Northern Ireland Bulletin August 2011
2
The NASUWT Campaign continues to improve the conditions of service of teachers and school leaders. The Union’s industrial action, which continues into this new academic year, has afforded protection to members from the continuing pressure to increase workload. The NASUWT conducted recently a survey of all members to assess the current position on industrial action and workload. Many thanks to all those who responded. The results will be published shortly and will inform the next phase of the Union’s Campaign. August 2011 representatives BULLETIN Hillscourt Education Centre Rose Hill, Rednal Birmingham B45 8RS E-mail: [email protected] NASUWT Northern Ireland Ben Madigan House, Edgewater Office Park, Edgewater Road, Belfast BT3 9JQ E-mail: [email protected] the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland 11/08050 NASUWT The Teachers’ Union NORTHERN IRELAND The NASUWT continues to be at the forefront of the campaign to defend teachers’ and other public service workers’ pensions against the attacks being mounted by the Westminster Coalition Government. The first attacks have been against the teachers’ pension schemes in England and Wales, but it is clear that if these succeed, similar changes will be made to the pensions of teachers in Northern Ireland and Scotland. The NASUWT has been working with other unions in defence of the pension schemes and has been regularly updating members through the NASUWT Pensions Latest bulletins, which can be accessed on the Union’s website at www.nasuwt.org.uk/Pensions. The current position on the schemes for England and Wales is that, without prejudice, exploratory sector scheme discussions have been agreed, which are due to start shortly. The NASUWT and other unions have made clear in a letter to the Westminster Education Secretary that participation in these discussions does not mean any acceptance of the Coalition Government’s proposals. The NASUWT remains committed to industrial action if the Coalition Government seeks to proceed with detrimental changes. One change has of course already been imposed by the Westminster Coalition Government and that is the change in indexing from RPI to CPI, which significantly reduces the value of teachers’ pensions. The NASUWT is the only teachers’ union to have mounted a legal challenge against this move and has been given leave for a judicial review of the Coalition Government’s decision. A hearing has been set for October and if successful will restore the value of pensions for thousands of teachers across the UK. In Northern Ireland, the NASUWT takes part in negotiations on the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Pension Scheme via the Teachers’ Superannuation Consultative Committee and, to date, no changes have been agreed and the NASUWT will continue to resist any attempt to open discussions on changes to the Scheme until the outcome of the discussions relating to England and Wales are known. IMPROVING CONDITIONS OF SERVICE PENSIONS JOINT WORKING PARTY ON TEACHER WORKLOAD Due to the consistent pressure applied by the NASUWT, a joint working party of the NASUWT and other teacher unions, the employers and the Department of Education Northern Ireland (DENI) has been established to focus on tackling teacher workload. The Group met throughout the Summer to focus on strategies to drive down workload and enable teachers to focus on their core responsibilities for teaching and learning to raise standards of education. The following issues are being reviewed with a view to making firm recommendations: • contractual hours and directed time; • teacher planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time; • school cover policies; • teacher contributions to the planning and management of the school, including standardisation of School Development Planning; • new initiatives and workload implication; • existing policies to be reviewed for workload demands, e.g. Every School A Good School and Count, Read: Succeed; • management structures, including teaching allowances and additional responsibilities; • School Development Planning; • extracurricular activity; • professional development, including induction, and early professional development (EPD); • Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) and classroom observation; • statutory and non-statutory requirements in teaching and learning. It is the solidarity and commitment of NASUWT members and the stand they have made to defend teachers’ pay and conditions of service that has brought us to this long overdue stage and you all must be commended for that. However, we are still a long way from resolving the issues and until agreement is reached, NASUWT members must continue to follow the action instructions.
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Northern Ireland Bulletin August 2011
Transcript of Northern Ireland Bulletin August 2011
The NASUWT Campaign continues to improve theconditions of service of teachers and school leaders. TheUnion’s industrial action, which continues into this newacademic year, has afforded protection to members fromthe continuing pressure to increase workload.
The NASUWT conducted recently a survey of allmembers to assess the current position on industrialaction and workload. Many thanks to all those whoresponded. The results will be published shortly and willinform the next phase of the Union’s Campaign.
August 2011
representatives
BULLETIN
Hillscourt Education CentreRose Hill, Rednal
Birmingham B45 8RSE-mail: [email protected]
NASUWT Northern IrelandBen Madigan House, Edgewater Office Park,
Edgewater Road, Belfast BT3 9JQE-mail: [email protected]
the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland 11/08050
NASUWTThe Teachers’ Union
NORTHERN IRELAND
The NASUWT continues to be at the forefront of thecampaign to defend teachers’ and other public serviceworkers’ pensions against the attacks being mounted by theWestminster Coalition Government.The first attacks have been against the teachers’ pensionschemes in England and Wales, but it is clear that if thesesucceed, similar changes will be made to the pensions ofteachers in Northern Ireland and Scotland.The NASUWT has been working with other unions in defenceof the pension schemes and has been regularly updatingmembers through the NASUWT Pensions Latest bulletins,which can be accessed on the Union’s website atwww.nasuwt.org.uk/Pensions.The current position on the schemes for England and Walesis that, without prejudice, exploratory sector schemediscussions have been agreed, which are due to start shortly.The NASUWT and other unions have made clear in a letter tothe Westminster Education Secretary that participation inthese discussions does not mean any acceptance of theCoalition Government’s proposals.
The NASUWT remains committed to industrial action if theCoalition Government seeks to proceed with detrimentalchanges.
One change has of course already been imposed by theWestminster Coalition Government and that is the change inindexing from RPI to CPI, which significantly reduces thevalue of teachers’ pensions. The NASUWT is the onlyteachers’ union to have mounted a legal challenge againstthis move and has been given leave for a judicial review of theCoalition Government’s decision. A hearing has been set forOctober and if successful will restore the value of pensions forthousands of teachers across the UK.
