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Campaign to defend education 

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What’s happening in your schools?

Primary schools reps’ report

There was a lot of enthusiasm for the workload action at the joint schools union meeting this week. Some union groups had already discussed the action instructions with their head teachers, and identified key issues:

• In one school members will not cooperate with a mock-Ofsted.

• Another school secured concessions on emails, and is discussing the issue of cover, making it clear it will stick to a ‘no cover’ policy.

• A joint union delegation in one school met the head and raised the issue of lunchtime supervision, as staff lunchtime coincides with the students’ lunchtime. This is a major issue at that school.

• The NUT is approaching the head in another school about the stress and additional workload caused by new and continuing initiatives, as well as some of the bureaucratic tasks. There’s a lack of time for TLR holders to do their tasks. There is already some good news at this school – learning walks are now peer observations, with no judgement going to management.

• Another two schools reported matters they’re taking forward. Members were concerned about handing in planning and too much observation.

Secondary school rep’s report

In our fi rst week back at school, we held a joint union meeting to discuss action short of strike action. Our members raised concerns over appraisals, and tasked us to challenge the policy of setting up to fi ve targets.

Earlier this week, union reps met the head teacher, and together we were able to secure a reduction in the number of appraisal targets to three.

This is a major step forward in our school. Last year, when staff raised their concerns over performance management, they were not confi dent to challenge it. This time, not only were we able to win a signifi cant concession, but the impetus had come from our members, rather than from us as reps.

Of course, we still have challenges ahead of us. But this victory will give our staff confi dence that they can contest their working conditions.

Primary school rep’s report

After inter-union liaison, we held joint union meetings with our members.

Last week we held a meeting – and almost all our union members turned up to vote on whether the items listed in the action short of strike action guidelines were being met in the school.

The item that caused the most concern was performance management. As a group, we felt that having four objectives was too much and that three was more acceptable.

We took this matter up with our acting head, who accepted the change.

Keep up to date with our campaign

Ask your school rep, read up to date information on our website www.teachers.org.uk and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/NUTonline Tell us your email address to stay in touch with the campaign www.teachers.org.uk/update

There’s never been a better time to be an NUT rep. Find out how at www.teachers.org.uk/getinvolved