.

When members were asked about their concerns of the inappropriate use of mobile phones during lessons members said

90% pupils have detachment issues

90% Texting during lessons

80% Taking photos

60% Social media bullying

46% Answering calls during the lessons

41% Viewing inappropriate content

35% Live recording of lessons (audibly, visually, or both)

In addition, members gave other examples of misuse of mobile phones in lessons such as gaming, recording staff, listening to music, watching tv, contacting parents to make a complaint about staff, taking and hiding other people’s phones, anxiety (constantly checking), arranging meetings in corridors or toilets, use of snapchat or YouTube, cheating during tests, upskirting, videoing fights and bullying then sharing on social media, AI friends and online ‘dares’, etc.

When members were asked what strategies, they used to prevent the use of mobile phones in your class they reported that.

86% Pupils were asked to put phones away

83% Pupils were asked to put phone in school bags

67% Phones placed on teachers’ desk if used in lesson

44% Pupils were asked to put phone on silent

21% Pupils asked to place phones into a box or doocot at start of lesson

In addition, members said the school confiscated the mobile phone, phones were sent to school office, messages were sent home to parents, demerits were issued, and whole school detentions were issued. However, these measures led to complications such as confrontation with pupils when they refuse to give phones up often with parental support, possibility of theft and claims made against school staff, and many pupils need their phones to pay for school lunch.

James Cowans, SSTA Education Convenor said

“62% of members saw the benefits of using mobile phones in helping with lessons. In many cases this was due to the lack of access to other mobile devices or poor connectivity within the school. 64% of members stated that wi-fi connection is variable to poor and 30% saying that they do not have access to a class set of mobile devices for use in their lessons”.

“72%, of schools have a mobile phones policy in place, to try and address issues but only 10% stated that the policy was extremely/very effective. Schools are struggling to implement successful mobile phone policies. There are several issues with implementing a policy such as inconsistency, legality, pupils conforming, no consequences, support from local authorities that need to be resolved”.

Seamus Searson added.

“It would appear that the benefits/advantages of using mobile phones are now outweighed by the negative impact that they are having on learning and teaching, behaviour, attainment and achievement. Only 37% of members support a complete ban of mobile phones in school, however, the majority would support a mobile phone ban from the classroom and other parts of the school”.

“Mobile phones are preventing teachers from teaching and creating problems for pupils that are on a scale many teachers and parents cannot imagine. The mobile phone is the most important possession to pupils and is taking over their lives and their futures. There needs to be a concerted effort from the Scottish Government, local authorities, schools working together with teachers, pupils and their parents to redress the balance of what is acceptable mobile phone use and its place in a young person’s life”.

[ENDS]

Attached

SSTA Press Release - Mobile Survey 2024 - Summary.pdf

Members Bulletin - 12 March 2024

The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Pay Claim 2024-2025

The SNCT Teachers’ Side pay claim for 2024-2025 was submitted in January. The claim for 6.5% for all SNCT grades from August 2024 was acknowledged by the employers at the SNCT meeting in February. COSLA stated at the meeting that it was in discussions with the Scottish Government regarding local authority funding and public sector pay. It was also waiting for the Westminster Budget on 6 March to see if there would be any additional money for Scotland. To date no further response to the SNCT pay claim has been received. Unfortunately, this does not bode well for a pay settlement to be in place by August 2024.

SSTA General Treasurer Election

The SSTA General Treasurer Elaine Henderson (Aberdeenshire) is stepping down at the end of the SSTA Congress in May 2024 and following the required nomination period John Guidi (East Renfrewshire) has been elected. John was nominated by several SSTA Districts and was elected unopposed. John will replace Elaine at the end of Congress in May and hold the position until the close of Congress 2027. The Association would like to thank John for putting himself forward and wish him well in taking forward this important position in the Association.

International Women’s Day (STUC Event) Open invitation

In celebrating International Women’s Day, the STUC Women’s Committee will be hosting an event on Thursday 14 March at the STUC, Margaret Irwin Centre, Glasgow from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide, marking women’s progress and achievements. The STUC Women’s Committee, is proud to stand alongside all those women internationally fighting for justice and equality. Every day, women are contributing to and making history, yet their achievements, stories and successes are often overlooked. The Herstory Project, developed by the STUC Women's Committee, aims to engage, encourage, and empower trade union women with the confidence, courage, and skills to share a story of their own, and to equip them with the tools to support other trade union women to do the same.

