1 CONGRESS 2001

The following are the main items from Congress 2001 held in Peebles on 27 & 28 April.

a)          Presidential Address

The President, Bill Fitzpatrick, addressed Congress on the matters taking place in the last year.

b)          Life Membership

Life Membership of the Association was conferred on Louise Goldsack and John Fraser, both former members of Council.

c)          Finance Committee

The Report of the Finance Committee and the Accounts for 2000 were approved.  A copy of the Report and Accounts will be sent to school representatives with this Bulletin and may be consulted by members.

The Financial Statement to 31 December 2000, as required by law, appears later in this bulletin.

d)          Guests at Congress

The Association was joined by guests from the political parties, other teacher unions and the Scottish Borders Council who generously provided a civic reception.

 

The Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs, Jack McConnell, addressed Congress and answered questions.

 

Dr Ivor Sutherland, retiring Registrar of the GTC, made the After-Dinner address.

e)          Motions to Congress:

             Congress approved the following motions

• "Congress records its concern about the potential effect of Conditions of Service changes on the continued provision of a Guidance service in Scottish schools.  Congress calls upon the SNCT:

a) to clarify how Guidance will be delivered post - McCrone, and

b) to ensure that Guidance provision in schools will not be adversely affected by changes to the structure of promoted posts."

• "Congress notes with concern the increasing number of initiatives imposed on schools. Congress therefore calls on the Minister for Education to impose a moratorium on any further initiatives until an audit of the likely implications of their impact on the workload of pupils and teachers has been considered by SEED."

• "This Association reiterates its grave concerns about the shortening of the time available for each SQA examination at Higher level.  Meaningful differentiation between levels of performance is not possible in some subjects in the time available.

Congress calls on the SQA to review this issue as a matter of urgency."

• "This Association calls upon local authorities to use modern languages teachers from secondary schools to support primary teachers as a means towards achieving greater effectiveness and diversity in modern languages teaching in the primary school."

• "This Association endorses the aim of SEED to integrate the use of ICT into teaching and learning processes across the entire secondary curriculum, and calls for an urgent review of the curricular structure  suggested by the National Grid for Learning to ensure that this aim is met."

• "This Association reiterates its commitment to its policy on Disruptive Pupils.  The Association recognises that there are pupils with such severe social, emotional or behavioral difficulties that their needs cannot be met in mainstream schools, and that attempts to do so seriously affect the quality of service to these and other pupils.  We therefore call upon the Scottish Executive to ensure that sufficient alternative and appropriate provision is in place to meet the needs of these pupils, without disruption to the education of others"

• "It is essential the Association updates the training of school representatives to prepare them for their extended role in the setting up of school agreements on the working week."

f)         Emergency Motions

• "This Association, having endorsed the agreement on the implementation of the proposals emanating from the McCrone Report, calls on all local authorities and the Scottish Executive to fully support both the detail of the agreement and the spirit which underpins it.  Congress is concerned at reports of unilateral action being taken by certain local authorities which may hinder rather than help the process of agreement, and calls on all local authorities to work in full partnership with teacher trade unions." 

• "Congress expresses its deep - seated concern about the failure of the SQA to listen to the teaching profession, and in particular this Association, on a series of key issues relating to the 2001 Examination Diet.  These issues include:

(a) failure to restore the period of time allocated for examination marking to the previous levels as requested by teachers;

(b) ignoring the recommendation of the Higher Still Liaison Group that the “default” model should be used for internal assessments in 2001;

(c) delaying the recommended changes in the system of compensatory awards;

(d) delaying the date of issue of certificates in 2001 against advice from    teacher organisations.
 

Congress calls on the SQA to produce detailed proposals for improving communication with the teaching profession in the 2002 and subsequent Diets, believing that it is essential that better relations are restored for the good of all young people in secondary schools".

• "Congress, believing that the parameters laid down for the appeals process in the 2000 Diet were insufficiently clear, calls upon the SQA to fully clarify to all secondary teachers precisely what range of assessment material is appropriate for pupil assessments which may be used for appeal purposes".

• "Congress notes with concern the proposed series of increases in subscriptions to the General Teaching Council for Scotland, in particular as these increases coincide with a substantial reduction in teacher representation on the Council.  Congress believes that, unless teacher representation is restored to its current level, the principles and funding of the GTC should be reviewed".

2        COUNCIL 2 JUNE 2001

    a)      ELECTIONS

 The following members were elected to Committees:

     b)     Callum MacLean was appointed to the STUC Committee.

     c)     REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
 

    d)     The following Emergency Motions were approved unanimously

i) This Association remains committed to external examinations as the most appropriate way of assessing pupil performance in National Qualifications courses and reaffirms the need to reduce the volume of internal assessment in these courses.

ii) This Association notes with concern that at a meeting of the SNCT on Thursday 24 May 2001 proposals concerning the pay and conditions of music instructors were submitted by COSLA and SEED which allowed for no discussion or negotiation and which certainly did not reflect “discussion and dialogue, a genuine openness, a willingness to listen and to try to understand other points of view”.

The SSTA reiterates its commitment to the principles outlined in the introduction to A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century that the working relationship between teacher organisations, employers and the Scottish Executive should be based on “mutual respect and understanding, on shared responsibility and on the shared development of ideas and programmes for change”, not ultimata.

iii) Council congratulates the majority of Scottish local authorities on arriving at local agreements that truly reflect the spirit and the letter of the advice contained within the national agreement, " A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century".

