Notes for Division Meeting: October 16th 2003

Previous Meeting's notes: (June 26th 2003)

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

October 16th 2003 Venue: Room 3 South Suffolk PDC, IPSWICH

Apologies already recorded: For EC / Both: Peter Byatt, Glenys Shepherd; Secretary will be late for EC (parents' evening) For Council: Sharon Cozens, Ray Frowd.

*=Items for Executive Committee

dot=Items for Division Council

Section A: National with National Executive Report

  1. dot Reportfrom Glenys Shepherd.
  2. The School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 2003 and Guidance has been published and is on www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/payandperformance/pay/strb2003/
  3. Protecting Your Prefessionalism:Guidance to NUT Members on the Government's Proposed Changes to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document and Regulations.
  4. Executive News 101
  5. Executive News 100
  6. Executive News No 99
  8. NUT News 27: Who will teach your child today?
  9. NUT News 26: World Teachers' Day
  10. NUT News 25: Who's teaching your children today?
  11. NUT NEWS 21: Just when you thought it couldn't get worse
  12. NUT News 22: Classes of 80
  13. NUT News 23: The Ice Age.
  14. NUT News 24: Just Say No!
  15. NUT News 14, re-circulated?: Bad news and good advice from Mr Blair¹s adviser
  16. Who will teach your child today? In the Radclyffe School, Oldham, 'Learning Managers' are to be used instead of qualified supply teachers to cover for absent teachers for periods of up to 10 days. For longer absences qualified supply teachers are employed. The NUT and its members in Radclyffe School believe that your child is entitled to be taught by qualified teachers every day. That's why NUT members at Radclyffe School have decided not to set or mark work that is undertaken when classes are taken by learning managers. They will set and mark work where qualified teachers are employed. If Radclyffe School is allowed to use 'learning managers' to substitute for qualified teachers, other schools will follow. As a parent of a pupil at Radclyffe School or any school in Oldham, ask "Who will teach my child today?" If it's not a qualified teacher in the classroom with your child, tell the headteacher and the Chair of Governors, "I want my child taught today and every school day by qualified teachers, not 'learning managers' or other substitutes."
  17. Commenting on the Secondary schools staffing survey released today, Doug McAvoy, said: "This survey hides more than it reveals. It is a classic example of spin concealing the facts. All the evidence is that teacher shortages continue particularly in the core subjects of Maths, Science and Foreign Languages. Headteachers are still having to adopt coping strategies to provide a full curriculum. The message behind this survey is that the Government is still failing to tackle the root causes of teacher shortage. ³In these circumstances it is a tribute to teachers and headteachers that there remains in secondary schools such high quality work and dedication."
  18. Commenting on the Government's package of reforms on pupil behaviour, Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary, said: "Unacceptable pupil behaviour is often the difference between teachers staying or leaving the profession and children learning or switching off. The £75m funding for local education authorities is a welcome recognition of this fact. Prescription on how to use this money would be a mistake. The last thing teachers need is extra workload arising from this initiative. Teachers` professional judgement should determine what is effective in ensuring pupil discipline. The Government must also ask itself how its initiative will fit with the budget crisis facing thousands of schools round the country. The crisis means it will be difficult for schools to release teachers for this training and to take on additional responsibilities. Any package on behaviour management must ensure that each education authority makes available to schools a wide range of support including special schools and withdrawal units. If a school can no longer cope with a particular pupil, there must be somewhere for that pupil to go. There also needs to be means of encouraging parents to accept responsibility for their children's behaviour. Parents must work with schools but many need help in doing so."
