McCormac and the SNCT

DREW MORRICEASSISTANT SECRETARY EIS

JOINT SECRETARY SNCT

The Review of Teacher Employment in Scotland

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning

SNCT Working Groups

GTCS

National Partnership Groups

CTStatus

PRPDCPD

Views of Review Team

1.9 “The Donaldson Report also sees teachers as increasingly expert practitioners whose professional practice and relationships are rooted in strong values …… The Review endorses that view of teaching, and our recommendations are designed to support the work of the National Partnership

Group by establishing appropriate terms and conditions of employment for teachers”.

1.10 “ …… teachers’ terms and conditions …… need to:• Build the capacity of the profession to improve outcomes

for learners• Strengthen the quality of teaching and leadership• Promote collegiality and partnership working, not just

with other teachers but with all those who can assist young people’s growth and learning• Enable necessary efficiently and flexibility• Enable a culture of self evaluation and improvement

based on impact on young people’s learning”.

3) “It is important to say that, if the reading of any response is limited to the recommendations, room for misinterpretation can exist. However, reading the recommendations together with the text in the report that led to the recommendations leaves less room for misinterpretation”.Isabelle Boyd, member of Review Team, to the Education Committee of the Scottish Parliament (27 September 2011).

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning

Meeting 4 October 2011Mike RussellEIS, SSTA, NASUWT, VOICEGTCS4 Recommendations accepted(5) Reviewers in PRPD should be properly trained(12) The guaranteed year of employment of all probationery teachers should continue(22) No change in the current contracted week of 35 hours(33) SNCT and LNCTs should continue

Flexibility?

i. Class Contact Timeii. Personal Timeiii. Time Remaining9.7 “These discussions [WTAs] should be collaborative and consultative in nature focussing on the best outcome for the school and its pupils and not be treated as a forum for negotiation”.

Flexibility?

Recommendation 32 “The involvement of external experts in the delivery of teacher led school education should be facilitated”.BUTTeachers in primary school responsible for delivery of 25 hour curriculumRemoval of time and place arrangements

Flexibility?

Removal of Annex E3.6 “While we accept that there are duties which are best performed by individuals other than teachers, and the main focus of teachers’ work should be to lead the learning of children and young people, sensible flexibility within a school - that does not detract from the core educational role of teachers - should be the norm”.however8.3 “…… any reductions in the numbers [of support staff] should be considered against a clear view of impact on pupils”.

Flexibility?

3.3 “On balance, our view is that prescriptions of what a teacher of a given grade should and should not do, places the emphasis on inputs, whilst what is required of

professionals is a focus on outcomes”.3.4 “We believe it is essential, as budgets come under pressure, that there is a clear line established between investment in education and outcomes”.

INPUTS OUTPUTS

Duties? Raising attainment

Working hours? CfE

Class contact time? Improved international standing

Class sizes?

Teachers numbers?

Guaranteed CPD?

Support staff?

Educated to degree level?

SNCT – 3 Joint Chair Working Groups

- Duties- Working Week/Working Hours- Chartered Teacher

DutiesRemit• to review current provisions in the SNCT Handbook in light of the

recommendation from the Review of Teacher Employment regarding teachers’ duties.

• to hold an early meeting with GTCS to discuss the relationship between duties and Standards.

• to provide an interim report to the SNCT Joint Chairs by the end of February.

• To produce a report with recommendations to SNCT Joint Chairs detailing possible changes alongside benefits and risks by mid May with a view to implementation of any result changes by August 2012.

Working Week, Working Hours

Remit• To review current provision contained in the SNCT Handbook in light

of the recommendations from the Review of Teacher Employment regarding proposed changes to the working week/working hours of teachers.

• To engage with stakeholders if necessary with regard to any related matters.

• To produce an interim report to the SNCT Joint Chairs by end of February.

• To produce a report with recommendations to SNCT Joint Chairs detailing possible changes alongside benefits and risks by mid May with a view to implementation of any agreed changes by August 2012

Discontinuation of CT Post (sic)

5.21 “Additional salary is, in some instances for little tangible benefit and indeed we heard evidence that some chartered teachers would prefer it were not known within their school that they have achieved the status, lest expectations would rise that they should contribute more”.

McCormac acknowledges- HT approval (“albeit this process is still rather

light touch”)but disregards- The revised Standard for CTs- SNCT Code of Practiceand recommends- That GTCS should develop an alternative form of

professional recognition- Discrimination of CT Status- Access to “flexible” PTs (Scale Point 1)

Future of Chartered Teacher

Decision of Cabinet Secretary awaited, 9 February 2012

Role of SCNT Working GroupFreeze - ends 31 March 2012Pay - (if CT disappears) - conservation?

- assimilation?

CPD …… carrot

3.8 “We are firmly of the belief that developing the profession and continuing to improve the performance of teachers through career long Professional Review and Personal Development (PRPD) and appropriate recognition and reward is the surest way to improve educational outcomes”.

or stick?

4.11 “The 35 hours of CPD enshrined in the Teachers’ Agreement should not be seen as an upper limit on CPD …… but as a basic platform on which to develop teacher’s education, professional development and school needs. The focus of CPD should be the teachers’ ability to deliver

improvements in teaching and learning”.4.12 “ On a related issue we strongly support the GTCS in its plans to introduce a system of reaccreditation, or “professional update” that would help ensure teachers are maintaining and developing their skills.

Key Issues

Does Flexibility enhance performance?

Is the McCrone Agreement dead?

Will McCormac enhance professionalism?

Is the report more about affordability?