To register your attendance please click here: STUC Women's Committee IWD Event

SQA N5 and Higher English - consultation on Scottish set text refresh

The SSTA was contacted by the SQA to share information of a consultation on the Scottish Set Text list for N5 and Higher English. The link to the SQA English homepage contains information about the consultation. - https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47410.html

Teacher Pension Applications and 2015 Remedy

The SPPA has advised that the implementation of the 2015 Remedy is progressing well. The SPPA’s purpose is to pay pensions accurately and on time but members’ retirement applications need to be received in time.

Retirement application forms need to be submitted to the SPPA at least four months before the retirement date. This is to allow the additional calculations needed for the 2015 Remedy. This requirement applies to all members and not just those affected by Remedy. SPPA do not have the ability to fast track late applications. Payments will be affected if retirement applications are submitted later than four months before retirement.

Online Retirement Workshop - Monday 18 March @ 5.30pm

Following on from the in-person retirement workshops which took place in recent weeks, an online workshop will now take place via Teams on Monday 18 March at 5.30pm.

This is one of the most important years to look at various options that you have available regarding your retirement. With the changes that have been brought about following the Sergeant and McCloud ruling you need to understand the impact these will have on your pension and your retirement.

The workshop is designed to take you through these options and help you understand what your retirement can look like. We will be exploring the actions you can take both before and after retirement to give you a secure financial future. We will run through various examples looking at cashflows to help identify how you can structure your retirement incomes, as well as your savings and investments to give you the retirement you desire.

The Workshop will last approx. 1 hour 30 minutes and will explore the following topics:

Introductions
The Teachers’ Pension Schemes
Sargeant & McCloud - The impact
Phased Retirement & what has happened to Winding Down
Cashflow in Retirement
Using your Savings and Investments
Where can you get help.

Information for Members - 03/13/2024

Female Student Raising Hand To Ask Question In Classroom

Children’s Education at Risk by Cutting Teacher Numbers

Children’s Education at Risk by Cutting Teacher Numbers

As Scottish Councils are setting education budgets for 2024-2025 the SSTA is receiving reports of education cuts with teachers and educational support staff numbers being reduced.

Seamus Searson SSTA General Secretary said:

“It's that time of the year again. Teachers are tired of being used as a ‘political football’ in the funding battle with the Scottish Government. The Councils have used this tactic in previous years to force money from the Government. This was also a tactic used 2023 in allowing the continuation of the first teacher strike in 40 years. Councils are threatening to reduce the number of teachers at a time when more are needed. I hope the Scottish Government do not call the councils’ bluff”.

“Teachers have been dealing with years of reduction in education funding at school level without the prospect of real investment in education. Something needs to change to ensure our children get the best opportunities at school and cutting teachers is not the answer”.

Stuart Hunter SSTA President said:

“Once again, teachers and students suffer the fallout from a tripartite system that is no longer fit for purpose. The news is that Glasgow has told teacher unions that it proposes to reduce teacher numbers by changing pupil-teacher ratio as a response to the Scottish government council tax freeze”.

“Whilst the local authority and the Scottish Government flex their muscles in a playground standoff, the teaching profession and the students have become the weaponised instrument of their political bickering. Teachers are already past breaking point because of a toxic workload. To reduce the number of teachers will only exacerbate an already failing system that requires considerable amounts of free overtime to ensure that our children are given the best education possible.

“The playground tantrums borne out of political grandstanding creates harmful fallout for teachers and students alike. These antics will only see the attainment gap widen to the detriment of our students and impact on their future life choices. Therefore, my message to you is grow up, show a little maturity and work together for the sake of education in Scotland”.

Information for Members / Press Releases - 02/23/2024

SSTA Mobile Phone Survey

The SSTA has taken a stance to support teachers to use their own discretion when it comes to the use of mobile phones in their classes. The reason for this position was due to the poor access to computers, mobile devices and connectivity to the internet (WiFi). Over the past few years there has been growing concern that the use of mobile phones is impacting on pupils learning, their health and wellbeing and behaviour.

