We
are facing very
We
are facing very
"challenging" times...
Our pay & pensions are threatened
Pay freeze becomes a real cut with inflation
Performance Related Pay hurdles
the abolition of Management Allowances
limits on salary safeguarding
Upper Pay Spine progression issues
Danger of school by school pay bargaining
"Work til you drop" pension proposals
·
Workload & stress are at unacceptable levels"Workload reduction" is meaning more work for many through inadequate budgets and resources
The deficit model "blame culture" sees teachers blamed for all society’s very real problems
Inspection is often turned into "inquisition"
School Self-Evaluation is being distorted to apply more pressure
·
Our professional role is questioned & challengedColleagues without teaching qualifications taking whole classes
Pastoral responsibilities and roles are to be undermined
Performance Management being linked to pay makes the process threatening rather than supportive of professional development
·
Pupil behaviour is deteriorating in many schoolsMost requests for union action are over extreme pupil behaviour
Routine low level disruption destroys many teachers’ morale
·
State education is being fragmented, marketised & ‘privatised’More privately run "Academies" – despite their poor record
More "independence" of schools from LEAs
More competition between schools
PFI - Private Finance Initiative/Profits First Incorporated provides a greater and greater percentage of funding for buildings
More voluntary bodies, businesses and faith groups to run schools
·
Selection is being reintroduced"Vocational" & "Academic" pathways are to diverge, with the possibility of Vocational Specialist Schools post 14
… but with proper organisation, union focus on teachers’ priorities, and accountable Officers, we CAN turn this all around