Nutshells #53 Sept 05

R D ER H A TR Y M U ST R Y— TO R TY H IS VE

O

TLRs and Restructuring— It’ll All Be Over By Christmas!

AK EP M

The fifty-third NUT Newsletter for Plymouth Teachers September 2005

The challenge to re-structure all state schools by December will dominate your after-school meetings this term. Every headteacher has a statutory duty to consult with union reps and staff members so their comments on the proposals can be used to inform changes and modifications. This will ensure fairness and prevent colleagues from losing pay under the new Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments (TLR) regime. Rather than just manage the disappointment and anger of those Plymouth teachers currently receiving Management Allowances (MAs) who may miss out on the award of a TLR, the NUT will actively support current and newly joining members to maintain their status in new school-management structures.

“It’ll all end in tiers…”

All the teacher unions will be joining in the you know when your meetings are taking place? consultation exercises that will later involve Reps should seek advice from the NUT where school governors. Early in the term, meetings specific concerns are raised by members and will be arranged for when individuals Man. Allowances New TLR Allowance Ranges union groups to seem to be “at MA1 £ 1,638 TLR2 from £ 2,250 discuss the new MA2 £ 3,312 to £ 5,500 risk” from loss of structure and how MA3 £ 5,688 TLR 1 from £ 6,500 pay or status. the TLRs will be MA4 £ 7,833 to £ 11,000 Just one more allocated for point—see page MA5 £ 10,572 Schools can choose pay points specific tasks in 4 to read a very within these ranges, provided that their schools. Do Frozen since April 2003 they are separated by at least £1,500 important clause

our aim—one union for all teachers Now even more essential that you join the NUT Call the Joining Hotline 0845 300 1669 “if you ask them—they will join” Professional Unity Makes Sense !

T O L P U D D L E 2 0 0 5

NUT marquee staff and keynote speaker Tony Benn Tolpuddle 2005—for security reasons I’m unable to say exactly where I went on my annual vacation, but on one day in July I drove over to Tolpuddle in Dorset where, in 1834, agricultural workers organised together in an attempt to protect their livelihood. They were convicted and transported to New South Wales and Van Dieman’s land. The outrage this provoked resulted in free pardons and their return to England—an historic episode in the struggle for trade unionists’ rights. By standing together and working co-operatively with other trade unionists teachers will have a stronger voice. Only one union is actively seeking professional unity in the teaching profession... Tolpuddle photos by Vince Allen, David Smale and BBC South

NUT Black Teachers’ Conference

‘What About Us?’ Recruitment, Retention and Progression of Black Teachers Friday 14th to Sunday 16th October Nottingham Contact Martin: [email protected]

Plymouth Division: David Smale 01503 240527 President: Des Walsh 01752 567602 [email protected] Regional Office: 1 Lower Avenue Exeter 01392 258028 [email protected]

Clockwise from left—the NUT marquee, pole action by Vince Allen and Peter Sargent supporting the SW Region banner, the parade of union banners, Tony Benn, the head of the march, and NUT flags

Tony Benn said, “There are about five thousand people sitting in front of me — the same number of trade unionists murdered in Colombia over the last 10 years.”

NUT LGBT Teachers’ Conference 2005 A one day conference

open to all teachers with an interest in creating equality within schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teachers and students Changing Culture: Creating Safer Spaces and Making Homophobia Taboo in Schools Saturday 19th November 2005 NUT HQ, Hamilton House London. Contact Martin: [email protected] Always quote your membership number, a brief outline of your enquiry and contact details. If the matter is very urgent please contact

Regional Office

TLRs & PPA TLRs The Government's freezing of management allowances (MAs) was a pay cut. Now the introduction of Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments (TLRs) could bring further pay cuts to thousands of teachers. The NUT is monitoring the progress of the staffing reviews under way in Plymouth schools. It will support its members, balloting for action in individual schools if necessary, where: ♦ timetables for consultation and negotiation have not been agreed; ♦ the NUT at any level has been refused consultation on staffing reviews; ♦ unacceptable decisions have been made without consultation; ♦ proposals for new staffing structures have been adopted that vary widely from the existing structures, to the detriment of teachers; ♦ teachers with MAs are not offered TLRs that are at least equivalent; and ♦ teachers face reductions in pay. NUT school representatives should contact their local divisions if any of the above situations arise in their schools. PPA TIME This term sees the introduction of a guaranteed entitlement of teachers to 10% of the timetable as time to plan, prepare and assess (PPA). NUT members are advised that where, in rare circumstances, they are obliged to prepare/set work for planned absence (which does not include PPA time) that such work be provided on the basis that it is to be used by a qualified teacher. The NUT will support members where: ♦ PPA is not provided for teachers or is provided at less than the guaranteed proportion of timetable; or ♦ the arrangements to provide PPA use, in ways that are not acceptable, persons who are not qualified to teach

Speakers about Trade Unions available to schools in the South West Preparing young people for the challenges and opportunities of employment is increasingly important, especially at a time of rapid change in the world of work and the South West TUC has established panels of speakers to deliver talks to school children about rights at work and the importance of trade unionism. The “In2Schools” Team can talk to students of any age from Primary school children to College age young people around a variety of subject areas including Citizenship, PHSE and work experience. The team is comprised of young trade union activists from around the South West region from a range of unions and workplaces. To invite a speaker contact the TUC Regional Education Officer (REO) for the South West - Marie Hughes by telephone (0117 947 0521) or email [email protected]

A Better Way to Work – TUC resource pack for KS4+ The TUC also produces a resource pack for teachers called “A Better Way to Work” which is primarily aimed at school students studying at Key Stage 4 in schools, providing activities which help teachers to prepare students for work experience, citizenship and other work-related activities. The pack is divided into five sections which deal with: The role of trade unions, Rights and responsibilities, Health and Safety, Equal opportunities and The future of work. “A Better Way to Work” encourages an active and experiential approach to teaching and learning. Pupils are given tasks which involve them working in groups, finding things out for themselves, taking on roles, interviewing people at workplaces and forming their own opinions. The “In2Schools” Team can be used as an additional resource when running sessions from “A Better Way to Work.” A copy of the pack is available FREE for each secondary school or college, although a contribution of £7.00 is charged to cover postage and packing. To order a copy, write to EDS, Education House, Castle Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3RL

What advice does the education secretary have for Plymouth teachers this month?

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♦ ♦ ♦

NUT comments on summer exam results Increased grades are ♦ due to hard work and good teaching and those denigrating them are not being fair to students and teachers. The achievements of students and teachers are to be praised ! The Tomlinson proposals should be re-considered There should be an investigation into the falling numbers taking languages

Paragraph 33

Tony Benn said, “Don’t just ask why poor countries are poor, ask how rich countries became rich…”

It’s still 30 000 deaths every day caused by needless poverty

The RIG Guidance on moving from MAs to TLRs highlights the issue of teachers taking on additional teaching and learning tasks and not being paid for them in the past and how this should be viewed post-Dec 2005. In full it states: 33. In reality schools, other than very small schools, are likely to seek to develop a [school] structure which has a range of posts. In devising the structure, headteachers will need to take into account all previouslyheld responsibilities, paid or unpaid, and consider those for which there is a continuing need. A structure should not be based on the assumption that teachers who have previously had additional unremunerated responsibilities focused on teaching and learning will continue to carry them out. Read it again to make sure it says what we believe it says!

MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY DVD The NUT DVD produced by film director Richard Curtis was despatched to Divisions in June. This is now available to download from the NUT website. Free copies of this moving and dramatic recording may also be obtained on disc from [email protected]