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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 work-
load—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. Schools have
To take part you must be a member of the NUT—Europe's largest contacted us
union for teachers and headteachers. Join today—don’t be left out. about the award
of the NUT

YES
ACADEMIES ARE
FAILING—Official! standards mark.
They aren't value for money; two thirds have
To join in
not increased the number of “good” GCSE contact our

X
passes; some have fewer “good” passes than President Martin
the schools they replaced; the HT turnover is
above average. We now ask if children in trust Edmonds
schools will fair any differently... [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.”
John and Judith Pugh How long have you been a member? Can you beat John’s record? Let us know.
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 :
edmonds_m@tamarside.co.uk
Contact plymnut@teacher.clara.co.uk
with your questions A member asks, “In our school, when a teacher A member asks,
A member asks, “My HT says I won’t get goes through the threshold, or rises to UPS2 or 3, “What will an NUT
extra little jobs are given to us. Is this OK?” course cost my
UPS3 as I didn’t apply for it. Is this correct?”
Answer: No—the upper pay spine is just an school?”
Answer: No—you are not required to apply
extension of the main pay spine and is for classroom The only cost to
for UPS2 or UPS3. There are no forms to fill
teachers. It has nothing whatsoever to do with your school is
in. It is an automatic process carried out by arranging cover
the HT. You should be informed in writing of teaching and learning responsibilities as these have
for you to attend.
the HT’s decision by 31st October. specific criteria [see STP&CD]. What does your
NUT school and
If this has not been done, contact your school’s pay policy say about these extra duties? If
college
Division Secretary. 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
A member asks: “I am being paid an determine the correct value of TLR that should be a statutory
honorarium instead of an acting TLR. Is this attached to the job description. Should these tasks be entitlement to
OK?” more properly carried out by support staff? time off with pay,
Answer: No—all honoraria are unlawful. A The solution is to refuse to contemplate any such during working
retention payment equivalent to the TLR is extra tasks as you are not required to do them and hours, for training
the solution—contact your Division Secretary your HT is unable to force them upon you and your related to their
or Regional Office as a matter of urgency. colleagues. role.

The NUT...The Largest Teachers’

Organisation in Europe…
Our Aim: Professional Unity