Notes for Division Meeting: June 26th 2003

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

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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: Peter Byatt; Penny Cook For Council:

*=Items for Executive Committee

dot=Items for Division Council

Section A: National with National Executive Report

dot Reportfrom Glenys Shepherd.

  1. Executive News 97 (Hard copy distributed at April meeting)
  2. NUTNews13: Change of H(e)art.
  3. NUTNews14: Bad News and Good Advice from Mr Blair's Adviser
  4. NUTNews 15: Trying Hard to Make it Better.
  5. NUTNews 16: Anyone can teach
  6. Ring the alarm! Advice on redundancies.
  7. dotNUT Advice to members on Foundation Stage Profile and SATs for KS1, KS2 and KS3 for this year. Secretary edited the advice on Foundation Stage and copied to LA Secretaries for separate distribution to schools.
    Circulars from HQ, etc:
  8. dot02-062-CCU - CAMPAIGN TO REPEAL SECTION 28 - FOR ACTION AND INFORMATION
  9. *03-061-M&C - NUT POCKET DIARY
  10. *03-060-M&C - NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME: DIVISION SECRETARIES' BRIEFING: WEDNESDAY, 8 TO FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER 2003 AND NEW SECRETARIES' COURSE: MONDAY, 6 TO WEDNESDAY 8 OCTOBER 2003. It is hoped that there will be a new secretary for Waveney & Yoxford who could benefit from this course next term.
  11. *03-059-E&EO - MEETING BETWEEN LOCAL LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCILS AND TEACHER UNIONS: LOCAL LSC/TEACHER ORGANISATION FORUMS
  12. 03-058-CCU - THREATS OF TEACHER REDUNDANCY
  13. *03-057-COS - FUNDING OF SUPPLY COVER COSTS for maternity, paternity, public service, and TU activity, etc. Forwarded to rep on Schools Forum for info.
  14. 03-056-L&PS - THE RIGHT TO REQUEST FLEXIBLE WORKING
  15. 03-055-L&PS - NEW RIGHTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS
  16. 03-054-L&PS - NEW PATERNITY RIGHTS
  17. dot 03-053-E&EO - "RESPECT" - AN ANTI-RACIST AND MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL FOR LONDON: 19 JULY 2003, THE DOME, NORTH GREENWICH, LONDON
  18. dot03-052-CCU - SCHOOL WORKFORCE REFORM : Details published by DfES on: www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/remodelling/aprilpackage
  19. * dot Anti-SATs conference, South Camden, 11.30-3.30 on 28th June. £5.00 fee + travel. Organised by Hertfordshire Division (Jon Berry).
  20. From CASE: Parents and Schools No 124, April 2003. Parents' voice may soon be heard.
    Section B: Regional: John Dixon/Hilary Bucky to Report
  21. Secretary's report to Regional Council May 10th 2003.
  22. Membership Growth. Figures produced at the ERC showed regional growth around 16% since 2000 and in Suffolk this was 17%.
  23. dotThe Cuts: This same meeting agreed to do a survey of schools, via Reps, on the cuts, concentrating on job losses in teaching and non-teaching posts. This was circulated as a fax merge by the Secretary to all Suffolk Upper/Highs and Middle Schools on 13th May, followed by a selection of Primary schools.
  24. Regional Briefing for caseworkers, next session will be 18 June, am. Paul Brewerton and Andrew invited as well as Secretary.
  25. Section C: Division / County:Division Secretary, Martin Goold, to report, including items from the preceding Executive Committee meeting.
  26. dotFederated schools: SCC Paper E03/55 proposed a consultation on "Federations" of "two or three" schools. Secretary responded to early enquiries from SGR, Radio Suffolk, EADT, EDP and BFP, before being able to word a draft response for consultation with members. This has now been circulated direct to Headteacher members, and is being distributed to other Primary and Middle Schools via Local Associations. Despite the LEA document being forthright in support of Federated schools (giving only advantages and no disadvantages) the CDO claimed at JNC that this would be a genuine consultation. John Sculpher, author of the paper, clearly believes that federation will be needed to "save" the village school. We wonder in fact if it will simply delay closures for a few years.
  27. Advice to Nursery, Primary and First schools on Foundation Stage Profiles. See national report.