Council calls upon North Lanarkshire Council to adhere to the terms of this national agreement and desist from their attempts to impose a settlement that fails to allow their schools to arrive at working time arrangements which best suit their local circumstances.

    e)     The following District Motions were approved 

i) The Association condemns the decision to close down the Higher Still Development Unit prematurely and calls on Learning and Teaching Scotland to ensure all work in progress or planned is made available to schools and colleges to provide continuing quality support for the implementation of Higher Still programme.

ii) This Association should establish a committee or panel to monitor the development, implementation and use of ICT in schools and to advise the Association on these matters.

f)    Council heard reports on the first meeting of the new SNCT (The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers).  The new Disciplinary and Support Procedures were circulated - Documents relating to these matters will be sent to school shortly

g)     Council heard reports on the SQA Examination Diet 2001 and future developments in Higher Still.

h)     Further reports were received on the implementation of the McCrone agreement and the SSTA training on this matter

i)     Council agreed to ask 2001 Congress delegates to submit written comments on Congress 2001 by the end of June.  These would be used to develop future Congresses.

3     SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE COMMITTEE

Council heard that there had been ten nominations for the ten places on this Committee.  The following members were therefore elected:
 

4     DATES FOR COUNCIL

 The dates for future Council meetings are as follows.   6 October 2001,  1 December 2001,  2 March 2002 and 1 June 2002

5      STUC Black Workers' Conference, Saturday 13 - Sunday 14 October 2001

Members from a black/ethnic background who would be interested in attending the Black Workers' Conference are asked to contact Barbara Clark at Head Office.  The Conference will focus on black/ethnic issues and the Association is keen to be involved, and to represent properly the views and interests of black members.  A good response to this invitation would be welcomed.

6     Use of telephone and e-mail

Members are reminded that only -urgent items should be referred to this office by telephone.  When doing so members should be prepared to quote their membership number which is on the Lawline card or available from the school representative.  (It is always advisable to keep a separate note of the membership number in the diary).  Enquiries to matters which are non-urgent are always answered by mail, perhaps with an information leaflet being enclosed.  There is no point, therefore, in attempting to raise non-urgent items by telephone.  Non-urgent items would include advice on superannuation, retirement, maternity leave/pay, sick pay and the vast majority of conditions of service matters.  It should also be noted that very complex issues e.g. long running harassment complaints cannot be dealt with by telephone.  Such cases do require to be put in writing.

The Association can receive items by e-mail at info@ssta.org.uk but only if members are assured that their communication will not be infected by a virus.  Members should note, however, that the fact that a matter has been transmitted by e-mail does not cause the item to be given particular priority.  If it is urgent, it will be dealt with speedily but otherwise the item will be treated as normal correspondence.  Any item sent by e-mail must contain the member's name, address and school.  Responses to e-mails are not necessarily made by e-mail.  Members should not use e-mail for items of a confidential nature except by prior arrangement.

It is very useful if all forms of contact include the member's school and home telephone numbers.  There are cases where a response by telephone at school is not appropriate.
 

7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2000.
 (As required by S 32A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended)
 

AUDITORS REPORT

We report on the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2000 set out on pages 4 to 11.

We have examined the Balance Sheet and Accounts and Cash Flow Statement of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association and have found them to be in accordance with the books of account.  We have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for the purpose of the Audit.  In our opinion the Balance Sheet and Accounts give a true and fair view of the state of the Association’s affairs as at 31 December 2000.

Tindell, Grant & Co
Auditors
32 Main Street, St Ninians, Stirling, FK7 9AP
17 April 2001

STATEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH S 32A 6(A) OF THE ACT

 “A member who is concerned that some irregularity may be occurring, or have occurred, in the conduct of the financial affairs of the union may take steps with a view to investigating further, obtaining clarification and, if necessary, securing regularisation of that conduct.

 The member may raise any such concern with such one or more of the following as it seems appropriate to raise it with: the officials of the union, the trustees of the property of the union, the auditor or auditors of the union, the Certification Officer (who is an independent officer appointed by the Secretary of State) and the police.

 Where a member believes that the financial affairs of the union have been or are being conducted in breach of the law or in breach of rules of the union and contemplates bringing civil proceedings against the union or responsible officials or trustees, he should consider obtaining independent legal advice.”

 A copy of the full financial report has been issued to each school representative and will be available for inspection.  Any member wishing an additional copy should write to the General Secretary.
 

8 GENERAL TEACHING COUNCIL FOR SCOTLAND - Election September 2001

Council agreed to support the election of nominations of the following members:
 

The following Head Teachers members will also be supported, Ian Smith - Kinlochberrie High School, David Meek - Queen Anne High School, Bill Crossan - Campbetltown Grammar Schools.
It is vital to ensure that the SSTA is strongly represented on the Council, as the independent voice of Scottish Secondary teachers.

This Association therefore strongly urges all members to cast their votes in the GTC election, and to vote for our Supported candidates.

9  MEMBERSHIP

(a)        Changes in membership

It would be extremely helpful if members who are retiring at this time of year would notify the Association offices of the fact.  Members who transfer schools should also let the office know of their new school details.

Office staff would be grateful to all members who move home address during the summer to contact with a note of their new private address.  This information is required for balloting purposes and the purpose of the following item.

(b)        Data Protection Act

The Association will, during the summer months, undertake the task of notifying all members personally of their individual details held on the membership database.  It is important that all details are checked and where necessary amended.  The forms should be returned to this office, regardless of any amendments or not.  Your valuable assistance in this exercise will be greatly appreciated.

10  SNCT - Music Instructor's Salaries

At the last meeting of the SNCT there was an offer to consider on this matter. The Management Side was prepared to offer salary increases in line with those given to classroom teachers but with the provision that the link between instructors salaries and teachers' salaries would be broken in the near future.  This was totally unacceptable to the Teachers Side.  Hence the negotiations continue. 

Any member who is affected by this matter is asked to send a written note of interest to this office.

GEORGE STURROCK, President
DAVID EAGLESHAM, General Secretary