  19. Commenting on Education Secretary Charles Clarke¹s statement on future funding of education, Doug McAvoy, General Secretary of the NUT, said: "This is a political fudge while our schools face teacher redundancies. The problem is our schools are short of funds. Because the Education Secretary refuses to remedy his funding mistakes, he continues to seek scapegoats whether headteachers or local education authorities. In January the Education Secretary said schools would have an additional £1.1 billion. That has now become £250 million. Charles Clarke should explain where the missing £850 million has gone but he refuses to do so. The shortfall of £850 million has nothing to do with transparency. It is all to do with the Education Secretary¹s incompetence and the inadequacy of the funding. The mechanism used makes no difference if the money is inadequate. Transparency will not provide schools with the £850 million the Government has lost. Mr Clarke should accept the Treasury¹s invitation to use the £846 million left unspent last year. He has advised schools to use their reserves. He should follow his own advice and use his own."
  20. Commenting on Mike Tomlinson¹s report on examination reform, Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary, said: "Examination reform is a high risk business. It can go badly wrong as the past has shown. The fact remains that young people face a battery of examinations and tests. That must be reformed. The principles Mike Tomlinson has outlined are positive but the last thing young people and teachers need is imposed, under-financed and rushed change. Mike Tomlinson is capable of achieving consensus on his proposals if he has the financial backing of Government and the understanding that you cannot have instant change. The Government must learn from history. The debacle which ensued when the previous Government introduced the new GCSE exam must not be repeated. Pilots must be used to inform change. A wholesale move to a new exam must not be imposed before even the books and technology are available to meet the new specifications. There are six principles which must be adhered to. There must be: * Agreement with the teaching profession that the new qualification is the right one. * Proper, thorough piloting so that glitches can be ironed out. * Appropriate funding. * Proper training in the new exam for teachers. * Existing syllabuses must not be discarded wholesale. There may be whole tranches which would require no adaptation for a new exam. * A minimum 10 year lead in period for any new qualification."
  21. 8 September 2003 Teachers welcome Children¹s commissioner Commenting on the Government¹s Green Paper on child protection published today, 8 September, Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "The Green Paper responds to a tragedy that must never happen again. The agencies must work together to ensure that no child ever suffers again as Victoria Climbie did. The Children's Commissioner can help focus services to support the most vulnerable. In education what is essential is that roles are not blurred. It is the responsibility of social workers to follow up potential cases of abuse. Teachers are responsible for children¹s learning but the teacher may spot a potential case of abuse because a child's approach to school alters. That is when a range of other services must swing into action. But all agencies must work together and exchange information. The Government must remember that teachers are already over-burdened. It needs to make sure there are adequate staff and investment to deliver the change and ensure the potential benefits from the Green Paper are achieved."
  22. Commenting on the teacher number figures release today by the DfES, Doug McAvoy, said: "The Government¹s figures are distorted. They must be viewed with a very large pinch of salt. Independent analysis* has found recently that of the Government¹s claimed 20,000 increase since 1997 over 8,500 are in fact unqualified staff. The question must be, how many of last year¹s increase are also unqualified? It appears that just under 3,000 of the 4,300 increase are either unqualified teachers or overseas teachers some of whom have qualifications which have yet to be recognised in this country. I am deeply concerned by the implication that the Government has reached the limit of its ambition for increases in teacher numbers. Schools will not be celebrating if that is the case. I am happy to welcome the fall in vacancies but shortages still remain. What has to be asked is whether this fall is an effect of a slowing economy rather than the resolution of the underlying problem of teacher retention. I most certainly do not celebrate the reported drop in supply teacher numbers. As qualified teachers they do a good job in difficult circumstances. Their unique work needs proper backup and support not the threat of redundancy."
    Circulars from HQ, etc:
  23. 03-151-COS - SCHOOLS CAPITAL FUNDING: BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
  24. 03-150-O&A - NATIONAL OFFICERS ELECTIONS : 2004-2006
  25. *03-149-EEO - UNION LEARNING FUND CONFERENCE - MONDAY 19 JANUARY 2004
  26. 03-147-M&C - EVALUATION OF THE CAMPAIGN TO RECRUIT NEW TEACHERS 2003
  27. 03-146-O&A - ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2004 HARROGATE: FRIDAY, 9 APRIL TO TUESDAY, 13 APRIL Conf. diary + motions pro forma. Deadline for receipt of motions, November 15th.
