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THE 67th EDITION FOR ALL PLYMOUTH TEACHERS MARCH 2007

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A GOOD LOCAL SCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD

WORKLOAD AND
PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT
WHAT COMES NEXT…
The Office of Manpower Economics
reported in 2006 about teacher work-
load following the so-called
“workforce agreement,” with the
following 2 points:
♦ “There was no statistically
significant reduction in teachers’
working time”
♦ “Time spent teaching was reduced
by 18 minutes a week”
The NUT workload ballot was an over-
whelming success allowing NUT members
to choose the important issues from those
listed in the NUT Guidelines when schools
begin the consultation process. This will
ensure that these matters will be addressed.
The NUT will support you and will ballot
members for strike action where HTs refuse
to implement our guidelines.
“Trust” Schools
Update
The NUT’s campaign against trust schools has moved the
DfES to write to NUT General Secretary, Steve Sinnott,
about the NUT’s activities in the Southwest. Our steadfast
support for community schools and proper accountability
within the local authority protects children and employees
from further experiments and a lessening of employment
rights. Clearly the case for this change has not been made
and other Plymouth and Devon head teachers agree that
there is no merit in seeking trust status.
CONSULTATION?
Will staff, parents and governors be properly informed of the
sound arguments against trust status? We have seen no
evidence that democratic debate or opportunities for balanced
arguments will be aired. Will facilities be provided for the
distribution of a counter point of view to people in the local
community?
NO GUARANTEES
At no stage have guarantees been offered that staff pay and
conditions or admissions policies would remain unchanged
following the removal of community status. Future governors
could make these detrimental changes.
The only argument pathfinder trust schools use to support their
position is that becoming a trust will help improve standards...an
unproven theory at best and a potential slight on the current
management, governors and staff. The “power to innovate”
doesn’t need trust status—so why travel this uncertain path?

A recent visitor to Plymouth Division was Baljeet Ghale our Plymouth NUT
National vice-President. Baljeet is seen with David Smale Meeting
[Plymouth NUT’s Division Secretary] at a UN Day held at
Tamarside Community College. Baljeet will be the first
Venues—an
black National NUT President when she begins her period of occasional
office at Harrogate next month. series—P2

Independent of Government and not affiliated to any political party

Call the Joining Hotline 0845 300 1669
 Andy A naked Sooty
Woolley asks
Education
on ITV1 Secretary
The Alan
Regional Johnson MP
Secretary about
appeared primary school What’s that
on MFL teaching Sooty?
Westcountry TV on Éducation!
Monday 12th March in a Educatio!
documentary about school Erziehung!
visits and outdoor activities.
The NUT broadly supports
these extra-curricular
experiences in sharp

edition talking about school leadership. With so many HTs soon to

Congratulations to Matthew Oakes who appeared in the 9th March
contrast with the NASUWT

retire there is a vital need for younger colleagues to address the

position which advises their
members not to take part.

Lipson teacher in TES Magazine

shortage in a positive way!