The OECD United Nations has warned of the risks of smartphones in schools, stating "only technology that supports learning" is merited in schools. Mobile devices can cause distraction, risk pupil privacy and lead to cyber-bullying says UNESCO, the UN's education, science and culture agency. (Reported 26 July 2023)

The Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Robbert Dijkgraaf, announced that, in order to limit potential distractions for students, mobile phones and other smart devices will no longer be permitted in classrooms in schools in the Netherlands from 1 January 2024. (Reported 6 Jul 2023)

A crackdown on the use of mobile phones in Scottish schools is being considered amid growing concerns that they disrupt learning and affect brain development. Jenny Gilruth, the Scottish Education Secretary, is “very interested” in a UN report that recommended a ban. She told ‘The Times’ that she would consider ordering research into the effect that stricter phone policies could have on education. This could include looking at the effect of locking devices away for the day in secure boxes. (Times 4 September 2023)

From a recent report on behaviour in Scottish schools, ‘the abusive use of mobile phones and digital technologies was one of the most frequently experienced serious disruptive behaviours among secondary staff,’(Behaviour in Scottish Schools 2023, Scottish Government, November 2023)

An email has been sent to members with a link to the mobile phone survey. To allow the SSTA to take forward our members concerns, we would be grateful if you could take time to complete this survey. It will help to inform our position on the use of mobile phones in schools

Thank you for taking time to complete the survey and your ongoing support.

Information for Members - 01/17/2024

SSTA Newsletter - December 2023

The December 2023 Newsletter is now available for members to download.

SSTA Newsletter – December 2023

The newsletter contains information on the following items:

Message from the President
Notification of the Election of General Treasurer
SNCT Pay 2024-2025
2024 Subscription Fees
Dignity and Respect at Work
Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Advice for Probationer Teachers
Salary Scales

Information for Members - 12/22/2023

Members Bulletin - 14 December 2023

SSTA meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Education & Skills

The SSTA led by President Stuart Hunter met Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth in November to discuss Teacher Retention, Pupil Behaviour and Education Reform. The President was accompanied by Vice-President Monique Dreon-Gould, National Executive member Lynn Myles, and General Secretary Seamus Searson. The focus of the meeting was the retention of teachers, education reform and pupil behaviour.

The SSTA highlighted the impact of excessive workload demands together with poor pupil behaviour leading to low morale within the teaching profession. We pointed out that many experienced mid-career secondary teachers are, as a result, considering leaving the profession. Fearing more COSLA intransigence in upcoming 2024 pay negotiations, we also commented on COSLA’s role in the recent pay dispute which damaged morale and teachers’ public image. The SSTA sought support from Ms Gilruth to address teacher workload by helping to reduce bureaucracy, control Government and local authority priorities and address the pressure created by the ‘fear’ of inspections. We expressed concern over the delay in implementing the promised reduction of 90 minutes of class contact time, and the lack of progress of ‘Lead Teachers’ in schools – both of these must regarded as lost opportunities in rebalancing the profession.

The SSTA welcomed the pausing of education reform to allow an opportunity for engagement with teachers but reported that many schools, despite the Cabinet Secretary’s letter, had not allocated time for discussion.

We outlined our view that the replacement body for Education Scotland must prioritise support for teachers, develop curriculum materials, clarify standards, build on good practice, and develop networks of subject specialists and other specialist education groups. The SSTA argued for a reformed inspection regime in which local authorities are inspected, and which delivers guidance for teachers and helps develop schools. We also stated that a replacement body for SQA must accept the need for qualifications which reflect a broad curriculum encompassing vocational education and awards qualifications. Rather than feeding the overuse of ‘Insight’ as a measure of a school’s success, which can be detrimental to pupils, there needs to be a broader acknowledgment of pupil achievement. Because current education and assessment organisations lack any true relationship with teachers, and appear oblivious to the needs of pupils, teachers, and schools, it was emphasised that new organisations must have teachers and teacher unions front and centre.

With the findings in the SSTA behaviour survey, along with very similar findings in other recent surveys, there is no way of ignoring the issue of deteriorating conditions in secondary schools. The SSTA stated that the decline in pupil behaviour was evident long before the pandemic and that the pandemic was not the catalyst. Prior to year-on-year reductions schools were a ‘safe’ place for pupils and staff, but recent behaviour surveys have demonstrated that, in too many schools, classrooms and communal areas now feel (and often are) a lot less safe. Teachers need serious support with the increasing challenges arising from poor pupil behaviour. The SSTA was pleased that, with three pupil behaviour summits, the Cabinet Secretary has committed to addressing poor pupil behaviour in secondary schools. We hope that the pupil behaviour summits have a serious impact and positive outcomes in schools. Cuts in education staff over several years, the lack of subject PTs, pastoral and ASN staff have all contributed to the situation teachers face in secondary schools. The SSTA urged more support for pupils who find mainstream settings challenging and more support for classroom teachers through an increase in staff.

