Notes for Division Meeting: June 26th 2003

Previous Meeting's notes: (May 15th 2003)

Logo

Suffolk Division NUT
Executive Committee (17:30 - 18:30)
and DIVISION COUNCIL MEETING (19:00 - 21:00)

June 26th 2003 Venue: Stowmarket Local Learning Centre

Apologies already recorded: For EC / Both: Paul Brewerton, Peter Byatt, Glenys Shepherd For Council: John Osborne, Ray Frowd, Peter Dunnett

*=Items for Executive Committee

dot=Items for Division Council

Section A: National with National Executive Report

  1. dot Report from Glenys Shepherd.
  2. Executive News 98
  3. NUT News 17: More Money Now.
  4. NUT News 18: Now we'll see - new conditions of service for that "agreement".
  5. NUT News 19: Now we know (re. Charles Clarke's £100 pocket picked.
  6. Up-date: NUT accuses Government of regulating for discrimination: For the first time in five years, the House of Commons and House of Lords Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments is meeting at 4.25 pm today (3 June) to look at proposed regulations which would allow the sacking of teachers at faith based schools simply because they are gay or lesbian. The committee is to question officials from the Department for Trade and Industry on the proposal. Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary, has written to the chairman of the committee, David Tredinnick MP, drawing attention to the implications for staff in faith schools, employing some 100,000 teachers. (see www.teachers.org.uk for letter). The Government claims it is pro Europe but its claim seems little more than pretence. Here is another example of it seeking to water down the protection afforded by a European directive. The Government is regulating for the sacking of teachers not on the basis of their professional capacity but because of their sexual orientation. If this regulation passes into law and any member of the National Union of Teachers is discriminated against as a result, the Union will have no hesitation in challenging the decision under human rights legislatation.
  7. Up-date: Government¹s announcement on primary education ­ NUT reaction: Commenting on the Government¹s announcement on tests and target setting for primary schools, Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary, said: "Charles Clarke has taken a welcome first step in recognising the damaging and stifling effects of National Curriculum tests and national targets on primary schools. His proposals for the future while welcome do not go far enough however. The Education Secretary should have followed Wales and scrapped the tests for seven year olds altogether. Teachers will be bewildered that he has not taken such an obvious step. Nor will they understand why the tests for 11 and 14 year olds have not been scrapped. They do little for learning, distress young people and undermine the curriculum. His proposals to abandon local authority target setting for schools is welcome but he clings onto national targets which everyone, including the Chief Inspector, agrees are a nonsense. These are retained for political purposes not educational benefit. I welcome the Government¹s initiatives on tackling unacceptable pupil behaviour in primary schools and proposals to foster creativity. I want Charles Clarke to go that extra mile and remove the current regime of tests, national targets and school performance tables which bedevil schools."
  8. Commenting on Charles Clarke¹s speech to the Local Government Association conference, Doug McAvoy, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Charles Clarke is beginning to recognise the problem and his responsibility for the funding crisis but not the solution. Shortfalls in funding will lead to a swathe of cuts in teaching posts and teacher redundancies this year. He still refuses to recognise the obvious. Promises for next year will appear meaningless. There must be further money for schools for this coming year. It is not good enough to blame job losses and teacher redundancies on falling pupil numbers. Schools were promised unprecedented funding increases by this Government. Teachers expected improved provision and reduced workload not the prospect of redundancies."
    Circulars from HQ, etc:
  9. *03-081-E&EO - BRIEFING ON PRIVATISATION - MONDAY, 14 JULY 2003, London. Paul Widdowson will attend for Division.
  10. 03-080-CCU - SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATION: Brief on daft Employment Equality (Sexual orientation) Regulations 2003 and draft Employment Equality (Relgion or Belief) Regulations 2003.
  11. 03-079-SALS - SCHOOL FUNDING 2003-04: Survey from HQ.
