January 2026

Created on: 02 Feb 2026

Workload Dispute: Re-Ballot

Key developments:

  • The EIS Executive Committee approved a new statutory workload ballot in order to win our workload dispute, after narrowly missing the 50% threshold first time around.
  • Ballot notices have been sent to all 32 councils.
  • The ballot will open on Monday February 2nd and close on March 4th.
  • Ballot papers will be sent out by post the week beginning February 2nd in yellow envelopes. (By UK law, this must be a postal vote.)

Vital Role for Reps

As an EIS rep, the most important thing that you can do is encourage members to vote.

Try to speak to every member and encourage them to:

  1. Check that their home address details are correct- because this is a postal ballot by law.
  2. Look out for the yellow ballot envelope, vote and post back their ballot paper as soon as they can.

Ask other EIS activists in your school to help you get around everyone if necessary and hold a Branch meeting to bring everyone together to discuss the importance of voting in the ballot.

Your Local Association Secretary, Organiser and Area Officer can also help you with Branch meetings.

Key messages are that this ballot is about getting the government and employers to take the steps needed to deliver:

  • Less workload for teachers through better balance of teaching and preparation time
  • More permanent jobs for teachers- an end to precarity for thousands
  • Better learning conditions for pupils, including those with ASN

And keep the promises the promises that have been made to teachers, pupils and the electorate.

Action for Reps:

  • Read the updated Reps’ briefing.
  • Discuss the importance of the ballot with individual members.
  • Check membership details using EIS Engage.
  • Hold a branch meeting.
  • Stay in touch with your LA Secretary and Organiser.
  • Encourage members to vote as soon as possible when their ballot papers arrive around 4th February. 

GTCS Council Elections

GTCS Council elections opened on Tuesday, 13th January 2026. All teachers should have received an email from the GTCS with ballot instructions. The EIS is supporting a number of candidates and is urging EIS members to support them all, https://www.eis.org.uk/in-education/gtcselections2026. 

The GTCS plays an important role in framing education policy, as well as having specific remits in the areas of the Professional Standards and Code, and Professional Update. At a time of real challenge in our schools, it is vital that teacher voice is heard on GTCS Council and that the teachers who are elected are representative of the interests of the majority of teachers.

Action for Reps: Please highlight to members and encourage them to vote for ALL EIS supported candidates when they receive their online voting information.

PACT Modules 

The EIS will be re-offering all PACT sessions across 2026, both in-person and online. The PACT programme forms part of our continued commitment to addressing poverty and its impact on education through high-quality professional learning.

If you are interested in becoming involved or learning more, then please register for one of our upcoming dates and please also highlight the programme to members.

Look out for further dates which will be published shortly.

Action for Reps: Please consider attending a PACT session and highlight to members

International Health and Wellbeing Survey I-BEST 2026

The EIS will be joining other education trade unions from the UK and around the world in surveying their members on health and wellbeing issues. 

The survey opened on Monday 26th January and all members have been emailed a link to the survey. The survey can be accessed using the QR code on the posters enclosed with this bulletin.

The information we gather from the survey will support our Stand Up for Quality Education campaign as we continue to fight for increased core education funding to address additional support needs, reduce violence and aggression in our schools as well as concrete reductions in teachers’ workload. 

Action for Reps: Display the enclosed I-Best 2026 survey posters and encourage members to complete the survey.

Professional Learning Opportunities

There is a range of professional learning opportunities taking place from January to March, which are now open to book. With further opportunities currently in development, keep up to date with everything PL related by regularly visiting:

https://www.eis.org.uk/Meetings-And-Events/Courses.

Action for Reps: Please highlight to members

Reps Training

We encourage all EIS reps to regularly attend EIS training events. Our training is structured, with many courses developed with the TUC Education Departments of FE Colleges here in Scotland, and are TUC and OCN accredited. Teachers may include our training in the GTCS CPD log.

Action for Reps: Please consider whether you can attend any of these EIS Reps courses: https://www.eis.org.uk/meetings-and-events/reptraining

Get Involved in Your Local Association

Local Associations are the life blood the EIS, and there are lots of different ways for members to contribute to them. They act as a key link between members and the national union.

Contact your Local Association: https://www.eis.org.uk/contacts/localassociation

Reach out to New Teachers and Probationer Teachers in your school

Unions are strongest when we have as many members as possible and when 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. Contact your EIS organiser for more information: https://www.eis.org.uk/contacts/organisers