CONFIDENTIAL (Hush Hush...!)

NUT News 15

Education Minister, David Miliband, has asked that the Government's most recent paper affecting the contracts of teachers should be treated as confidential. At the meeting to consider the Government's paper, only the NUT said:

• it would not commit to the principles of the Government's form process without a clear indication of their impact on teachers' workload;
• it would not work to smooth the way for local innovation, which would worsen teachers' conditions;
• it would not trade increased class sizes or extended lessons; and
• it would not sign up to performance management as a means of limiting teachers' pay progression.

No secret

The NUT's policies are not secret or confidential:

• Overall limit to working hours;
• Maximum limit on teaching time;
• Guaranteed times for marking and preparation;
• Limits on cover with compensatory time off for cover beyond those limits;
• Increased administrative support for teachers;
• Definition of tasks not routinely to be expected of teachers;
• Removal of the open-ended requirement in the contract;
• Limits to class size for all age groups;
• No increase in the working year; and
• Teachers to teach, support staff to support.

General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, said: "The Government is keen on speedy reform except when it means improving teachers' conditions and contracts. Confidential talks on principles must lead soon to public commitment to progress on reducing workload."

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