  12. *03-078-H&S - SLIPS AND TRIPS IN SCHOOLS and HSE Education Information Sheet 2
  13. *03-077-M&C - ANNUAL UNION LEARNING FUND CONFERENCE-02 JULY 2003: Ray Frowd not able to attend.
  14. 03-076-CCU - TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS' FESTIVAL - 18/20 JULY 2003
  15. 03-075-CCU - ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2003-RESOLUTIONS
  16. 03-074-O&A - DECLARATION OF EXECUTIVE BY-ELECTION - DISTRICT 18
  17. *dot03-073-M&C - RECRUITMENT: SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP OFFER FOR QUALIFIED TEACHERS:a special offer for new joiners in 2003. Providing they commit to direct debit payment for 2004, applicants entitled to admission, including those transferring from other unions, will receive free membership for the remainder of 2003. The first deduction by direct debit will be made in February 2004. The full-time subscription rate for 2004 is £121.00.
  18. 03-072-SALS - SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: information re. scheme 2003 and Union view.
  19. 03-071-M&C - CAMPAIGNS AGAINST PRIVATISATION AND PFI PROPOSALS: request from HQ for good ideas from local assocs, etc.
  20. dot03-070-O&A - CONFERENCE 2003 - DELEGATE VOTING ANALYSIS AND CBC ELECTION RESULT
  21. 03-069-H&S - HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISERS' BULLETIN NO 68
  22. 03-068-E&EO - NATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2003: Division has already decided to fund one place, but arrangements should be made by local associations.
  23. 03-067-E&EO - PRIDE AND MARDI GRAS 2003
  24. *03-066-M&C - IMPLEMENTATION OF STATUTORY RIGHTS FOR UNION LEARNING REPRESENTATIVES Checklist for negotiation of extra time off for learning representatives. Circulated to Penny and Graham (for JNC) and to Ray Frowd who is holding a watching brief on Learning Representative matters.
  25. 03-065-E&EO - NUT CPD PROGRAMME: 'ONE DAY EVENTS' During the summer term 2003: * 'Teaching Thinking in Wales' : on Friday, 4 July, at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff; and * 'Never Mind the Buzzwords - What Evidence shows Works in CPD for Teachers' : on Wednesday, 9 July 2003, at NUT Headquarters, Hamilton House, London. At the start of the autumn term: * NUT's Fourth National Leadership Convention - 'Freedom to Lead?' : on Friday, 3 October 2003, at NUT Headquarters, Hamilton House, London. Flyers, providing full details of these events, are enclosed with this circular. An application form for each event is also enclosed
  26. *From Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers, request for financial support.
  27. *From Stonewall, requesting a donation for the campaign to repeal Section 28.
    Section B: Regional: John Dixon/Hilary Bucky to Report
  28. *Regional Office successfully defended a case brought against the Union by a (Suffolk) member alleging that the Union had not offered appropriate advice and support. The case was rejected by the judge who said that the Union had acted correctly throughout and had provided proper advice and services to the member.
  29. *Preparation for NQT and NA campaigns.
    Section C: Division / Executive Committee: Division Secretary, Martin Goold, to report, including items from the preceding Executive Committee meeting.
  30. dotSuffolk meeting on workforce reforms called by LEA for 1st July. UNISON to be present, but LEA does not recognise GMB or TGWU who were national signatories. Odd. Apparently, ATL has advised its representatives not to agree to attend local meetings on Workload Agreement if NUT representatives are present. Secretary has contacted ATL to seek an assurance that there will be no difficulties on July 1st. The employers' have circulated some suggestions re. job specifications for a range of newly designated posts and a version has been supplied to the Secretary.
  31. It was just a mirage: the £45 - 55,000 reported to us by the LEA as having been announced by Mr Miliband to help each school with workforce reforms, turned out to be an error. The DfES tagged announcement of this money on the end of a press release about workforce reform, but checking the small print showed that it only applied to Teacher Training Schools! 50 more such schools are to be created, bringing the total to 150 in the whole of England.
  32. dotResponses to Labour Party Education Policy consultation document: "The Best Education for All", open until October. Copies circulated to LA Secretaries mid May.
