Suffolk
Division NUT
Executive Committee (17:30 - 18:45)
and DIVISION COUNCIL MEETING (18:45 - 21:00)
January 30th 2003 Venue: Stowmarket Local Learning Centre
Notes for Division Meeting: January 30th 2003
Previous Meeting's notes (November 7th 2002)
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Suffolk
Division NUT |
| January 30th 2003 Venue: Stowmarket Local Learning Centre |
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Apologies already recorded: For EC / Both: For Council: Sharon Cozens, Jenny Mosesson, Phil Parker.
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Section A: National with National Executive Report
Report from Glenys Shepherd.Workload Agreement made with other Unions and "Support Staff Reform": Doug McAvoy's letter to members: A Price Too
High; Mass survey rejects use of unqualified staff as teachers.
NUT NEWS 21; NUT NEWS 22 Minister Confirms
NUT Fears EXECUTIVE NEWS NO.93
; EXECUTIVE NEWS NO.94;
NUT News 2-2003: A Price Too
High (the agreement re. classroom assistants taking lessons).;
NUT News3-3003: Deceit;
NUTNEWS4-3003: Class size of 60
03-018-MC&T - ANNUAL CONFERENCE: 18-22 APRIL 2003 - HARROGATE
PERSONAL ACCIDENT, LUGGAGE AND CANCELLATION INSURANCE
03-012-M&C - NUT LEARNING REPRESENTATIVES' COURSES03-011-E&EO - RAISING STANDARDS AND TACKLING WORKLOAD: A
NATIONAL AGREEMENT - INITIAL ADVICE TO DIVISIONS 03-002-M&C - MAILINGS TO STUDENTS 02-198-EEO: REVIEW OF
NATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT- CHANGES TO STATUTORY TESTS AT THE END OF KEY
STAGE 1-302-193-Sals: SOULBURY SALARY SETTLEMENT
2002/03. Soulbury Circular No 130;
Pay Scales for Advisers, etc.;
Pay Scales for Educational Psychologists.
02-182-L&PS: CHILD PROTECTION - PUBLICATION OF
REVISED GUIDANCE02-182-L&P-ATT1: STAFF FACING AN ALLEGATION OF ABUSE02-181-M&C: PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL UNITY AT DIVISION LEVEL -
REPORT FROM DIVISION SECRETARIES BRIEFING 2002 02-171-Sals: SOULBURY SETTLEMENT. NUT has agreed to 3.5%
this and next year with improvements to conditions. Two items will require
local discussions/negotiation on (1) Continuing Professional Development: local
action arising from a proposed national framework and (2) Conditions of Service
/ Work-Life Balance discussions based on the LG NJC document Finding the
Balance. LEA has been approached). Circular forwarded to known Soulbury
members. Actual pay scale awaited.From Jon Berry, Herts Division Secretary:
Statement and appeal on SATs issues. Press release from HQ relayed by RO: GTC survey confirms
long-term trend Commenting on the General Teaching Council survey showing
a third of teachers want to leave the profession within five years, Doug
McAvoy, NUT General Secretary said: "The survey confirms a trend which has
been apparent over a number of years. The causes are undisputed - excessive
workload and pupil behaviour. "The solutions have been identified in a
special report from the School Teachers' Review Body to the Government. If
implemented those proposals would reduce the excessive workload and make
teaching more attractive. More people would become teachers and those who are
in teaching would stay longer. "What will not help is the Government's
plan to allow unqualified people to teach." Regional Office has provided the Secretary with pro forma letters
for members (i) to inform the Division Secretary and (2) to send to their
headteacher if they are refused Upper Pay Spine point
2. Secretary has FAXed all Upper/High and Middle Schools (+ hard copy
to Primaries via LA Secs) asking Reps to make sure members who may be in this
situation can contact the Union.How
to say No to the inclusion of pupils with a history of violence:
circulation of hard copies to School Reps was completed in November. The use of
the document by headteachers has been immediate and very effective. The
Secretary has received very positive and thankful reactions from members and
their headteachers.SEN Funding and the Future of ASCs: The LEA are proposing to
fund ASCs in the same way as mainstream SEN placements. This would lead to the
closure of some ASCs and they are mooting the idea of doing away with ASCs
altogether. Amendments to the SEN formula (audit) funding for the coming year
would make it more possible for schools to retain their ASCs for the immediate
future, but the longer term prognosis looks grim for anything other than
mainstream inclusion and a few Specialist Resource Centres for certain
"specific learning difficulties". Secretary has drafted
a response supporting the continuation and development of
ASCs.Potential
Redundancy Situations. The first proposals for staffing reductions in
August 2003 are beginning to arrive. Details at the meeting. The Suffolk NUT
leaflet "When a school declares a redundancy" has been
up-dated, including the html version on the
website. Proposals for August 2003 will be affected by new provisions
on Fixed-Term contracts coming into force in April. There is a recurring
problem re. the implementation of Section 188 notices in the Northern Area.