  28. dotBudget Issues: LEA rejected NUT advice and proceeded to distribute the £108,000 extra funding provided by DfES (our share of the £28m) and .£500,000 left unallocated in March, by per capita formula funding. The NUT proposed that this £608,000 should be allocated to meet actual shortfalls from previously grant-supported activity, such as the NQT grant and Infant Class Sizes grant. Taken with the decision of SCC to vire £1.5M of Suffolk's own resources from Education to Social Services, the LEA clearly has some case to answer. Although national funding has been inadequate, Suffolk has made things worse by the way in which it has distributed scarce additional or contingency funding.
  29. * Consultation on Budget Matters: Secretary has contacted Martin Liddle re. unhelpful stance of some influential NAHT headteachers re. common approach to LEA on these matters. It was clear at the May 14th JNC that the policy of putting distributing all resources on formula budget (increasing the "base budget" is the mantra) was supported by some LEA officers, but strongly opposed by others who favour aggregating, as does the NUT. The LEA keep saying that the Schools Forum "strongly supports" formula funding. Our reports from Schools Forum indicate that that they have been told they have no real influence anyway, and are only consultative. The feeling is that the decision has been made and there is no point in arguing. JNC has asked for representation on the Schools Forum in future. Secretary illustrated the futility of formula distribution of the Standards Fund: the most awarded to any school was £9,000 and small primaries got around £30!! This ate up £608,000 which could have gone a long way as NQT grant, small schools grant or for individual SEN cases. NUT is saying that the LEA had squandered that money and had made a bad situation worse.
  30. *New Section 188 Notices have been issued at Barnby & North Cove, Fressingfield, Handford Hall, Newmarket US, Ixworth MS, Orwell High, Roman Hill MS. Resolved at Sandlings and Gt Cornard (not officially announced yet). Proceeding to selection at Eyke. Problems reported from Bungay High, Gislingham P, and Occold . The Survey (see Regional Report) is indicating many more hidden staffing reductions. Secretary to report verbally with latest returns.
  31. *Future of Gazeley Primary School: LEA has issued a consultation document on the future of Gazeley after OFSTED placed the school in "serious weaknesses" category. Head and one member of staff have apparently left and the school is running with temporary teaching staff. The LEA says it is not "recommending" closure, but the consultation paper does not hold out much hope of continuing as the school is now. They are also holding out "federation" as a lifeline. Consultation meetings are being held with staff and parents and the Secretary is in touch and attending meetings as appropriate. A meeting of staff wished to keep the school open, and the teaching staff saw some advantage in federation.
  32. dotChris Mole MP for Ipswich is asking for comments on the Labour Party's policy consultation document "The Best Education for All", open until October. Chris is now Vice-Chair of the PLP's Education and Skills Committee. It would be helpful if members could respond with pertinent points. Copies are available from Chris Mole at 33 Silent Street, IPSWICH, IP1 1TE,
  33. * Incident at Stradbroke High School: The Division has contacted members concerned and is providing support. Health and Safety implications are being investigated. Secretary is avoiding commenting to media while a court case is pending. There will no doubt be lessons to be learnt.
  34. Workload Agreement: Local Talks: The LEA has agreed to convene a negotiating body of the JNC teachers' organisations and UNISON to seek to get started on talks arising from the Workload Agreement. The NUT proposed including TGWU and GMB, but the LEA pointed out that these are not recognised by the LEA. Interesting.
  35. PRUs (1): The meeting re. salaries of Heads of Unit has been postponed to September because the two officers most closely involved will need time to be briefed. Gary Nethercott has arrived (
  36. Suffolk LEA Guidance on Visits and Exchanges has now been published as a Health & Safety Document. Issues already arising, including judgements re. CRB vetting of volunteers. There is now a whole new section on Risk Assessment, as recommended by the NUT's response to the draft.
