Nutshells #64 Nov 06

6 20 0 ER N W IN R D A W A SH IP ER EM B M N A L A TI O N

THE 64th EDITION FOR ALL PLYMOUTH TEACHERS NOVEMBER 2006

A GOOD LOCAL SCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD

NUT BALLOT BEGINS

The NUT will ballot its in-service members from 20th November.

Reps and individual members will receive briefing notes and supportive information to explain our need to ballot to protect teachers from excessive workload and performance management. The so-called “workforce agreement” has NOT reduced our workload—indeed, some teachers have seen an increase in what they have to do! Only the NUT will take a stand against unnecessary bureaucracy that was supposed to be eliminated by the “social partner” unions in their “agreement” with the government. To take part you must be a member of the NUT—Europe's largest union for teachers and headteachers. Join today—don’t be left out.

ACADEMIES ARE FAILING—Official! They aren't value for money; two thirds have not increased the number of “good” GCSE passes; some have fewer “good” passes than the schools they replaced; the HT turnover is above average. We now ask if children in trust schools will fair any differently...

YES X

Schools have contacted us about the award of the NUT standards mark. To join in contact our President Martin Edmonds [see back page]

CLASSROOM DROP-INS MAY CAUSE MORE DROP-OUTS ! WITHOUT THE PROTECTION AFFORDED BY THE NUT BALLOT THERE WILL BE NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS YOU MAY SUFFER IN THE NAME OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

TO JOIN THE NUT CALL 0845 300 1669

A naked Sooty comments on Education Secretary Alan Johnson’s recent change of mind

What’s that Sooty? Pusillanimously caving in to the bishops? What can this mean?

BLACK TEACHERS INTO MANAGEMENT Friday 8th to Sunday 10th December 2006 The NUT is committed to ensuring that black teachers are properly represented in school management. If you are a black member of the NUT this is the course for you. • Develop skills in a supportive environment • Help with decisions on your career priorities • Reflect and plan ahead Further details from Linda Gilroy MP has been in correspondence with John Pugh concerning the 01392 258028 Education and Inspections Bill that’s now passed through both Houses of Parliament. She said that the Bill wasn’t about privatisation, but her arguments failed to mention the benefits business and charitable sponsors would gain and the profit that could be secured if land and buildings were sold off in the future. Would you want your school given away to an unaccountable organisation? John went on to say, “Thank you for the opportunity to get up to the lobby. It brought back memories of previous lobbies with Michael Foot and David Owen. Judith and I did enjoy the whole thing. I joined the Union on 21st April 1947.....next April I will have been a member for 60 years. If I live until I am 98 I will have been a member for half of the National Union’s existence! I will also have defeated the Local Authority by drawing my pension for longer than I paid in! Cheers, and keep fighting.” How long have you been a member? Can you beat John’s record? Let us know. John and Judith Pugh

Parents expect their children to be taught while they are at school by qualified teachers. Cover supervisers may only be used when no actual teaching takes place [statement from the DfES & RIG Guidance]. We know that the government has advised HTs and governors that schools can allow TAs or any person to take whole classes. Parents are often not fully informed of the implications for their children when non-teachers take charge of the class. The NUT believes that TAs and other support staff should be paid properly for the professional work they do. That should be the priority rather than using them to replace teachers. So, If your school only uses qualified teachers to teach whole classes let us know so we can bestow the kite mark on your school in a public ceremony in the new year. Contact our President, Martin Edmonds today at : [email protected] Contact [email protected] with your questions A member asks, “In our school, when a teacher A member asks, “My HT says I won’t get UPS3 as I didn’t apply for it. Is this correct?” Answer: No—you are not required to apply for UPS2 or UPS3. There are no forms to fill in. It is an automatic process carried out by the HT. You should be informed in writing of the HT’s decision by 31st October. If this has not been done, contact your Division Secretary.

A member asks: “I am being paid an honorarium instead of an acting TLR. Is this OK?” Answer: No—all honoraria are unlawful. A retention payment equivalent to the TLR is the solution—contact your Division Secretary or Regional Office as a matter of urgency.

A member asks,

goes through the threshold, or rises to UPS2 or 3, “What will an NUT course cost my extra little jobs are given to us. Is this OK?” school?” Answer: No—the upper pay spine is just an The only cost to extension of the main pay spine and is for classroom your school is teachers. It has nothing whatsoever to do with arranging cover teaching and learning responsibilities as these have for you to attend. specific criteria [see STP&CD]. What does your NUT school and school’s pay policy say about these extra duties? If college the extra jobs you mention are T&L tasks, then your reps, including HT should use the TLR section of the pay policy to H&S reps, have determine the correct value of TLR that should be a statutory attached to the job description. Should these tasks be entitlement to more properly carried out by support staff? time off with pay, The solution is to refuse to contemplate any such during working extra tasks as you are not required to do them and hours, for training your HT is unable to force them upon you and your related to their role. colleagues.

The NUT...The Largest Teachers’ Organisation in Europe… Our Aim: Professional Unity