Suffolk Division NUT Information for Division Council Meeting (18:30 - 21:00) Belstead Brook Hotel, Ipswich Wednesday June 23rd 2010

1. NUT Executive News No 161
2. Academies: E-mail alert: The coalition government is rushing legislation through Parliament which removes the need for governing bodies to consult with parents, staff, the local authority or other local schools before applying to becoming an academy. The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, has written to all schools about the Bill and separately to all schools with an 'outstanding' Ofsted judgement, inviting them to register an interest, with a view to becoming an Academy by September 2010.  The Union is campaigning alongside the ATL, NASUWT and UNISON in schools on the Academies Bill. Click here to view joint union letters and briefing materials to heads and governors.  The Union is also working together with MPs and Peers to try and amend the Bill to ensure there is consultation with school staff, parents, pupils and the local authority - the very people that will be affected by any move to Academy status.
3. Message from HQ campaigning against more Academies: posting of information to all members in schools with an ‘outstanding’ judgement from Ofsted + an email sent to all the members in "outstanding schools" for whom HQ has an email addresses. (Data available from OFSTED does not contain schools that have received outstanding judgements in the summer term 2010.
4. 10-127-EEPD - THE ANTHONY WALKER MEMORIAL LECTURE: The fourth Anthony Walker Memorial Lecture will take place at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool on Friday, 22 October 2010 at 5.00 p.m.  Bonnie Greer, author and broadcaster, will deliver this year’s lecture.
5. 10-126-EEPD - EMPLOYMENT OF EMAG, TRAVELLER EDUCATION AND REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER SUPPORT TEACHERS: National concern over premature moves by Local Authorities to second guess possible changes to funding of Ethnic Minority Achievement Grants and funding of Travellers' Education. NUT guidance to Divisions is to urge Authority not to dilute these services, especially before any funding decision is announced by the new government.  In brief:

   It would be extremely unwise for any local authority to break up the pool of expertise represented by central EMAG and other support teams and thereby reduce the level of support available to schools which will still need expert advice on these areas. Local authorities themselves will continue to be subject to scrutiny in terms of student achievement in their local areas, including among minority ethnic and Traveller students and refugees and asylum seekers. Existing EMAG and other support teams will therefore continue to be an important resource both for local authorities and for schools. Local authorities should take no action with regard to central EMAG teams either in advance of any decision on delegation of funding or thereafter.  The previous Government’s proposals for “mainstreaming” the EMAG grant nevertheless envisaged a continuing power for local authorities to retain some of that funding centrally.