SNCT Pay 2024-2025

Teacher pay will increase by 2% for most teachers with a £1,600 increase for those teachers earning above £80,000 in January 2024. A new annual pay date for pay increases has moved from April to August as part of the last pay agreement. The SNCT Teachers’ Side will meet in January to determine the pay claim for 2024-2025. The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee considered that claim at its last meeting and will be proposing an increase in line with the rate of inflation plus an additional 2% restoration payment for all teachers at all pay grades. Expectations that teachers must complete all tasks, and employers’ inability to contain and reduce workload, mean that teachers feel a professional duty to work excessive hours. The SSTA will be seeking serious consideration of overtime payments for teachers beyond the contractual 35-hour week. Employers must acknowledge the extra ‘free’ overtime and we believe it is only fair that teachers are appropriately paid. The SSTA claim will be considered with the claims from other teacher unions at a meeting in January where an agreed pay claim will go to the employers.

Additional Support for Learning (ASL) in Scotland ConsultationThe Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee has agreed to undertake an inquiry into Additional Support for Learning (ASL). The Parliamentary Committee wishes to know people’s experiences of how services are provided. They want to hear views from a range of people including parents, teachers, support staff, carers, pupils and organisations. The questions include:

Implementation of the presumption of mainstreaming
For children with additional support needs, in your experience: levels of support
Impact of COVID-19 on additional support for learning
The use of remedies as set out in the Act

The SSTA Additional Support Needs (ASN) Committee is preparing a response to the Scottish Parliament’s consultation but would encourage members to make their own submissions. The call for views closes on 31 December 2023. More information, and the consultation, can be found on the link Your views on Additional Support for Learning (ASL) in Scotland - Scottish Parliament - Citizen Space

Education Bill Consultation ****** REMINDER Closing Monday 18 December ******

The SSTA has welcomed the decision by the Cabinet Secretary to take further time to consider education reform to allow teacher engagement on a programme of change that is thoroughly considered and will give a degree of certainty to teachers, pupils, and parents in the future. The SSTA will be making representations with the Scottish Government at various forums but would like to encourage members to be aware of the consultations.

The Scottish Government launched a consultation on the Education Bill to seek further views on a new qualifications body to replace the SQA, along with views on changes to education inspection in Scotland. The consultation will close on Monday 18 December.

The SSTA will be making a submission would encourage members to make their own submissions. More information, and the consultation, can be found on the links Education Reform: A Consultation on the provisions of the Education Bill - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space or Education Bill provisions: consultation

Bulletin - 12/14/2023

Member Bulletin - November 2023

Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research

The Scottish Centre for Social Research published the latest ‘Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR’) following a seven-year gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The research in 2023 explored the headteachers’, teachers’ and support staff members’ views of relationships and behaviour in publicly funded mainstream schools, as well as the views of key local authority representatives across Scotland. The research project can be found here.

The SSTA believes that Covid-19 highlighted the increased difficulties that teachers were experiencing before the pandemic and the findings of the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research 2023 will add to the SSTA pupil behaviour survey. The SSTA survey highlighted the lack of reporting of incidents and the need for more support for teachers in schools.

The report states “school staff and LA representatives identified underlying reasons for these changes in behaviour, including a perceived lack of consequences for pupils who engage in serious disruptive behaviour, and a lack of support for pupils with additional support needs”. The SSTA is hopeful that the surveys together with the Cabinet Secretary’s pupil behaviour summits, that a rebalancing of the system will occur and an acceptance that what is happening in schools cannot continue.

Education Bill Consultation

The SSTA has welcomed the decision by the Cabinet Secretary to take further time to consider education reform to allow teacher engagement on a programme of change that is thoroughly considered and will give a degree of certainty to teachers, pupils, and parents in the future. The SSTA will be making representations with the Scottish Government at various forums but would like to encourage members to be aware of the consulations.

The Scottish Government launched a consultation on the Education Bill to seek further views on a new qualifications body to replace the SQA, along with views on changes to education inspection in Scotland. The consultation will close on Monday 18 December.

The reason for establishing a new qualifications body is to ensure that qualifications consistently meet the needs and expectations of their users, the education system, employers and everyone with a stake in qualifications and awards. The new body should involve pupils and students, the teaching professions, and wider stakeholders in its decision making, and it should be accountable and transparent through robust governance arrangements.

