Created on: 12 Mar 2012 | Last modified: 03 Sep 2015
• Recently qualified teachers who have undertaken the probationer year must have access to employment in schools in Scotland. Local authorities must ensure that sufficient numbers of qualified teachers are employed in their schools.
• There must be planning for a time when older members of the profession retire, and pupil numbers rise. Local authorities must work with the Scottish Government to plan for a new generation of well qualified teachers ready to teach in our schools and ensure that there are posts available for them.
• Teachers must be properly rewarded for the jobs they do. The present situation of a wage freeze while inflation continues to rise is not sustainable. Teacher pay must continue to be negotiated by local authorities, the Scottish Government and teacher trade unions through collective bargaining procedures.
• All teachers should have access to quality continuing professional development (CPD) throughout their careers. This includes quality professional development towards Headteacher posts and any scheme which emerges to replace the Chartered Teacher programme.
• There must be no increase in class contact time for teachers. Scottish teachers already spend more time teaching pupils than most other teachers in Europe.
• Any agreement on teachers’ terms and conditions following on from the McCormac Review must recognise the work teachers do and ensure they are properly remunerated for that work. All negotiations on this agreement must take place through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).
• Pupils and teachers have the right to expect appropriate standards of discipline from pupils. Teachers have the right to expect support in dealing with instances of pupil indiscipline – including, in exceptional circumstances, the right to exclude a pupil from the classroom or the school.
• Local councils must make appropriate alternative provision for pupils who are disruptive and must fund, support and adequately staff such provision.
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