We are specifically seeking:
- To reduce weekly class contact by 1.5 hours.
- To increase weekly ‘preparation & correction’ time by 1.5 hours.
These changes would be applied pro rata to all teachers above the main grade who teach.
For example, if you are a Depute Headteacher with 11 hours of weekly class contact time at the moment, then your weekly teaching will be reduced by ¾ of an hour, and you would have a corresponding uplift in preparation & correction time.
We believe that having more teachers to deliver the current amount of teaching would assist Principal Teachers, Depute Headteachers and Headteachers:
- More preparation time for fewer teaching hours by all teachers, including leaders, should improve pupil outcomes.
- The time released from teaching will give more time to leaders to deal with non-teaching duties, such as dealing with pupil behaviour.
- Improving workload should increase the long-term health and wellbeing of staff, leading to fewer teacher absences, improved wellbeing & morale.
- Staff who are currently brought in irregularly on precarious contracts are more likely to obtain permanent contracts. This should be good for staff morale and stability for pupils.
- Possibilities for increased use of specialist teachers or peripatetic teachers that may be linked to a cluster of schools. This may assist in finding extra teachers in some areas of Scotland.
- More teachers should lead to more timetabling options for timetablers.
- These changes are not at the expense of support staff or other education resources. The SNP manifesto promises were unconditional and not made at the expense of any other area in education eg PSAs.
We know that many Principal Teachers, Depute Headteachers and Headteachers share our workload dispute aims, though some fear that the implementation of a weekly class contact reduction may have implications that could increase their workload.
All unions on the Teachers’ Side insist that the manifesto promises must be fully funded and resourced with additional teaching staff and will negotiate a resolution to the dispute to ensure that there is no detriment for promoted staff - all teachers deserve to have their unfair, unhealthy and unsustainable workloads lightened.
We will negotiate a fair outcome:
- Ensuring the agreement on the reduced weekly class contact with uplift to preparation & correction time will be funded, as stated in the SNP Manifesto.
- More teaching staff will be needed (in some cases, existing teachers’ jobs will be saved with falling pupil rolls).
Extra staff may lead to job sizing reviews for some Principal Teachers, Depute Headteachers or Headteachers, and/ or may lead to additional Principal Teachers or Deputes being appointed to manage extra staff.
- The implementation timescale will be agreed with the EIS and the other teacher trade unions.
- We are clear that the extra work that will come from reduced weekly class contact time will be picked up by GTCS registered teachers, and that the balance of teaching topics/areas is agreed between the teachers.
We do not support the use of school assemblies instead of teaching time; it is not sustainable for teachers, either promoted or unpromoted, nor ideal for pupils.
- Finding additional staff may be difficult in some places over the short term. However, we cannot stall on workload reduction for all staff and must agree with the government and employers on accelerated measures to address staffing shortages.
We will work on strategies to resolve these issues, such as dual GTCS registration and more attractive pay.