The consultation is also an opportunity to help inform decisions on the most effective approach for reforming education inspection, including the role that any new legislation could play. The Scottish Government are specifically seeking further views on the range of establishments and services subject to inspection; the purpose and priorities for improvement of inspection; and the different possible legislative and non-legislative reform measures that can be taken to address the priority issues.

More information, and the consultation, can be found on the link below.

SSTA Academic Diary

We recently emailed members to inform them that we are transitioning to an opt-in system for the SSTA academic diary in an effort to reduce wastage and cut costs. Starting from 2024, we will no longer automatically distribute the SSTA academic diary to all members. Instead, we kindly request that you indicate your preference to receive an academic diary by opting in. By doing so, you will help us minimize the environmental impact of producing and distributing unused diaries, as well as reduce expenses for the Association.

If you do not wish to receive an SSTA academic diary, you do not need to take any action. If you do wish to receive an SSTA academic diary, please follow these simple steps to opt-in:

Click on the following link to access the opt-in form: Opt-In Form
Fill out the form and confirm your preference for receiving an academic diary.
Click "Submit" to confirm your choice.

The 2024/25 SSTA academic diaries will be distributed to members in May 2024 to those who have expressed their preference to receive one.

Bulletin / Information for Members - 11/28/2023

Education Cuts by Stealth are Hurting Children and Teachers

Seamus Searson SSTA General Secretary said.

“Many local authorities have embarked upon a campaign of education cuts by removing education support staff in schools or not replacing them when they leave. This leaves an additional burden upon the teachers in schools who are expected to cover the work of the staff who are no longer there. Education support staff were appointed for essential educational purposes to remove this vital support by stealth is to fail the children and classroom teachers. Unfortunately, it does not end there we are hearing of local authorities delaying or refusing to employ supply teachers to cover gaps left when teachers have moved to another post, go on maternity leave and to cover sick teachers. We are told there is a shortage of teachers, yet we are told by our supply teachers they are not getting appointed to council supply registers and are unable to get regular work. This all puts more pressure on the teachers left behind and it is no wonder we hear that teachers are looking to leave that will only be to the detriment of our children in schools now”.

“The most important part of a schoolteachers’ job is teaching their classes and ensuring that every child’s learning improves. If you ask any teacher ‘what is the best part of being a teacher?’ they would all say that being in the class teaching their pupils. Teachers are leaving the profession due to the ever-increasing pressures from outside the classroom to produce paper and statistics for headteachers, parents, Council Officers, Education Scotland Inspectors, and the Scottish Government. All this so these bodies can prove that they are doing their job. Not at any stage does anyone ask, ‘Is this a good use of teacher time and does this improve teaching and learning?’

“The local councils must value and protect teachers, this underhand way of saving money is disrespectful to teachers and the children they teach. Unfortunately, the local authorities saw the recent teacher industrial action and the failure to delay or not replace teacher vacancies, teachers on maternity leave or on sick leave as valuable money saving exercises.”

Glasgow Council is a good example where it removed all their attendance officers when pupil absences were increasing with the expectation that teachers would just cover the work. A Glasgow SSTA member said.

".. the responsibility of pupil attendance, the bureaucracy and ‘paper trail for paper trail’s sake’ has just landed with the teacher and is getting beyond a joke. We are being made accountable for every child’s attendance and this work expected on top of our classes/remits/curriculum etc. There is a lack of time, resources, education support staff, a lack of mental health care, for us but we are being made to create reams of paperwork – in the knowledge that nothing will come of it. We are expected to take on every job that Glasgow Council has taken away. We are to become Educational Psychologists (we have to do all their paperwork, even though we are not qualified to analyse it), School Nurse, Attendance Officer, Social Worker, etc. I am sad to say this is pushing me away from a job I love but for my own well-being I will be looking away from teaching”.

Stuart Hunter SSTA President said.

“Teacher’s time is finite, yet tasks placed upon them are taking them further and further away from teaching and learning. Teachers must be instructed to focus upon the most important task of teaching children. All these additional tasks and duties must be placed against a very simple criterion ‘Will this task enhance my teaching?’ If not, it should be left undone or if it is important, undertaken by ‘someone else’. Unfortunately, the someone else in schools has nearly all but disappeared. Local authorities have been forced into saving money over several years. However, choosing to save money by failing to replace Education Support staff is a clear choice by Local Authorities to place the additional burden on all the teachers left behind, taking them further away from the core job of teaching and learning. The SSTA says Let Teachers Teach and the children will be the winners”.

