Curriculum for Excellence Working Group on Tackling Bureaucracy

Following concerns among teachers that the level of bureaucracy is threatening to divert teachers from what they should be doing (i.e. teaching), the Cabinet Secretary has set up a short-life working group to look at ways of addressing these concerns. The SSTA are represented on the Group by Richard Goring (Professional Officer) and, following the first meeting, it is hoped to offer advice and reassurance to all teachers in August.

Post-Congress 2013 Newsletter

The post-Congress 2013 edition of the SSTA Bulletin can be downloaded from here. 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/.

Council

The new Council of the SSTA met briefly after Congress. The purpose was to elect a new Executive and Finance Committee. We announce the result below.

Annual STUC Black Workers' Conference

Members who are interested in attending this event should contact Richard Goring, Professional Officer before 21 June 2013. The Conference will be held in the Menzies Hotel, Washington Street, Glasgow on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October 2013. Delegates could attend on either or both days.

Annual STUC Youth Conference

Members and Associate members who are interested in attending this event and are under the age of 26 should contact Richard Goring, Professional Officer before Friday 24 May 2013. The conference will be held on Saturday 22 June and Sunday 23 June at the Mercure Hotel, Ingram Street, Glasgow. Attendance could be for either or both of the above dates. Although motions to be discussed cover a wide range of Trade Union issues, a number relate specifically to educational concerns.

Report of the General Secretary - Congress 2013

I suppose any period of 12 months in the annals of any trades union would be described as being “difficult”. However, I would contend that the last 12 months have been particularly challenging as we have tried to come to terms with some fairly serious internal matters. It is as a consequence that I address you this afternoon slightly surreal as I imagined my days of Presidential addresses or General Secretary reports were well and truly over.