  28. 03-145-CCU - LABOUR RESEARCH DEPARTMENT AFFILIATION: SPECIAL OFFER
  29. dot03-144-M&C - CHARTER FOR INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING (Joint NUT and NAS booklet) availaible on www.teachers.org.uk/resources/pdf/ITTcharter03.pdf
  30. 03-143-M&C - NEW MEMBERS' NEWSLETTER
  31. dot03-142-SUP - PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION AGE
    The following five 'guarantees' were given in a statement from David Miliband that appeared in an article in the Times Educational Supplement on Friday, 18th July:
    If you are aged 50 or over your pension benefits WILL NOT be affected by the proposed changes - GUARANTEED.
    October 2003 Pension benefits relating to your past and present service (until the proposed changes are put into practice) will not be affected by the higher pension age - GUARANTEED.
    You WILL still be able to retire at, before or after 60 as you can now - GUARANTEED.
    Your Union WILL BE fully consulted before any changes are made - GUARANTEED.
    We WILL examine the scope for introducing improved benefits and flexibilities - GUARANTEED."
  32. 03-141-H&S - HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISERS' BULLETIN NO. 69: available on National website. ACAS guidance on bullying and harassment; European Week for H&S at work 2003; HSE Stress Management Standards (demands, control, support, relationships, roles, change); maximum working temperatures; LRD Booklet: Health and Safety Law 2003;Accident Books' Proposed legislation for corporate killing;
  33. 03-140-EEO - NUT ADVICE ON RACISM AND ANTI-SEMITISM
  34. 03-139-EEO - NUT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE AQA EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMITTEE
  35. 03-138-EEO - AIMING HIGH: THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MINORITY ETHNIC PUPILS CONSULTATION SUMMARY
  36. 03-137-EEO - NUT RESPONSE TO THE DFES CONSULTATION DOCUMENT: AIMING HIGH: RAISING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MINORITY ETHNIC PUPILS: forwarded to Derek Merrill.
  37. 03-136-EEO - NUT CPD PROGRAMME 2003/04
  38. *03-135-EEO - NUT CONFERENCE ON 14-19 EDUCATION: FRIDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2003, HQ.
  39. *03-134-EEO - 25 YEARS AFTER BLAIR PEACH - WHERE NEXT FOR ANTI-RACIST EDUCATION? Sat 14th Feb. COnference at HQ.
  40. 03-133-EEO - PRIDE IN EDUCATION LGBT CONFERENCE 2003
  41. *03-132-CCU - CONFERENCE ON SOUTH AFRICA: 24-26 OCTOBER 2003
  42. 03-131-CCU - REMINDER: EI SOLIDARITY APPEAL FOR CHILDREN OF IRAQ
  43. 03-130-EEO - NEW REGULATIONS FOR SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES
  44. 03-129-EEO - NATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE Report
  45. 03-128-EEO - KEY STAGE 1 ASSESSMENT TRIAL 2004
  46. 03-127-EEO - NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS' SCHOOL BUDGETS STUDY: Summary of results of PriceCooperWaterhouse survey of school costs and likely income 2003-2006, commissioned by the NUT. Findings: Government funding will not meet school needs over next three years.
  47. 03-126 -SALS - NUT SUBMISSIONS TO THE SCHOOL TEACHERS' REVIEW BODY.
  48. 03-125-CCU- SCHOOL WORKFORCE AGREEMENT - STRATEGY PAPER: . At a special meeting held on Friday, the Executive agreed a strategy paper on the School Workforce Agreement. This strategy paper is attached, together with extracts from the STPCD and guidance and The Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) Regulations 2003. The resolution on Excessive Workload, agreed by Conference, this year is relevant and a copy is attached for ease of reference.
  49. 03-123-M&C - SPECIAL OFFER - NUT DISPLAY CATALOGUE
  50. 03-122-EEO - NUT SURVEY ON LOCAL EQUALITY "SECTIONS": Kath More to action.