The Kings Arms at Tamerton Foliot was the first
venue used by Plymouth NUT in 1998
for a series of pre-meetings
before the first Committee was established
Is this your experience of A LOTTERY HERE?
consultation?
When your school begins to
negotiate the lesson observation
protocol alongside the
performance management policy,
the NUT’s excellent publication
[ask your rep to lend you their
copy] will provide you with the
information and protection you
need. Ensure that the NUT’s policy
on classroom observation is the
one NUT members choose to adopt
in your school! Problems? Contact
the Secretary on 01503 240527
 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
“Exercise Your Collective Voice”
♦ Schools will have to consult with staff and teacher unions to reach an agreed policy on
performance management
♦ NUT members will be able to use the NUT Guidelines for this consultation
♦ Each NUT school group will create their own list of concerns and issues over workload,
classroom observations, PPA time and performance management etc
♦ Support will be given to Reps and members where discussions are inadequate or the
consultation turns out to be little more than window dressing
♦ The NUT Workload Ballot protects you
♦ In many cases the current performance management policy can continue with little change
♦ Three targets for the reviewee and about four reviewees for each reviewer is reasonable
♦ A classroom observation protocol will also have to be agreed as part of the performance
management policy and for use during other observations throughout the year
♦ The NUT will issue clear advice on the best use of classroom observations that can inform
the policy in your school
♦ Other unions [including the RIG] are expected to issue their guidance—remember that the
NUT Guidelines have equal weight as any others; our Guidelines have not been influenced
by the DfES and are independent
♦ Is class size an issue where you work? Do you have more than one meeting a week?
♦ Are meetings scheduled during lunchtime?
♦ Are you told to cover for absent colleagues during PPA time?
♦ Are you expected to provide the work for non-teachers covering your PPA time?
♦ Are all your colleagues getting at least 10% PPA time? Are NQTs receiving their proper
entitlement [at least 19%]? Is missed PPA time paid back?
♦ Is planning excessive in your school?
♦ Could assessment be streamlined?
♦ Did you know that there will be less emphasis on exam and test results in the new
performance management regime?
♦ You should arrange for your school NUT Rep and another colleague to attend the next NUT
training session on Performance Management—contact the Secretary for more information
♦ THE NUT IS THE ONLY UNION TAKING THESE STEPS TO
REDUCE WORKLOAD
♦ THE NUT IS THE LARGEST TEACHING UNION IN EUROPE

DROP-INS NOTES
The DfES has given 1. Additional copies of the Guidelines and notes on what to do
in to pressure from next may be quickly obtained from Regional Office on 01392
258028 or look on the NUT website
some HTs to allow 2. NUT Guidelines meet the demands of the Performance
unlimited and Management Regulations
unannounced visits to class- 3. Copies of our Guidelines have been sent to all HTs and Chairs
rooms [now called drop-ins] of Governors
4. If you are unsuccessful in your negotiations the NUT will
despite united union opposition
ballot members at your school for strike action
Parents expect their children to be taught
while they are at school by qualified teachers.
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. They should never be
employed 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. Contact our President Martin
Edmonds at:
edmonds _ m@tamarside.co.uk

AGM—ALL NUT MEMBERS WELCOME Do you know where

March 29th @ 5pm at the CHINA HOUSE Sutton Quay. We are particularly
seeking black teacher and union learning representatives. There are also some
unqualified people are replacing
general committee posts available, so if you feel you could volunteer please teachers in Plymouth? Get in
contact the Secretary for more information. Buffet at 6pm! touch (anonymously if you wish)
Call David on 01503240527 so we can order enough food
A member asks, “My HT says we have to have to hold some staff meet- Has your Rep attended a Rep’s
Training Course at Stoke
ings during PPA time—is she correct?” Rochford?
Answer: No. PPA time is sacrosanct and you decide how it should be Any Questions? Contact
used. If any meetings have been held during your PPA time, then the PPA plymnut@teacher.clara.co.uk
time lost will have to be made up—that’s what “guaranteed” means and
Tell John on 01752 707606
distributor in your school?

it’s statutory! There’s no escape...

s.m.leonard@btinternet.com
so he can update your
address label today!

A teacher governor member asks, “I’ve found out that only half of eligible
Are you the new
NUT Rep or mail

teachers at my school received their expected UPS pay rise last term due to
financial constraints. They were told it was for lower-than-expected key stage
and GCSE results etc. What should I say?”
Answer: It would be unlawful for UPS progress to be denied due to a tight
budget. If you are correct, it should be easy to demolish reliance on spurious
data as other teachers teach the same students and one would broadly expect
similar outcomes. NUT members denied UPS progress for any reason should
contact the Plymouth Secretary. The good news is that incremental progress
will rely less on crude student results from September 2007 when the new
Performance Management regime begins. To find out more, make sure your
school rep attends the next NUT training course run in your area!