The Government says they ease the burden on teachers because schools only get a few days’ notice of the inspectors’ arrival. But the effect in some schools is to crank up the pressure on teachers to sustain a permanent state of readiness .
WELCOME BACK
Welcome back to a new school year. It’s a bit of a cliché to say there are challenges ahead, but here goes - there are challenges ahead. Here are some things to watch out for as the term gets underway.
“Light-touch” Ofsted inspections
The Government says they ease the burden on teachers because schools only get a few days’ notice of the inspectors’ arrival. But the effect in some schools is to crank up the pressure on teachers to sustain a permanent state of readiness .
Advice to members facing Ofsted inspections can be found on our website: www.bradfordnut.org or on the national Union’s site at www.teachers.org.uk
Failure by schools to consider work/life balance.
All schools should have considered measures to ease the pressure of work on staff. It needs to be a continuing process, so that small improvements, (and they usually are small if they exist at all) are not cancelled out by the next DfES dictat.
Continuing bureaucratic burdens
It is some time now since a whole list of jobs was supposedly taken away from teachers to enable them to concentrate on teaching. Are you still photocopying? Assembling reports? Chasing up pupil absence?
1265 hours of “Directed Time”
You should have been given a timetable detailing how this maximum number of hours you can be directed to work are distributed over the year – how much is teaching time, how much is meeting time, etc, and when the meetings are to take place. The NUT’s position is that there should be no more than one compulsory meeting per week, averaged out over the year.
PPA time
Every teacher is entitled to at least 10% of their teaching time for planning, preparation and assessment. It must be on the timetable. It must be rounded up if the 10% does not fit into the school’s timetable slots. It must be allocated in periods of at least 30 minutes.
See “Teachers Working Time and Duties – An NUT Guide” on our website for further information.
Health and Safety
All schools in Bradford (with the exception of one Secondary school which we have been unable to persuade to join the system) are visited at least once a term by a union Health and Safety Rep, from the NUT, NASUWT or ATL. Ring us for details or with problems.
If you need any help or advice don’t hesitate to get in touch with the NUT . Contact details are at the bottom of this newsletter .
GEOFF ROBINSON
Many Bradford teachers will have been saddened to hear of the death of Geoff Robinson earlier in the year. Geoff taught at Buttershaw and Grange High Schools and was a committed and active member of this NUT for many years. He could always be relied on to enliven any meeting and is greatly missed.
Among the causes to which Geoff was devoted was opposing racism. In his memory the NUT has decided to offer an annual prize to a pupil, and their school, who produces an exciting or original piece of work on the theme of community cohesion.
STOP THE WAR DEMONSTRATION
Bradford NUT supports the Stop The War Coalition which is organising a demonstration to coincide with the Labour Party Conference in Manchester on Saturday September 23rd. There are coaches from Bradford. If you are interested please ring the office and we can arrange free transport. Otherwise, assemble Albert Square at 1pm.
The next General Meeting of Bradford NUT is on Tuesday September 26th, at the International Restaurant, (SEE MAP) Morley Street, at 5pm. Followed by FREE MEAL at 6.30. New members especially welcome.