  51. dot03-121-EEO - GENERAL TEACHING COUNCIL(ENGLAND) ELECTIONS 2004
  52. 03-120-M&C - SOULBURY-PAID MEMBERS: RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN
  53. *03-119-SALS - MODEL SCHOOL SALARY POLICY: SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES: Advice to LAs and Division: School Reps are not expected to deal with these themselves but to seek support from Division.
  54. 03-118-E&EO - TUC PUBLICATION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: available from TUC.
  55. 03-117-EEO - NUT/TES SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: "RESPECT: TEACHING ABOUT CULTURAL DIVERSITY"
  56. 03-116-EEO - INFORMATION ON THE LENGTH OF SECTION 10 SCHOOL INSPECTIONS
  57. 03-115-EEO - RACE DISCRIMINATION ACT 1976 (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2003: SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE TO DIVISIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
  58. 03-114-M&C - REMINDER - NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME : AUTUMN TERM 2003
  59. *03-113-EEO - MEETING OF DIVISION SECRETARIES : THURSDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2003: Graham White attending.
  60. 03-112-EEO - SCHOOL WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: THE SCHOOL TEACHERS' PAY AND CONDITIONS DOCUMENT 2003 AND REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 133 OF THE EDUCATION ACT 2002 - THE ROLE OF LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITIES: GUIDANCE TO DIVISIONS (2)
  61. 03-110-H&S - CONTROL OF ASBESTOS AT WORK REGULATIONS 2002: NUT GUIDANCE re a new duty to manage the risk from asbestos in buildings has been added to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002(CAW).
  62. 03-111-M&C - TELEPHONE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN 2003
  63. 03-109-E&EO - PRIDE IN EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2003
  64. 03-108-CCU - AFFILIATION TO THE NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
  65. 03-107-M&C - (ATTACHMENT) LOCAL TRAINING : EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
  66. 03-106-CCU - UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE-21 SEPTEMBER
  67. 03-105-E&EO - THE SCHOOL WORKFORCE AGREEMENT : CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL TEACHERS' PAY AND CONDITIONS DOCUMENT AND TO REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 133 OF THE EDUCATION ACT 2002 - THE ROLE OF LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITIES - GUIDANCE TO DIVISIONS
  68. 03-104-M&C - NATIONAL TRAINING FOR LOCAL OFFICERS: SEPTEMBER 2003 - JULY 2004
  69. 03-103-L&PS - RACE DISCRIMINATION ACT 1976 (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2003
  70. 03-102-CCU - THE INSTITUTE OF EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS: SUBSCRIPTION
  71. 03-101-CCU - WINSTON CHURCHILL TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIPS - THE YEAR 2004 CHANCE OF A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITIES: See LA Secretaries.
  72. 03-100-E&EO - EDUCATION REVIEW
  73. 03-099-E&EO - new CAREER ENTRY AND DEVELOPMENT PROFILE: Briefing paper.
  74. dot03-098-CCU - THE EDUCATION (SPECIFIED WORK AND REGISTRATION) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2003
    These Regulations allow head teachers to direct unqualified staff to undertake the work of a teacher as specified by Regulation 6. That is:
    (a) planning and preparing lessons and courses for pupils;
    (b) delivering lessons to pupils;
    (c) assessing the development, progress and attainment of pupils; and
    (d) reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.
    The Regulations have been amended following the statutory consultation. They now allow a person without a formal UK teacher qualification - that is an instructor, overseas trained teacher, a teacher trainee who has yet to pass the skills tests, a trainee on a graduate or registered teacher programme - to be responsible for the direction and supervision of student teachers in schools. This means that an unqualified person's work as a teacher could be supervised by someone without qualified teacher status. A copy of the Regulations is available at http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031663.htm
  75. 03-097-O&A - EXECUTIVE BY-ELECTION: DISTRICT 18: Robert Wilkinson of the Wokingham & District Association was elected unopposed.