  33. dotNUT Response to the consultation document on Gazeley primary school: this response opposes closure of Gazeley school but accepts that there may be a need to consider "federation", at least as a temporary measure. Verbal up-date at meeting.
  34. *New Section 188 Notices issued for Elveden Primary and Westbourne High. Notices withdrawn for Orwell High School, Great Heath, Newmarket US, Castle Manor US and Handford Hall P.
  35. *Training Course: 28 School Reps attended the Training Course at SSPDC on June 5th. which, in terms of numbers attending, is the most succesful yet. Feedback has been very appreciative and encouraging. Thanks to John Dixon for leading the course.
  36. dotOur first (and only!) UPS appeal has gone to informal grievance stage.
  37. *Secretary has re-published "When working at school makes you ill". Available in leaflet form, from Secretary or from the website www.suffolknut.org.uk/ill.doc .
  38. Non-teaching employees of SCC: Consultation on a Revised Employment Stability Policy. Secretary was unable to respond to the consultation, but the policy appears to be satisfactory for our members who will come under these provisions (e.g. Soulbury and Community Education).
  39. Sally Simpkinhas been appounted Northern Area Education Manager. She is now in post. Also the new SEN Manager is Vanessa Harvey-Samuel, who started on June 1st.
  40. dotPRUs planned for Lowestoft (KS2/3) at Colville House Resource Centre (9/03), Brandon (Old Forest Primary) (1/04), Ipswich KS1, Raeburn Road (1/04) and Ipswich KS2/3,. St Christopher's Hall (9/03).
  41. dotNon-teaching SENCO advertisement. The Union has alerted Regional Office and LEA to an advertisement for a non-teacher to take a SENCo post at Stowmarket High School. Secretary met the Head to discuss. It is now unlikely that the post will be filled exactly as advertised. Secretary has asked the school to appoint a teacher to the post of SENCo and to pay teachers' pay and conditions.
  42. PRIEF: The LEA has confirmed that NO early retirements have been agreed since the introduction of the new policy in October 2002. This would appear to be repeated all over the Eastern Region.
  43. The Teachers' Panel is requesting a meeting with the Learning and Skills Council, in particular re. Sixth Form Funding.
  44. Federated Schools: consultation document awaited.
  45. The Teachers' Panel has requested representation on the Schools Forum.
  46. dot"Progress" on outstanding issues:
    Review of operation of the General Complaints Procedure JNC teachers' panel adopted NUT's paper for improvements last term. No response from LEA as yet. Fell off JNC Agenda, NUT asked for it to be put back on
    Industrial Injury: determination that an absence is due to industrial injury (non-physical) Response still awaited. Also AA was supposed to let us have the NEOST view. He has not.
    Assaults on staff: Joint LEA and Police guidance (draft) Draft policy document circulated at JNC meeting on 14th May "Dealing with abuse, threats and violence towards school staff". Secretary responded. JNC asking for final draft for ratification and distribution to schools. The draft has already proved helpful in casework,
    LEA Guidance to schools on Absence Policies October JNC reported no progress. Secretary produced a paper for the Teachers' Panel meeting on 25th June. To be adopted, hopefully, by TP on July 9th.
    Allegations of Abuse: County Policy needs up-dating LEA has promised information for July 9th.
    SEN allowances for PRUs No progress. No response from LEA on question of regulations. New officer appointed. LEA has agreed to convene a special JNC meeting on SEN "sometime"
    Salaries of Heads of PRU and Second in Unit Promised meeting with LEA still awaited (now several months' delay)
    Parental/adoptive leave, etc Still no information on procedures, payments and budgetary responsibilities, from LEA.
  47. Future Venues:
    Membership Meeting July 3rd (Tuesday) Venue sought
    October 16th 2003 SSPDC Booked
    Novermber 12th 2003 SLLC requested
    Feburary 5th 2003 SLLC requested
  48. dotCourses and Conferences Reports.
  49. dotStudent Recruitment: Sharon Cozens to report.
  50. dot Health & Safety: John Osborne to report. Minutes of H&S Committee Meeting of 26th February received. Next meeting 25th June (cancelled)
    Section E: Local Associations, etc
  51. Bury St Edmunds & District NUT held a successful Summer Tea meeting on 25th June with Diana Madden speaking on allegations and child protection. She has now left the Suffolk/Norfolk consortium and has gone to Thurrock. The meeting created some more casework!

Date of next meeting: October 16th 2003, SSPDC Ipswich

INDEX / SEARCH

HOMEPAGE