In Northern Ireland, the NASUWT takes part in negotiationson the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Pension Scheme via theTeachers’ Superannuation Consultative Committee and, todate, no changes have been agreed and the NASUWT willcontinue to resist any attempt to open discussions onchanges to the Scheme until the outcome of the discussionsrelating to England and Wales are known.
IMPROVING CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
PENSIONS
JOINT WORKING PARTY ON TEACHER WORKLOADDue to the consistent pressure applied by the NASUWT, ajoint working party of the NASUWT and other teacher unions,the employers and the Department of Education NorthernIreland (DENI) has been established to focus on tacklingteacher workload.The Group met throughout the Summer to focus on strategiesto drive down workload and enable teachers to focus on theircore responsibilities for teaching and learning to raisestandards of education.The following issues are being reviewed with a view to makingfirm recommendations:• contractual hours and directed time;• teacher planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time;• school cover policies;• teacher contributions to the planning and management of
the school, including standardisation of SchoolDevelopment Planning;
• new initiatives and workload implication;• existing policies to be reviewed for workload demands,
e.g. Every School A Good School and Count, Read:Succeed;
• management structures, including teaching allowancesand additional responsibilities;
• School Development Planning; • extracurricular activity;• professional development, including induction, and early
professional development (EPD); • Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) and
classroom observation;• statutory and non-statutory requirements in teaching and
learning.It is the solidarity and commitment of NASUWT members andthe stand they have made to defend teachers’ pay andconditions of service that has brought us to this long overduestage and you all must be commended for that.However, we are still a long way from resolving the issuesand until agreement is reached, NASUWT members mustcontinue to follow the action instructions.
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CLASSROOM OBSERVATION
The NASUWT met the Education Minister, John O’Dowd, on15 August with other teacher unions and the following issueswere discussed:Education BudgetThe Minister highlighted that it was essential to have a newway of working. He stated that the current and establishedpractices need to be challenged as there would be noadditional funding for education in the next two years. TheMinister said that the discussions on the Education andSkills Authority (ESA) are continuing within the Assembly, buta decision needs to be made soon as the workforce needscertainty. The Minister also indicated that the CurriculumAdvisory and Support Service (CASS) and other supportservices are to be centralised ahead of the decision on ESA.Rationalisation of Schools The Minister intends to announce the policy direction on therationalisation of the school estate in mid to late September.This would be to implement the existing policies. TheMinister highlighted the importance of the sharing ofbuildings and services.Teacher WorkloadThe Minister was advised of the importance of the DENIthree-year Strategic Plan and the identification of prioritiesfor school development, thereby restricting the workloadrequirement on teachers and schools, and that the same ruleneeds to apply to school accountability to identify measuresto reduce workload.
The Minister said that there would be no new initiatives in thefirst 18 months to two years of his stewardship as he sawthis period as essential to embedding the existing policies.
Review of School FundingThe Minister intends to overhaul the funding system. Theprocess will begin before the end of 2011. The Minister wasurged to take urgent action and ensure that there is acomprehensive review, which will secure the best use ofexisting resources. The Minister supports a fundingmechanism that would encourage school partnerships, bemore flexible and lead to more collaborative workingbetween schools.
Nursery EducationThe Minister has requested a report on preschool educationprovision of the 25,000 children in the sector for the end ofSeptember 2011. He considers preschool education to bevery important and not a ‘childminding’ service. The Ministeris committed to pre-school provision for all parents whorequire it, but not necessarily all children in nursery schools.
Teacher PensionsThe Minister was reminded of the agreement made in 2007on teachers’ pensions and advised that there was no needfor change. He was requested to produce a valuation of thescheme in Northern Ireland to assess the current position.The Minister stated that the Assembly would wait fornegotiations in England and Wales to be completed.
If you experience any problems on the issues raised in this bulletin, please contact your NASUWT Local
Secretary, National Executive Member or National Centre. Contact details can be found:
• in the NASUWT diary; • on the website www.nasuwt.org.uk; • by phoning 028 9078 4480.
HELP, ADVICE, SUPPORT
MEETING WITH EDUCATION MINISTER
The DENI is consulting the NASUWT on guidance on classroom observation/visits. The Union’s response will seek to ensurethat teachers are not subjected to excessive, punitive monitoring and additional workload that can be generated byclassroom observation.No agreement has been reached on any changes and the Union will keep members informed of developments. In themeantime, members must follow the existing advice.NASUWT members are reminded of the current position: There is a centrally negotiated performance management scheme (PRSD), which must be carried out in adherence to specificguidelines. Classroom observation is limited to a total of one hour and a maximum of two visits. Any targets set should arisefrom prior discussion and mutual agreement between the parties concerned.If classroom observation is occurring outwith these agreed parameters, contact should be made directly with your NationalExecutive Members or the NASUWT Northern Ireland National Centre for advice and support.
All teachers who have been on M6 on the salary scale for at least a year are eligible, in September 2011, to apply for a salaryincrease of £2,629. All eligible members should apply using the form that has been issued to all schools. No member shouldbe discouraged from applying. Application forms need to be returned by 7 October 2011. The DENI has agreed to informteachers individually of this entitlement.Teachers who have been on UPS1 for two years are due to be progressed to UPS2 in September 2011. It is theresponsibility of the principal to administer this process. The same arrangement applies to teachers eligible to move fromUPS2 to UPS3. Notwithstanding the principal’s responsibility, members who meet the two-year criterion should remind theirprincipals of their eligibility to ensure that the process is implemented. All eligible members should take the opportunity toprogress along the pay scales.
THRESHOLD AND UPS PROGRESSION 2011
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