  76. dot03-095-O&A - ELECTIONS FOR GENERAL SECRETARY AND DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY: 2004-2009
  77. 03-094-COS - Maternity Matters (49 page update to booklet available on national website): NUT Guidance for Members on Maternity and Parental Rights: "The NUT is continuing to pursue negotiations at national level with the national employers in order to secure the integration of the new and improved statutory rights into the Burgundy Book national agreement scheme together with further improvements. The national employers have, however, resisted the unions' claim for further improvements to the teachers' maternity scheme in particular and negotiations are now continuing with the assistance of ACAS. "
  78. 03-093-SALS-JNCTRE SETTLEMENT - 2003 (Residential Special Schools).
  79. 03-092-E&EO - SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLANS - 2003/04 - 2007/08
  80. 03-091-O&A - UNION DEMOCRACY WORKING PARTY (closing date for nominations was 20th Sept.)
  81. 03-090-M&C - UNION DIARIES 2003-2004
  82. *03-089-COS - CAR MILEAGE ALLOWANCES 2003/04. Essential use rate for 1000-1199cc is 31.2p which is used by Division and Suffolk LEA for mileage reimbursement "Teachers' rate". The bicycle rate has been raised to 20p per mile.
  83. 03-088-E&EO - ADVICE ON USING COMMERCIAL MATERIALS IN SCHOOLS
  84. 03-087-M&C - YOUR GROWING UNION: CAMPAIGN TO RECRUIT NEW TEACHERS
  85. 03-086-E&EO - DfES CONSULTATION 'AIMING HIGH' : RAISING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MINORITY PUPILS: forwarded to Derek Merrill for action.
  86. *03-085-E&EO - NUT CONFERENCE ON 14-19 EDUCATION: FRIDAY, 14 NOVEMBER: Secretary would like to attend thi in a personal capacity (£30 course fee).
  87. 03-084-CCU - EI SOLIDARITY APPEAL FOR THE CHILDREN OF IRAQ
  88. 03-083-CCU - NUT WALTER HINES PAGE SCHOLARSHIP 2004/2005 (See LA Secretary for details)
  89. *03-082-M&C - UNION LEARNING FUND (ULF) PROJECT: DEVELOPING A NETWORK OF LEARNING REPRESENTATIVES 2003/04: Forwarded to Tina Webber. Includes list of courses.
  90. Anti-SATs campaigning material from Jon Berry.
  91. From CASE: Parents and Schools, No 126, Sept 2003.
  92. Show Racism the Red Card: Annual Review 2003
  93. Professional Unity 2000: AGM at NATFHE HQ, 18th October.
  94. From Hank Roberts in a personal capacity: This Insanity Must Stop: Disunity is Playing Into the Government's Hands.
  95. *Request for renewal of subscription to CASE (£20), forwarded to Treasurer
  96. From Disability Rights Commission: (1) A Guide for Schools and (2) Issue 3 of Changing Times, Feb 2003.
    Section B: Regional: John Dixon/Hilary Bucky to Report
    Section C: Division / Executive Committee:
  97. Division Secretary, Martin Goold, to report, including items from the preceding Executive Committee meeting.
  98. dotCounty Secretaries met with Officers in September to discuss the Staffing Reductions and Redundancies situation and to seek improvements in redundancy handling, particularly in the N Area. Question still arise re. the procedure for "representations". Suffolk LEA is still uncertain as to the effect of the financial cuts on staffing in schools. They have still not surveyed schools re. staffing figures and will wait for Form 7 in January. Section 188 situations still unresolved: Coupals (a maternity leave situation causing delay), Elvedent (new head and governors apparently reconsidering). Westbourne: selection took place in September (not an NUT member).
  99. Summer Briefing, July 2003, Sent to LA Secs and posted on website, July 8-9th. Topics: Those 24 tasks; No More SATs, Retirement Age;Threshold Round 4.