   MG has requested information from TES and EMA managers to complete a survey from HQ. Circular copied to EMA and METAT members.  Local review is pending and is on JNC agenda.
6. 10-124-ECR - TAX PAYERS’ ALLIANCE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST for information re. cost of TU facility time.
7. 10-123-S&C - ACADEMIES CAMPAIGN UPDATE
8. 10-122-EEPD - EARLY YEARS SINGLE FUNDING FORMULA UPDATE FOR SCHOOL REPS: The Early Years Single Funding Formula Update for NUT school representatives and accompanying Appendices One, Two and Three are available to download from www.teachers.org.uk > school sector policy > early years.
9. 10-121-RM - CONFERENCE 2010 - DELEGATE VOTING ANALYSIS AND CBC ELECTION RESULT
10. 10-120-EC&R - SCHOOLS AND THE CARBON REDUCTION COMMITMENT briefing on the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, the UK's emissions trading scheme which came into force on 1 April 2010.  LAs have to purchase allowances for every tonne of CO2 they emit as a consequence of their gas and electricity consumption, which includes emissions from all state funded schools in their area, i.e., maintained, foundation, voluntary aided, voluntary controlled, city technology colleges, Academies and trust schools..  So a ‘reasonable assistance’ duty has been placed on schools requiring them to supply their local authority with energy data.  This information will need to be provided once a year and schools will be able to request an annual energy statement from their energy suppliers to help compile this data.  Local authorities will need systems and procedures in place to collect, collate and analyse their energy data and will need to make schools aware of what information is required, as well as providing schools with sufficient time to obtain it. 
11. 10-118-EEPD - BLACK TEACHERS' CONFERENCE 2010: Stoke Rochford, Sat 13 November and Sun, 14 Nov 2010, informal reception on the Fri evening.
12. 10-116-S&C - URGENT - CAMPAIGNING ON THE ACADEMIES BILL
13. 10-115-EE&PD - OFSTED GUIDANCE ON KEY STAGE 2 TESTS BOYCOTT: Ofsted has issued guidance to inspectors on the inspection of schools which participated in the recent boycott of the Key Stage 2 tests: "In the absence of provisional SAT results towards the end of this summer term … inspectors should exercise professional judgement in weighing all the evidence they have gathered and setting this against the credibility and accuracy of the school’s teacher assessment data.”. Support for members arising from the Ofsted guidance will be provided by Union Headquarters.
14. 10-114-EC&R - OVERHEATING IN SCHOOLS - RESEARCH PROJECT: Union is considering a research project on the subject of heating and cooling in school buildings and is asking H&S representatives to complete a short questionnaire on overheating in schools, seeking to identify a selection of schools which have experienced problems with heating and cooling, which might be the subject of further investigation.
15. 10-113-EC&R - CAMPAIGNING FOR A NEW NATIONAL CONTRACT - CONSULTATION WITH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES AND MEMBERS
16. 10-112-S&C - ACADEMIES BILL: details.
17. 10-111-SSEE - SCHOOL TEACHERS' REVIEW BODY: NINETEENTH REPORT, published for consultation on 30 March, together with the then Secretary of State’s announcement in response.  The NUT made a written response and met with DCSF staff to express the NUT’s views. The STRB recommended the introduction of revised criteria for SEN allowances from September 2010, along with the replacement of the two current payment levels (SEN1 and SEN2) by a range.  The minimum of the recommended range is £2,001 and the maximum £3,954; these two levels equate to the values of SEN1 and SEN2 that the STRB has previously recommended from September 2010.  The STRB also overturned its previous recommendation that teachers in Pupil Referral Units should receive SEN allowances on a mandatory basis. Concern is that the greater “flexibility” proposed by the STRB will result in lower SEN allowances for a significant number of teachers, and in fewer teachers receiving SEN allowances.  The NUT has expressed its disappointment at the STRB’s decision to overturn its previous recommendation on SEN allowances for teachers in PRUs, and will be seeking to ensure that all members in PRUs receive SEN allowances under the new discretionary system.   

    Leadership Group: The STRB also made recommendations in relation to criteria for leadership group appointments.  As with SEN allowances, the then Secretary of State did not openly endorse the STRB’s recommended criteria but said that he would develop criteria for implementation in 2010. 

    TLRs: In its report the STRB noted the NUT’s concerns about the TLR system, which has resulted in the loss of at least 30,000 responsibility posts – and expressed the view that a review of the TLR system should take place.  The NUT welcomes this, and believes that such a review should take place as soon as possible.

18. 10-110-S&C - NATIONAL DIVISION SECRETARIES' BRIEFING 28 JUNE. topics: (a) coalition plans for Academies and Free Schools (b) "Stronger Together",  the developing national campaign on workload and how it relates to campaigning on SATs, APP and Ofsted.
19. 10-109-RM - MOVE TO MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007
20. 10-108-O&M - OFFICE INSURANCE FOR ASSOCIATIONS AND DIVISIONS WHO RENT OR OWN PREMISES AND EMPLOY STAFF
21. 10-107-SC - THE STEVE SINNOTT FOUNDATION: letter from the directors.  Information available on www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk .
22. 10-106-ECR - HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISERS’ BULLETIN NO. 87: topics include:

    Acoustics in School Buildings Road Safety Arson and the Cost of Fire Damage New Anti-bullying Duty to Protect School Staff Link Between Birth Defects and Maternal Occupation Unpaid Overtime Pregnancy Risk Assessments H&S Advisers’ Briefing

    TUC Safety Representatives’ Survey Asbestos Update NUT Circulars NUT H&S Representatives’ Training Hazards 2010 IER H&S Conference European H&S Week

23. 10-105-S&C - 2010 COMPASS NATIONAL AND ROBIN COOK MEMORIAL CONFERENCE, 12th June.
24. 10-104-EC&R - TUC SURVEY OF SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES 2010: deadline for returns is 1st July.
25. 10-103-EC&R - CAR MILEAGE ALLOWANCES 2010/11: Standard rate remains the same:  First 10,000 business miles @ 40p per mile and each mile over 10,000 miles @ 25p per mile.  Approved rates for motorcycles (24p/mile), bicycles (20p/mile) and car-sharing allowances (up to 5p/mile for each passenger carried) but there is, of course, no requirement for employers to pay allowances in these circumstances.
26. 10-102-RM - NUT STAFF VACANCY - REGIONAL SECRETARY: MIDLANDS
27. 10-101-EC&R - SATs BOYCOTT - THREATENED DEDUCTIONS TO PAY: A model letter for members to send to chairs of governing bodies when threatened with any deduction.
28. 10-100-EE&PD - BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI SETTLEMENT GOODS
29. 10-099-EEPD - 16-19 PROVISION: NUT/UCU BRIEFING ON JOINT UNION ACTIVITY: a joint briefing from the NUT and the University & College Union (UCU) which encourages collaborative working between the two unions at local level in order to monitor and participate in arrangements for planning, commissioning and funding education places for 16-19 year olds.
30. 10-098-EEPD - CAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF FARZAD KAMANGAR, WHO WAS RECENTLY EXECUTED AND IN SUPPORT OF OTHER IRANIAN TEACHERS AND UNION ACTIVISTS: model letter to send to Iranian leader.
31. 10-097-EC&R - TRAVEL DELAY DUE TO EUROPEAN FLIGHT SUSPENSIONS - THREATS OF DEDUCTIONS FROM SALARIES AND DIRECTIONS TO MAKE UP MISSED TIME: up-dated advice on Hearth.
32. 10-096-EE&PD - OFSTED SIXTH FORM COLLEGE INSPECTION
33. 10-095-SS&EE - PENSIONS UPDATE: SUMMER TERM 2010: useful information on changes and updates to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, NUT campaigning work etc on Hearth.

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    Assistant Secretary's Report

1. A section 188 meeting was held on 8th June at Trinity Park re. ISIS Review, proposing to halve the professional advisory staff because of a £2m loss of grant in the next financial year (i.e. redundancy at March 31st 2011). NUT working with ASPECT on our response.  Initial NUT response issued to LA to put alternative suggestions.  LA is proposing to cease to provide an advisory service, beyond a core service to schools of Concern.  They propose to create a "brokerage" system employing back office staff, but no subject advisers, advisory teachers or consultants.  They propose to leave schools to provide their own experts (Advanced Skills Teachers, "Leading Teachers") or call on independent, freelance consultants.  The NUT fails to see any role in this for a brokerage system and is making counter-proposals to seek to continue some role for the Authority in providing advice to schools.  MG produced an interim response urging the LA to think again and to find a way of retaining an LA Advisory Team.  Initial response has been tabled with the LA.
2. Photocopying of Identity documents, etc: At the CYP Forum meeting on 9th June, the LA agreed that the NUT's stance was correct and there would be a circular to school advising them that they should not take copies of passports, etc proving identity of employees, even new appointments, and should return any copies already taken to the people concerned, for proper disposal.  This follows clear written rulings from OFSTED and the Information Commissioners Office to Suffolk NUT. Circular to Reps posted on the website, fax merged and distributed to schools.

Date of next meeting: Sept 2010 (Ipswich)