October 2018

Created on: 18 Oct 2018

Vol. 102, Issue No. 03

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In this Issue

Pay Negotiations Break Down

On the day that this edition of the SEJ went to press, there were sudden and dramatic developments in the long-running negotiations on teachers' pay. At a scheduled meeting of the Joint Chairs of the SNCT, employers and the Scottish Government dropped the bombshell that they were walking away from talks and the prospect of a negotiated agreement...(Page 08) 

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A Stark Warning

A recent anonymous letter from a Scottish teacher, sent to John Swinney and copied to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has shone a light on the everyday challenges faced by the country's teaching professionals. From low pay to high workload, from budget cuts to teacher shortages, the letter provides a stark warning to the Scottish Government...(Page 12)

A conversation with the President

The SEJ spoke to EIS President Alison Thornton, and asked for her views on the key issues facing Scottish Education and the EIS at the current time...(Page 14) 

 

Assessing the Impact of SNSAs

The past two EIS AGMs passed Motions which raised concerns over the introduction of the Scottish National Standardised Assessments in schools. Many members have expressed doubt over the educational value of SNSAs, and their potential to impact positively on the learning experience of pupils in the classroom. The EIS has signaled many cautions to the Scottish Government and has been monitoring the implementation of SNSAs in a variety of ways...(Page 16)

Play not tests

Five Decades at the EIS

When Joyce Baldwin of the Education and Equality Department retired this year, it marked the end of a remakable 49-year association with the EIS. Joyce joined the staff of the EIS in 1969 and, over the next 5 decades, worked across the organisation for the benefits of members and Scottish education. The SEJ spoke to Joyce shortly after her retirement and, here, she shares some memories from her long EIS career...(Page 26) 

Joyce