  100. FAX-Merge to school reps: They said it would not happen - It has now!: announcing the new regulations to allow anyone to teach classes, on timetable as well as to cover, and to supervise student teachers. This provoked the wrath of Tim Beech of the NASUWT who circulated all NASUWT Reps denouncing "misleading" information from the NUT. Of course, the information we circulated was totally correct. Tim Beech wanted the NUT to point out that unqualified teachers could only take charge of a class if they were deemed to be "assisting a qualified teacher". What's the difference??
  101. "Forbidden tasks": Secretary has issued advice to members concerned that their job specification includes "administrative" tasks, such as for Examinations Officer, Teacher i/c Work Experience, or Co-ordinators of InSeT, etc. The advice is being reproduced in the FAQs section of the website (new). Basically, the advice is that teachers should take on the professional, pedagogic aspects of the task (advising subject coordinators, pupils, organising professional responses, etc., while handing over the purely clerical and adminsitrative duties to non-teaching colleagues.
  102. dot"Workforce Reform": Suffolk UNISON is telling its members simply to carry on doing their jobs as they always have done, in the absence so far of any agreement on additional hours or grading review and in the absence of any funding for these.
  103. dotTwo meetings of the Joint Union - LEA working party on workforce reform have taken place. Secretary has sought to preserve professionalism re. cover, etc., and to get the LEA to survey schools re. readiness to hand the 24 tasks to non-teaching staff. Considerable support for NUT views, particularly from UNISON. There is confusion as to whether there will be any money for training - it is likely that this will only be for training at LEA / coordinator level. Suffolk and Norfolk appointed joint primary and secondary "facilitators" (headteachers) to help with reform agenda.
  104. ASC Roadshow: Secretary attended the ASC Roadshow on July 15th at the WSPDC. Much concern expressed at the planned disappearance of ASCs, which was already happening, the lack of EBD support and problems of inclusion without proper support and finance.
  105. Secretary has written to LEA re. new use of non-LEA premises for home tutors and new arrangements for home tutors to teach in small groups. NUT is concerned that ad hoc psuedo Units are being established, without proper H&S assessments, support, resourcing, etc.
  106. Joint TO Meeting with LEA officers on SEN matters: This was extremely helpful and positive. It may be that there is a willingness to change the direction of SCC SEN policy, and in particular re. EBD and ASCs.
  107. The latest PRU recruitment advertisement (for Brandon First Base) are at MPS+2.
  108. Secretary has forwarded to new LEA officers for SEN copies of correspondence with Francis James re. Secondary Support (Progress) Centres which appear to have consumed funding with little or no result.
  109. dotThe new edition of the Schools Personnel Manual (SCC) omits any reference to "Personal and Private Leave". Secretary wrote to AA on July 17th asking for the "custom and practice" acquired condition of service to be re-instated in the guidance to schools, particularly for new headteachers. In fact, much of the discretionary, special leave advice is now deleted from LEA guidance.
  110. The EMAG team has been re-named 'The Minority Ethnic and Traveller Achievement Team' and Derek Merril has become the Advisory Head for Race Equality and Achievement.
  111. dotObjection to Draft School Organisation Plan: The Teachers' Panel of the JNC accepted the NUT's proposal for a Joint Objection pointing out the inadequate sections of SEN and, particularly, EBD. No mention is made in the draft of the closure of ASCs or of alternative provision. The NUT is particularly concerned to note that some £600,000 of special DfES grant designed to provide additional EDB places on-site in 2000-2002 has produced no permanent places.
  112. dotPrimary Educational Provision in Suffolk - Meeting New Challenges: Consultation Paper. Responses to John Sculpher by October 31st. Secretary prepared a preliminary response for the June Division Council Meeting. This has now been up-dated for the NUT's Response and will require acceptance or amending at this meeting. LEA is now less concerned about "federating" schools and acknoweldge the problems, but are anxious to address so-called "surplus places" by looking at using space in schools for "extended schools", bringing in social services, medical services, etc. for the whole community, not just children. The Secretary's up-dated response refers to consequences re. overall responsibility for premises, and the lack of coordination where a building has occupants from more than one authority, more than one management structure, and more than one line of responsibility for such matters as Health and Safety, security, etc. Our original caveats about having super heads and mini heads in a federated school situation, and the effect on village communities, have been preserved.