Secretary has referred the matter to the LEA at County Level.Six-Term Year: New,
revised proposals for 2004-2005
(notified to Division Council in November) were circulated by the LEA in
December. Responses to consultation due in by February 14th. Secretary has
prepared a new draft response to the revised
proposals for discussion at this meeting.PRIEF: Secretary requested information on the procedure
adopted by LEA since the change of policy (Oct 2002) and particularly the time
scale. AA replied saying that Area Education Managers will refer suitable cases
to the LEA (no named person) and continues: "The criteria for considering
any cases will remain as a present. The teacher's state of health will remain a
major consideration with the expectation that premature retirement on health
grounds will already have been thoroughly explored. The situation of the
school, including whether or not it is receiving support on school improvement
grounds, its general budgetary situation and the impact of the teacher on the
schools performance generally will also be important. As at present, the first
call on the available budget will be to support unavoidable staff reductions in
schools and we will wish to be reasonably sure that all foreseeable staff
reductions can be provided for before making any other commitments." On
current cases, County says that it is necessary to explore further with
individual schools. No timescale given. Secretary pressing for a target
turn-around period which is not dependent on likely redundancy costs from
Section 188 situations.Upper Pay Spine Decisions: Still no requests for assistance
from members refused UPS2 as yet. Most Upper/Highs appear to have decided, and
to have told staff unofficially. Many fewer have actually paid the salary. SEO
Personnel has indicated (16th Jan) that the LEA;s advice on UPS progression
for the unattached was circulated to managers in "the first half of
term" (October). There is one case of a PRU teacher who left at December,
not knowing the outcome.| Home Tutors, etc. | Recommendations received before Christmas and to be paid in January |
| County Music School | "assessment is in hand" |
| PRU staff & Travellers' | managed asked (January) "to promote the process within their respective areas and for area colleagues to keep SEO Personnel informed of progress |
| Age Range | County "Average Salary" |
| 5 -10+ | £30,755 |
| 11 - 15 | £31,740 |
| Middle | £30,905 |
| 16+ | Funded by Learning & Skills Councils |
| Special School | £33,305 (excluding Headteacher |
Advisory Teachers:The LEA have agreed to extend the maximum
of AST scale to point 13 in the case of those who assimilated at point 9
instead of point 8. Another post not formally included in the Advisory Teacher
bracket has been included and assimilated with back-pay to September 2001. Two
more cases are still outstanding: one "conversion" from classroom
teacher pay and one query over an SEN allowance previously payable.PRUs (1): Thanks to NUT intervention, the LEA has agreed to
pay increments to Heads of PRUs which had not been paid since September 2000.
They had stayed by default on a "spot salary" despite the LEA
adopting a range of L6 to L12 for Heads of PHUs back in 2000. The new pay rate,
with arrears, should be in February pay packets. However, the rate payable to
Heads of PRUs is L6 to L12, the same as for Heads of the smallest primary
schools. "Deputies" at the Units are paid main scale with 3rd
management allowance. So a deputy on UPS2 + 3MP is on £30486, just
£60 less than the Head of Unit on L6 (£34,486)!PRUs
(2): The NUT asked in September for discussions over PHU management issues
(Job Description for Heads of Unit; Management Boards; & List of
responsibilities of LEA, Management Committee and Head of Unit). Meeting
arranged with John Carnall on 29th January made some progress but is now a need
to look again at salary levels of Heads of Unit (who can be overtaken by their
class teachers on UPS) and questions surrounding Deputies or 2nd in
charge. Soulbury
matters: Implementation of the pay award for 2002 should have been
completed for the January payroll. LEA awaiting the national framework for CPD
and consideration of the Local Government NJC;s publication about work-life
balance. No response to our request for talks, now or later.Adoptive and Paternity Rights: Secretary has asked LEA for
information on local implementation of new maternity and paternity rights, with
effect from April 5th (or earlier if a premature birth due on or after April
5th). National negotiations for teaching and non-teaching staff do not appear
to be making much progress, so only the statutory provisions would apply. These
include a right to a fortnight's paternity leave, paid at only £100 per
week. Letter received from AA (27/1/3) which indicates that the LEA will offer
guidance about the new regulations in respect of maternity, paternity and
adoption, as well as family leave, concentrating on those areas where schools
