Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

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A sample of members were asked to complete an on-line survey on their readiness to deliver N4 and N5 qualifications next session.

The full results of the survey can be accessed at the following link...... http://www.ssta.org.uk/request.php?35

It is work noting that when asked “How confident are you in your ability to deliver appropriate course materials”, two thirds (65.3%) of respondents felt they were either ‘not at all confident’ or ‘not confident’. When asked “How confident are you in your ability to assess your pupils for the new National Qualifications”, over three-quarters (81.5%) were either ‘not at all confident’ or ‘not confident’.

A wide range of written comments were submitted and these are included in the full results link.

Thanks to all those who have participated in the survey.

Richard Goring
(on behalf of the Education Committee)

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Members who are interested in attending this event should contact Richard Goring, Professional Officer before 21 June 2013. The Conference will be held in the Menzies Hotel, Washington Street, Glasgow on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October 2013. Delegates could attend on either or both days.

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Members and Associate members who are interested in attending this event and are under the age of 26 should contact Richard Goring, Professional Officer before Friday 24 May 2013.

The conference will be held on Saturday 22 June and Sunday 23 June at the Mercure Hotel, Ingram Street, Glasgow. Attendance could be for either or both of the above dates. Although motions to be discussed cover a wide range of Trade Union issues, a number relate specifically to educational concerns.

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I suppose any period of 12 months in the annals of any trades union would be described as being “difficult”.

However, I would contend that the last 12 months have been particularly challenging as we have tried to come to terms with some fairly serious internal matters. It is as a consequence that I address you this afternoon slightly surreal as I imagined my days of Presidential addresses or General Secretary reports were well and truly over.

Sometimes a phrase sets the tone of our years work. Were I to choose such a phrase my choice would be “in good faith”. I used this phrase in relation to Pensions when I took over duties as acting General Secretary. It is a phrase that I continue to use and indeed a phrase increasingly used by trade union colleagues. I would have to say to you that keeping good faith has been a cardinal principle of this Association since our inception. Of that I am inordinately proud. At no time would this Association fail to act in good faith.

Therefore, during the last session, Council took a very courageous decision. It decided that the Work to Contract for which we had balloted was inappropriate given the ongoing negotiations with Scottish Government to obtain a soft landing for the UK Pensions negotiations. Now nobody embodies political cynicism greater than I. In simple terms, we regard all politicians of all parties dealing with Scottish education with the greatest of suspicion. We have witnessed in the SSTA over the decades too many examples of broken promise; too many pieces of political posturing; too many instances of cheap vote chasing. Why would the attempt to secure a Pension soft landing be any different?


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