  113. dotThe Teachers' Panel of the JNC requested the LEA to reconsider allowing a JNC representative to serve on the Schools Forum. Instead of deciding themselves, they asked the Schools Forum, with no recommednation. Schools Forum refused, with only one vote for. Suffolk appears to be the only E Region LEA to do this. There is teacher orgamisation represention on schools forums in Cambs, Norfolk, Essex, Beds, Bucks, Southern and Thurrock. Secretary is checking re. Herts, Luton and Peterborough.
  114. Teacher Recruitment - April 2003 Report to the Learning for Life OSC - July 2003 from J Sculpher: The overall teacher recruitment position in Suffolk is substantially improved compared twelve months ago. There are significantly fewer vacancies this term than in the summer term 2002 and schools have had fewer difficulties in recruiting teaching staff for September. In many cases schools have reported good fields of applicants.
    Vacancy Survey - April 2003 and 3 Sept 2003
    Schools Sept 2003 April 2003 April 2002
    Upper/High 18.5 29 100
    Middle 12 11 37
    Primary 20 26 85
    Special 0 1 13
    Totals 50.5 67 235
    The pattern of middle and upper/high school vacancies has remained very similar to previous terms, with significant numbers of April vacancies in English (8), maths (7), science (6), modern foreign languages (4) and technology (4). There was again no clear pattern in the primary vacancies. Locally Trained Teachers: There is increasing evidence that the local training of teachers through SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) and GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme) has been very successful in attracting applicants who are already committed to living and working in Suffolk. The number of students qualifying through these courses (some 150 this year) now makes a significant contribution to the recruitment needs of Suffolk schools. This year some SCITT students did not get a teaching job for September. This may explain why the number of unqualified staff is "not increasing" accourding to J Sc,
  115. dotFoundation Stage Training: Secretary followed up query from members re. SAPU course advertised to Suffolk Schools which claimed that teachers of Foundation Year would require a qualification specific to early years, in order to be able to continue teaching those pupils. Enquiries of DfES and HQ resulted in statement that such course were "desirable" but not "expected" or "required".
  116. Stress/harassment and Industrial Injury: In July, Teachers Panel accepted NUT proposal to put to LEA at the JNC: "The Teachers' panel welcome the approach set out in Alan Aldred's letter to Martin Goold dated 3rd July 2003. We ask that, in cases where an industrial cause is attributed by the employee, referral to Occupational Health should be made as soon as practicable after the start of the absence. We also suggest that, particularly in cases where the school or employer's version of events may differ from that of the employee, the "burden of proof" should be same as already exists for cases of infectious diseases (Section 10.1 of the Burgundy Book Sick Pay Arrangements). We propose that "the approved medical practitioner" be asked to "attest that there is evidence to show a reasonable probability than an absence has arisen out of and in the course of the teacher's employment". Was to be responded to on September 9th, but the LEA had lost the wording! AA has now replied accepting much of our proposal, but having difficulty in situations "where the absence is due to a personal reaction to difficult events in an employee's working life, or difficulties with relationships which the majority of people cope with but which trigger depression in a few." A meeting is supposed to be arrange for Secretary to try to find a way forward with AA on this.
  117. dot"Progress" on outstanding issues:
    Review of operation of the General Complaints Procedure No progress at JNC. Secretary to meet with Tom Scherb on 20th October to seek improvements to the procedure used in Suffolk.
    Industrial Injury: determination that an absence is due to industrial injury (non-physical) LEA accepted the proposal in part, but further talks are now arranged by Secretary with AA.
    Assaults on staff: Joint LEA and Police guidance (draft) Final version of "Dealing with abuse, threats and violence towards school staff" was tabled at JNC and is to be distributed to schools.