will have statutory duties to comply with. Secretary is advising members
enquiring about adoptive/paternity leave, etc., that the existing facility for
compassionate leave, at the discretion of the headteacher, is usually going to
be more beneficial to members than the statutory entitlement and that requests
for such leave should be made first, and before pursuing the new statutory
entitlements. The main gain for teachers should be the right to be considered
for "flexible working" arrangements, although once again, this will
be subject to both national and local interpretations as far as teachers are
concerned.The
following schools have already signed up to the Wellbeing scheme: Albert
Pye Primary; The Ashley Special; Beccles Middle; Bedfield CEVCP; Belstead
Special; Benjamin Britten High; Blackbourne Middle; Bungay Primary; Castle Hill
Middle; Chantry High; Chilton Primary; Clare Middle; College Heath Middle;
Coplestone High; Forest Primary; Gt. Cornard Middle; Gusford Primary; Halifax
Primary; Hardwick Middle; Heathside Special; Hillside Special; Holbrook High;
Holywells High; Ixworth Middle; King Edward VI; Kirkley Middle; Mendham
Primary; Needham Market Middle; Orwell High; Pakefield Middle; Parkside PRU;
Pipers Vale Primary; Ravenswood Primary; Sandlings Primary; Scaltback Middle;
Sidegate Primary; Springfield Juniors; St. Mary's Catholic Primary (Ipswich),
St. Albans High; St. Felix Middle; St. Helens Primary; St. Louis Middle;
Stowmarket Middle; Tollgate Primary; Warren Special; Westley Middle; Whitehouse
Primary; Woolpit Primary; Worlingham Middle.| Bury St. Edmunds | 1518 | 482 | 287 | 769 |
| Ipswich | 1519 | 465 | 264 | 729 |
| Lowestoft | 1520 | 165 | 75 | 240 |
| Sudbury & District | 1522 | 157 | 95 | 252 |
| Suffolk (South-East) | 1523 | 250 | 166 | 416 |
| Waveney / Yoxford | 1524 | 243 | 139 | 382 |
| 1762 | 1026 | 2788 |
"Progress" on outstanding issues:
| Review of operation of the General Complaints Procedure | JNC teachers' panel adopted NUT's paper for improvements. Also a need to add Complaints in unattached situations (eg. PRUs), Regional Secretary anxious that there is no "double jeopardy" for members in our procedure. |
| Industrial Injury: determination that an absence is due to industrial injury (non-physical) | John has forwarded our query to HQ. NEOST needs to be involved. |
| Assaults on staff: Joint LEA and Police guidance (draft) | Secretary provided LEA with a copy of the Safe Schools Toolkit information from the DfES website. Agreed not to hold up the current talks with Police in Suffolk. |
| Grievance, Disciplinary, Capability Procedures - updates. The final version was circulated in August and have been published to schools. | Secretary has received copies of the of the new A5 size booklets which have been distributed to schools. |
| LEA Guidance to schools on Absence Policies | October JNC reported no progress. |
| Allegations of Abuse: County Policy needs up-dating | LEA; JNC No progress to report |
| SEN allowances for PRUs | No progress. No response from LEA on question of regulations |
Preparation for AGM:
Proposed dates for Division EC and Council meetings, 2003-2004 (all should be
Thursdays) | April 3rd 2003 (AGM) | Dining Room, Hadleigh Town Hall | Booked |
| May 15th 2003 | Seminar Room 1, Conference Centre, King Edward VI Upper School, Bury St Edmunds | Booked |
| June 26th 2003 | Stowmarket LLC | Booked |
| Membership Meeting, July 3rd 2003 | Room 3. SSPDC . Will cost £50 if no one else using. Otherwise free. Check in April-May. | Provisionally booked |
| October 16th 2003 | SSPDC or Stowmarket | |
| November 27th 2003 | SSPDC or Stowmarket | |
| February 5th 2004 | SSPDC or Stowmarket | |
| March 18th 2004 (AGM) | Waveney & Yoxford Area | |
| May 13th 2004 | SSPDC or Stowmarket | |
| June 24th 2004 | SSPDC or Stowmarket |
Courses and Conferences Reports.Student Recruitment: Christine Lloyd to report.
Health &
Safety: John Osborne to report.
Sprites:
outcome: John Crompton wrote to parents of pupils at the two schools and
(21 Jan), copied to Secretary: "At its meeting on 14 Jan the Exec
Committee of the CC decided that Sprites Infant and Junior Schools should be
amalgamated to form one primary school with effect from 1 September 2004".
Statutory notice to be published in February. "If there are objections to
the proposal, the matter will be referred to the School Organisation
Committee". Division will be advised by Ipswich Association on any further
action.Suggested agenda for AGM April 3rd
2003:
| Secretary | 696.00 |
| Assistant Secretary | 181.00 |
| Treasurer | 181.00 |
| Auditors | 18.50 each |
| Teacher Representatives | 79.50 for full year or pro rata |
| Equal Opportunities Officer | 79.50 |
| H&S Representative | 79.50 |
| Student Recruitment Officer | 79.50 |
| President's Entertainment Allowance | 25.00 |
| Baby-sitting allowance | National Minimum Wage |
| Mileage rate for travel | 31.6p per mile |
| Conference delegates | national rate for Secretaries |
Date of next meeting: April 3rd, AGM, Hadleigh Town Hall