“The demands placed upon teachers is excessive and teachers need to protect themselves from being worn down and bunt out. The SSTA advises all members to focus on teaching and learning and not to take on tasks that do not require the skills and expertise of a teacher. The SSTA is always ready to support members from bureaucratic burdens to reduce workload and recognise the most important task of teaching”.

[ENDS]

26 October 2023

Information for Members / Press Releases - 10/26/2023

SSTA Member Bulletin – October 2023

Hayward Review

The Independent Review Group led by Professor Louise Hayward published the final report ‘Our Future: Report of the Review of Qualifications and Assessment’ in June 2023. Recommendations in this report centre around a reduction of national qualifications and the introduction of a Scottish Diploma of Achievement (SDA) in the Senior Phase and with three mandatory elements: Personal Pathway, Programmes of Learning and Project Learning.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has committed to taking views from the teaching profession on these proposals before publishing a Scottish Government response later this year. The Scottish Government is keen to hear views from teaching staff and the consultation closes at 5.00pm Tuesday 31 October.
Professor Hayward Recommendations - What do you think? (smartsurvey.co.uk)

Teacher Pension - SPPA Remedy Special Newsletter
Many members attended our recent in-person and virtual briefings and will be aware of the changes to the teachers’ pensions scheme. The major focus has been the ‘remedy’ for scheme members impacted by age discrimination created by the Government in 2015. The SPPA has released a special newsletter to provide further information on how 2015 Remedy is being implemented and what members can expect.
SPPA September Employer Newsletter - Teachers (campaign-archive.com)

A recording of the pensions presentation from the virtual briefing is available on the SSTA website - Teachers Pension Scheme Presentation - September 2023

Return to Work Meetings
Members returning to work after a period of sickness are sometimes required to attend a ‘return to work’ meeting. Members can be accompanied by the school representative at these meetings. The meeting should be a two-way conversation about how you are, any support you may need at work to ensure a successful return and an updating of any changes that have happened in school while you were absent.

The school representative is there to give moral support - so member or colleague does not feel alone - and to act as a witness to what is being said. To seek clarification if what is being said is unclear. To help ensure that the meeting only deals with the agenda items.
The school representative at this stage is not representing the member or colleague and therefore cannot speak on their behalf.

Teachers ‘Off Sick’
We are being increasingly alerted by members that are being required to provide work, complete assessments and write reports whilst ‘off sick’.

While a member is ‘off sick’ they have no obligation to provide work for classes and should not be contacted about work issues, including contact from any pupils. The only contact should be about ongoing health, any support that can be offered and likely return to work dates. In addition, any WhatsApp groups about work issues should be ignored until fit to return.

Statement of Fitness for Work - Fit Notes
The Statement of Fitness for Work, commonly known as the ‘fit note’ is used to record details of the functional effects of employee’s health condition. The fit note should allow the employer and employee to discuss the employee’s health condition and consider ways to help them stay in, or return to, work.

Fit notes may be issued by doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists. The law requires one of these healthcare professionals to undertake an assessment, either through a face to face, video call, telephone consultation or through considering a written report by another healthcare professional, to complete a fit note.

People can only be given a fit note if their healthcare professional considers their fitness for work is impaired. If someone is considered fit for work, they will not be given a fit note. The employee does not require a ‘fit for work’ fit note if their fitness for work is not impacted.

Employees can self-certify for the first 7 calendar days of their sickness absence, which includes weekends and bank holidays. If your employer requires medical evidence for the first 7 days of sickness absence, the healthcare professional may charge a fee, and this cost should be covered by the employer.

See the new Government guidance on fit notes

SSTA Membership – Recruit a Colleague
All members are encouraged to recruit a colleague to join the SSTA. SSTA membership is unique in that it offers direct access to a senior official for advice and support. No other teacher union provides this service. The SSTA is the only trade union that offers this access to all members and remember the SSTA is the only teacher union that speaks only for Scottish Secondary Teachers.

NQTs – Free until January 2025 (qualified 2023)
New Teachers – Free and 30% (70% off) in 2024 (qualified 2022)
New members – 50% for 12 months
Part-Time – 50% for all part-timers (£8.38 per month)

Information for Members - 10/19/2023

Cornmarket Protect

We are delighted to let you know that today sees the launch of Cornmarket Protect for our members.

Using the combined buying power of the SSTA and Cornmarket we have been able to bring you a range of insurance cover for you and your family which includes: