membersbulletin

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…
behaviour-highlighted

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…
TeacherFrontofClass

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,…
membersbulletin

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…
Cornmarket Protect

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: What's more, you can have all of this cover for only £22* per month!  To find out more click on the video below Don't delay, click on the button below and start saving…
wall-strike_web

INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY OTHER TRADE UNIONS

The SSTA has been advised that there will be industrial action by education support staff unions next week in many local authorities. It is unlawful for any member of the SSTA to take industrial action where the SSTA has not given specific notice to the employer advising that action will be taken. Where members of another STUC-affiliated trade union are involved in industrial action, SSTA members should: report for work as normal set appropriate work for classes timetabled for the day…
Members' Briefing

SSTA Members Briefings – September 2023

The SSTA has arranged a series of in-person members briefings in September. Seamus Searson the SSTA General Secretary would like to meet with SSTA members to discuss the issues that face secondary teachers.  This will include the Qualifications and Assessment Review, the Pupil Behaviour Summit and Teacher Health and Wellbeing. This is your opportunity to have your say. Stuart McCullough, Independent Financial Adviser from L-life Ltd will also be giving a presentation on the changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. This will…
exam_writing

SSTA Commends Pupils and Teachers

The SSTA commends all pupils and teachers for all their hard work in overcoming all the difficulties created by the pandemic to record results in this year’s national qualifications. Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary, said: “Pupils should be pleased with their hard work, which has shown a determination to succeed. As they receive their results, we congratulate learners stepping forward in their educational journey”. “Secondary teachers have worked above and beyond their obligations to ensure that no pupil has been…
CM_logos_2018_blue-solid_72dpi

CORNMARKET INSURANCE SERVICES

We are pleased to announce that the SSTA has reached an agreement with Cornmarket Insurance Services to be our general insurance provider. The SSTA has been seeking a provider that would be able to provide a comprehensive beneficial service to members. Cornmarket has worked alongside other teacher unions and prides itself on the level of service it provides for individual teachers. If you are looking for car, home, motorbike or travel insurance, we would encourage you to make contact with Cornmarket…
newsletter

SSTA Newsletter - July 2023

The July 2023 Newsletter is now available for members to download. The newsletter contains information from the 78th Annual Congress of the SSTA, including the Presidential Address, Report of the General Secretary, motions passed at Congress and the Financial Statement.