    LEA Guidance to schools on Absence Policies October JNC reported no progress. Teachers' Panel accepted NUT proposals on July 9th. Response from LEA still awaited.
    Allegations of Abuse: County Policy needs up-dating New working document has been produced.
    SEN allowances for PRUs Awaiting developments re. Heads of Unit. New approach from LEA possible.
    Salaries of Heads of PRU and Second in Unit Promised meeting with LEA due for November 5th,
    Parental/adoptive leave, etc Still no information on procedures, payments and budgetary responsibilities, from LEA.
  118. *Tina Webber of Ipswich is interested in becoming the Division's Learning Representative.
  119. Janet Crook has become Janet Bell (County Adviser for Professional Development, SSDPC and named contact for NQTs in Suffolk)
  120. *Facilities: time allocated by 17th September was 179 days. 21 days remaining.
  121. dotMembership Meeting, Sidegate Primary Schol, July 3rd. Decisions made:
    1: A proposal from the Secretary on the principle of raising the common fee but to give smaller and less-well endowed Associations a rebate, was not accepted.
    2: It was agreed to keep the common local association fee for 2004 at the same rate (£11.00 per full member)
    3: It was agreed to recommend to the Division Council to keep the affiliation to Division for 2004 at the same rate (£4.10 per full member).
    4: It was agreed to keep the Division mileage rate at 31.6 pence per mile, even though the NJC rates had fallen very slightly
    5: It was agreed to add a bicycle mileage rate for travel expenses, in line with NJC rates, of 20p per mile.
    6: Plans were made and confirmed for the NQT/NA campaigns. Secretaries were asked to order Suffolk NQT leaflets from Ray Frowd. Bury's NQT function is on Sept 9th. Subdury will repeat its "pyramid" functions around 3-4 Upper/High schools; Ipswich will also be holding a SATs campaign meeting on 17th September. The Secretary would enquire about GTTS lists. It was agreed that more recruitment literature should go out just after half term in the summer term, in future. LA Secretaries were asked to check that everything was in place for the receipt of NQ lists. Secretary would seek information on Newly Attached lists.
    Division Council will be asked to ratify.
  122. Future Venues:
    October 16th 2003 SSPDC Booked
    Novermber 12th 2003 Neither Ipswich TC nor Stowmarket LLC available
    Feburary 5th 2003 Ipswich TC and Stowmarket LLC not available.
    *Correction: The date of the 2004 Membership Meeting is Thursday 1st July 2004, not as previously indicated in the plan of work. Please amend diaries (Local Association Treasurers, Secretaries, Membership Secretaries, and Division Officers).
  123. * EC will need to review the rule concerning nominations for Division Officer Posts: the deadline was fixed at October 1st. at a time when there was always a September meeting of the Division Council.
  124. dotCourses and Conferences Report from Paul Widdowson on Privatisation Briefing at HH, July 14th.
  125. dotStudent Recruitment:
  126. dot Health & Safety: Nick Wilding attended the teachers' Panle meeting on Oct 1st. There are moves afoot to review the H&S committee structure and to ensure that the LEA is fulfilling its statutory obligations. (since abandoning the old committee structure, the lines or responsibility are confused and possibly not continuous.) JNC has raised the need for separate talks re. education H&S, and possibly a separate forum. JNC has requested that a H&S Report is made at each JNC meeting.
    Section E: Local Associations, etc
  127. Ipswich Association held a Public Meeting "Why teachers want to boycott SATs" at Ipswich Town Hall on Wed 17th Sept. They are also collecting signatures against the SATs from parents and teachers, both in town and at the Burston rally.
  128. Although there was no Suffolk Division stall at Burston this year, the Secretary did carry the Bury St Edmunds NUT Banner around the village to "wave the flag". Cambridge NUT also represent. Ipswich NUT had a stall against the SATs.

Date of next meeting: November 27th 2003

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