  37. *Tax on Honoraria: Advice to Division Officers and Local Association Officers where honoraria are paid gross: The Union advises recipients of honoraria that, where tax is not deducted at source by the Association/Division, recipients are required to declare the honoraria as "other earnings" for income tax purposes. Each recipient is entitled to an allowance of £64 tax free, but should declare the remainder. There may also be potential for lay officers to claim some relief for use of home as an office. If you do not receive a tax return to fill in, you can notify the Inland Revenue of your current situation (including up-dating NUT subscriptions) by asking for a form P810 which is sent to you annually instead of a full tax return. [This is personal advice from the Secretary/Treasurer of Bury St Edmunds Association, pending further official guidance from HQ.
  38. Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership Survey was completed with thanks to Andrew Guite and a colleague at Gorseland. Returned to HQ. Copy available.
  39. dotReps' Briefing Course. Room 3 of the SSPDC has been booked for Thursday 5th June. Glenys Shepherd is able to attend. RO has been invited.
  40. Establishment of new PRUs: Gary Nethercott proudly announced progress, or prospective progress.
  41. Media contact: Secretary kept EADT informed over conference, with some good coverage. Also on federated schools, including SGR and Radio Suffolk. EADT editorial said "be wary of merger bid for schools" and quoted the NUT view. EADT interview re. Charles' Clarke's statement today re. using capital grant to avoid making teachers redundant. Secretary said this was clear proof that the Government had not provided enough money to keep schools running properly.
  42. SCC Paper CP03/6, entitled "The Management of School Balances" proposes to "top slice" (=steal) school reserves if more than 8% for Primary and 5% for Secondary.
  43. Severe Weather Procedure: The LEA is still refining its procedures and has had a meeting with Radio Suffolk. JNC teachers panel presented some suggestions. The LEA are abandoning the principle of reporting to your nearest school, if cannot get to your own. This needs putting in writing to all employees, in time for the next crisis.
  44. "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. Got forgotten at JNC?
    Industrial Injury: determination that an absence is due to industrial injury (non-physical) Lodged with JNC. Response awaited from LEA. AA still saying he can't get an answer from Occupational Health!
    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 to respond by 13th June.
    LEA Guidance to schools on Absence Policies With LEA: October JNC reported no progress.
    Allegations of Abuse: County Policy needs up-dating With LEA; It was agreed in JNC that a working party would advise on a new edition of the Allegations booklet based on the Joint NEOST-TO Guidance, Practice and Procedure 2002.
    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.
  45. Dates of JNC meetings:
    Teachers' Panel Full JNC
    Wed 17th September 2003 Wed 1st October 2003
    Wed 28th January 2004 Wed 11th February 2004
    Wed 28th April 2004 Wed 12th May 2004
    Wednesday 23rd June 2004 TUESDAY 6th July
  46. dotCourses and Conferences Reports. Very full report received from Graham White. Secretary wrote to Jerry Glazier just after conference expressing concern at Jerry's speech in the workload campaign motion where the Suffolk delegation believed that he had misrepresented the (successful) amendment calling for no-cover and class size action, where appropriate. Jerry has replied, somewhat unrepentant.
  47. dotStudent Recruitment: Christine Lloyd to report.
  48. dot Health & Safety: John Osborne to report.
    Section E: Local Associations, etc
  49. *From Andrew Guite: Copy received of the summary of Andrew's Research Project into Teacher workload :"Getting a life". Copies have been distributed widely amongst LEA officers and JNC members. HQ has distributed it to Regional Offices and it is archived. Is there anything that Suffolk Division might do with this document? Workload talks?

Date of next meeting: June 26th 2003, Local Learning Centre, Stowmarket

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