SSTA News

  • INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY OTHER TRADE UNIONS

    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…

  • SSTA Members Briefings – September 2023

    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…

  • SSTA Commends Pupils and Teachers

    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,…

  • CORNMARKET INSURANCE SERVICES

    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…

  • SSTA Newsletter – July 2023

    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.

  • Members Update –  June 2023

    Members Update –  June 2023

    Education Reform – “the views of teachers will be key to Scotland’s education reform journey”. With the publication of the ‘All Learners in Scotland Matter’ and ‘It’s Our Future’ reports, Jenny Gilruth MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills said, “the views of teachers will be key to Scotland’s education reform journey”. The Cabinet Secretary has asked all schools to…

  • Report of the General Secretary

    Report of the General Secretary

    SSTA General Secretary Report to Congress 2023 Friday 12 May 2023 What can happen in a year? Last year I said. We are on the verge of a new era in Scottish education. The things that we have accepted as normal, if there ever could be anything normal in education, is about to change. But…

  • Presidential Address to 78th Annual Congress

    Presidential Address to 78th Annual Congress

    Catherine Nicol, SSTA President Address to the 78th Congress of the SSTA The Trade union movement is still a force to be reckoned with. Trade union members need to be alert to the neoliberal forces in the press, political sphere and social media that strive to create division in our ranks. There is no room…

  • Secondary Teachers Tell SQA To Think Again

    Secondary Teachers Tell SQA To Think Again

    The SSTA conducted a survey of members delivering national qualifications following the SQA announcement that National Qualifications course assessments in session 2023-24 will return to full requirements – including reinstating coursework and exam assessment and the National 4 added value unit. The majority of SSTA members are opposed to the change with only 19% wanting…

  • SQA 2024 – 90% of Teachers say their Pupils are not ready

    SQA 2024 – 90% of Teachers say their Pupils are not ready

    Following the SQA announcement that National Qualifications course assessments in session 2023-24 will return to full requirements – including reinstating coursework and exam assessment and the National 4 added value unit – the SSTA sought views of members. In responding to the survey, secondary teachers who are delivering national qualifications were clearly opposed to a…