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Observation: discussions continue
The NASUWT is continuing to defend teachers in Northern Ireland from attempts to introduce excessive and punitive classroom monitoring practices in schools.
The Union with other workforce unions has been in negotiation with employers and Ministers for many months over the failure of some schools to adhere to the regulations on classroom observation.
The discussions follow reports from members that classroom observation of teachers is being undertaken in some schools by senior management, heads of department and subject coordinators.
The position of the NASUWT with regard to classroom observation is absolutely clear.
A centrally negotiated performance management scheme, Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD), exists and must be carried out in adherence to specific guidelines.
Under the regulations, classroom observation must not exceed two visits which must not total more than one hour in duration.
As part of the PRSD scheme the nature of any targets involved should be determined jointly and agreed prior to the observation by the teacher and the observer. Spontaneous drop ins or observations with no targets agreed in advance are outside the regulations and should not be permitted.
The NASUWT position was reaffirmed by members at this year’s NASUWT Northern Ireland Annual Conference where a resolution calling for full compliance with the PRSD regulations was passed.
As a result of its negotiations, the management side has drafted a letter to schools seeking to clarify the situation. However, the advice is outwith the NASUWT’s position.
As a result, management has requested that the Union withdraw its advice to members while further discussions are held.
While the Union is committed to securing a resolution to the impasse, it is equally adamant that compliance with the PRSD regulations in all schools is necessary. Teachers must be protected from excessive monitoring and the regulations are there to ensure genuinely developmental and constructive professional development practices are in place in every school.
The NASUWT will continue to work with employers to seek full compliance with PRSD in every school.
If classroom observation is occurring outwith the agreed PRSD parameters in your school, you should contact your National Executive Member or the NASUWT Northern Ireland National Centre for advice and support. Contact details can be found on the NASUWT website at
www.nasuwt.org.uk.
Local Treasurers’ Conference
Supporting members and fighting the effects of the Coalition Government’s cuts were top of the agenda at the NASUWT’s recent Local Treasurers’ Conference.
Over 60 NASUWT local Treasurers attended to hear National Treasurer Brian Cookson urge all Local Associations to ready themselves to take action to protect the jobs, pay and working conditions of members in their areas.
The Conference, which was held at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, had a strongly interactive focus, and many of the suggestions and ideas made by delegates will be used to inform the training programme for local Treasurers.
Mr Cookson emphasised the very important role of Treasurers in working with their local officers to ensure that Local Associations and Federations plan strategically to strengthen and support membership.
Mr Cookson said: “We are facing unprecedented uncertainty and challenges in protecting and defending the jobs, pay and working conditions of our members.
“As a union, we need to ensure we are making the best and most effective use of our resources at both national and local level to ensure that every NASUWT member receives the benefits of being part of the UK’s largest and best teachers’ union.”
A better way to work
Union members are being encouraged to use their teaching skills to raise awareness of the importance of unions among young people.
The TUC has developed a set of educational resources to help young people learn about employment rights and workplace issues.
A Better Way to Work is designed to be used with Key Stage 4 students and is divided into five units dealing with the role of unions, rights and responsibilities, equal opportunities, health and safety and the future of work.
The resource is particularly useful to prepare students going on work experience, starting apprenticeships or considering their post-16 options.
The resources and accompanying teachers’ notes can be downloaded from the TUC website at:
http://tinyurl.com/35bajzy.
A version of A Better Way to Work translated into Welsh is also available from the TUC website.
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