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Stand up for Quality Education Campaign
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Pupil Behaviour
Many Local Associations are working with their Local Authority to review and improve violence and aggression support and procedures in schools. The EIS national report on violence also has a section for school reps to consider looking at how their own schools support teachers and pupils who have experienced violent and aggressive behaviour.
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Action for Reps: Please work with your EIS Local Association to share information about violence and aggression.
Please engage with branch colleagues and progress the school level recommendations of our national survey report.
Workload Diary
A key theme of the Stand Up for Quality Education campaign is workload. The EIS has arranged for an independent research team from three universities to look at teacher workload and at the time of writing members have been asked to complete a short diary entry capturing their workload experiences by, Sunday 17th March and to consider taking part in follow-up focus group discussions.
Action for Reps: Please encourage as many members as possible to engage with the workload diary and to volunteer for the focus groups.
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Into Teaching Webinar: Towards Your First Professional Update
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All members preparing for their first Professional Update are invited to attend an Into Teaching Webinar on the 27th of March at 5pm.
Speakers include Susan Quinn, EIS Education Convenor and Primary Head Teacher; Victoria Smith, GTCS Director of Education, Registration & Professional Learning, with input from EIS Assistant Secretary David Belsey and EIS Organisers.
Action for Reps: Please disseminate this information and encourage eligible colleagues to sign-up via the link.
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EIS FELA members participated in a day of national strike action alongside a successful rally outside the Scottish Parliament on 29th February 2024, in pursuit of their pay claim. College lecturers in EIS FELA are taking targeted strike action in Scottish Government Ministers’ constituencies over the coming weeks in support of their national pay dispute.
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They also continue with Action Short of Strike action. FE college lecturers have not had a pay increase since August 2021.
Despite being in the public sector, college lecturers have been offered less than the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy. Ministers are ultimately responsible for colleges in Scotland.
Action for Reps: Please show your support by posting solidarity messages on social media to @EISFELA.
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SQA examination data for 2023 revealed a significant increase in the numbers of candidates being dual presented for both National 4 and National 5 in the same subject.
Dual presentation is a significant driver of excess workload for teachers and contributes to the over-assessment of learners. The EIS therefore called for the 2017 guidance to be re-issued.
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Inspection Advice on Relationships and Behaviour in Schools and Settings
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In January 2024, Education Scotland issued an Inspection Advice Note explaining that HM Inspectors will place a greater focus on gathering evidence about behaviour and relationships during inspections.
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The EIS is clear that an enhanced focus on behaviour and relationships must be aimed at supporting schools to tackle behaviour issues and must not be about blaming schools and teachers, who are often working in challenging contexts with insufficient resources.
The Education Department has produced advice for members on this issue and is encouraging members to be honest and frank in their conversations with HM Inspectors about the challenges they face.
Action for Reps: Please highlight the EIS advice for members to those in your branch.
Where an inspection has taken place, please complete the EIS monitoring form and comment specifically on this aspect of the inspection.
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STUC LGBT Discrimination Survey
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We know that LGBT+ discrimination takes place in the workplace, and that it can take many different forms.
The STUC LGBT+ Workers’ Committee has produced a survey for LGBT+ workers, to gain insight into their experiences, both positive and negative, in the workplace. The information gathered will allow the Committee to best focus its campaigning on the biggest priorities.
The Survey will close on Friday 22 March 2024.
Action for Reps: Please highlight this survey to members.
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The EIS is looking for examples of teaching and learning practices that celebrate the first culture of migrant, refugee and asylum seeker learners.
To contribute a case study, or for more information, please contact Ayumi Christoph achristoph@eis.org.uk in the EIS Education and Equality Department.
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
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Conversion Practice Survey
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To inform the EIS’s policy, briefings, and our response to the Scottish Government consultation on this issue, we are asking members who have experiences related to conversion therapy, whether historical or present, directly or indirectly through learners, to respond to a short survey.
The Union recognises that experiences of conversion practices can have a significant and long lasting negative mental health impact.
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It is important to stress that responding to this survey is entirely optional and that respondents’ health and wellbeing is of utmost importance.
Please note that respondents are not required to share personal experience and all responses are completely anonymous. Respondents may skip questions at any time. Responses may be used as part of EIS communication and policy, however these will be anonymised further where required.
Action for Reps: Please highlight the survey to members.
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Section 28/2A – Members’ Stories
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The EIS is currently gathering members’ stories of Section 28/2A. These will form part of a larger project in partnership with the Time for Inclusive Education Campaign, aimed at developing teaching resources around Section 28/2A.
If you have a story to share, we would love to hear it!
Please get in touch by emailing Natalie Carroll at ncarroll@eis.org.uk.
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
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We support and train members to become school-based EIS Representatives. This includes Health & Safety and Equality Reps. The EIS works with college tutors to deliver TUC accredited Reps’ training. Future training course dates will be published shortly. If you want to learn more, or have recently taken over as a new Rep then please explore our courses on our website.
Action for Reps: If you are a Rep who wishes to attend training, please contact your LA Secretary to apply for an EIS training course.
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Reach out to New Teachers and Probationer Teachers in your School
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Unions are strongest when we have as many members as possible and that they are engaged. Please reach out to any new teachers in your school and talk to them about EIS membership. Please also promote EIS membership with any probationer teacher; EIS membership is free for probationers.
Action for Reps: Reach out and talk with new staff and probationers.
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Engagement with Local Association and EIS Organisers
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It is important for EIS reps to have a two-way communication with their Local Association – to share what is happening in their school and to hear what is happening at the local authority level.
We also have a team of EIS Organisers that support their own Local Associations and who visit branches to discuss our latest campaigns, local campaign issues and to support reps.
Action for Reps: Please engage with your Local Association Secretary and attend LA meetings if you can. Please reach out to your local EIS Organiser to attend a branch meeting or if you want support as a rep.
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SPPA Teachers' Circular 2024/02
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Member contribution structure from 1 April 2024
Please note that Scottish Teachers' Circular 2024/02 has been published on the SPPA website.
The purpose of this circular is to advise Employers of the introduction of a new member contribution structure in the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS).
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The contribution structure effective from 1 April 2024 is shown in Table 1 of Circular 2024/02. Employers have been asked to inform scheme members of the forthcoming changes.
Action for Reps: Please highlight the circular to members and ensure they are aware of the forthcoming changes. The circular is found via the SPPA website.
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To unsubscribe email membership@eis.org.uk with the subject line unsubscribe from reps' bulletin.
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