Industrial Action
Classroom Observation
I am delighted to be able to report that we have received clarity in relation to classroom observation.
At JWP on Monday, the Employers and DENI confirmed that school leaders may enter classrooms to observe practice when the Principal deems it appropriate.
It was also confirmed at this meeting that the Jordanstown Agreement is very much in existence and that it still defines the role and responsibility of school leaders and teachers.
Information to this effect will be forwarded to schools from the Employers.
School Meetings
In addition, NASUWT’s present industrial action continues to impact on schools.
While it was acknowledged that employees and unions are entitled to declare a dispute and engage in industrial action, employers and DENI expressed concern about the impact that this was having on schools.
NAHT would take this opportunity to remind members that the employers and DENI carry responsibility in situations where staff engage in industrial action so if this is action is impacting on the day to day management of your school you should inform your Governors, the HR department and this union by letter or email stating that staff are engaged in industrial action and indeed of the impact that this is having on the day to day management of the school. Please ensure that you retain a copy of this communication.
NAHT fully appreciates how difficult and stressful it can be working in this environment but would urge you to reflect on the fact that while these situations come and go, school leaders need to retain a solid working relationship in the school environment. In other words, avoid if at all possible, placing yourself in conflict situations with members of staff over their decision to engage in industrial action. This is a legal right and should not be challenged.
Continue to arrange and engage as far as possible in the normal calendar of staff meetings and events. Do not change your schedule because your school rep has informed you of the proposed industrial action.
Do not attempt to either persuade or coerce staff to attend the arranged meetings. Retain a copy of the agenda and the minutes of the meeting and a register of the staff who were in attendance and the number of staff absent from the meeting. Make sure that this information and a copy of NASUWT’s instructions to their members is retained in a file and is readily available if either the employer or DENI request the information.
The Inspection Process
School leaders will be aware that ‘Every School a Good School’ has impacted on the role of the school support officer and indeed the inspection process.
At a meeting with the Chief Inspector Mr Goudie (12-5-10) he confirmed that inspectors would be mindful of the impact which industrial action could have on school development and progress in school.
However, his officers could not accept at face value that industrial action had impacted on progress. They would however be looking for evidence that a refusal to attend meetings etc had impacted on the day to day management and work in school!
In an environment where school leaders are held responsible and accountable for all aspects of school life including teaching and learning, communications and the professional development of teachers and support staff, it is essential that if progress has been delayed or hampered by industrial action that the reporting inspector is informed accordingly.
It is also incumbent on you as school leader to ensure that evidence is available to demonstrate that opportunities were there for teachers to engage and participate but that they chose not to do so. For this reason also it is essential that communications from unions engaged in industrial action and indeed the evidence of meetings arranged etc should be made available if requested at the time of the inspection.
Meeting with the Chief Inspector
A delegation from NAHT which included:-
Ivan Arbuthnot (President)
Michael Newman (Vice President)
Harry Greer, Clair Majury, Colm Davis, Aidan Dolan and Fern Turner,
met the Chief Inspector Stanley Goudie, his Deputy Faustina Graham and Department Officers at a meeting in Rathgael House on Wednesday 12th May 2010.
A number of issues were discussed at this meeting including:-
· Classroom observation
· Nursery issues
· General inspections
· Recruitment to leadership posts
· Area based learning
· New builds.
The dialogue was “interesting” and it was evident that Stanley Goudie was receptive to many of the points raised including the need for strategic planning at all levels. NAHT stressed the importance that this dialogue would be continued and that communication channels remained open.
Michael Fullan Workshop
Many of our members attended the RTU Workshop which was lead by Michael Fullan whose key message was that school leaders needed to mobilise and empower people if we are to grasp the change agenda.
He stated that there were 6 secrets which could open the door to success. These included:-
· Love your employees
· Connect peers with purpose
· Capacity building
· Learning to work
· Transparent rules
· Systems learning
The workshop was both inspiring and thought provoking. Indeed Michael’s key message was that Trust is fundamental to the implementation of successful change management. It is difficult to see how this fits easily into Every School a Good School and indeed the “Challenge Agenda.”
NAHT/ASCL
NAHT and ASCL continue to work together on a number of issues. It is planned that members of the NI Committee and ASCL will meet again at the end of this term.
Nursery Update
Susan Campbell, a member of our Nursery Committee and a member of the NAHT(NI) Committee spoke at National Conference in Liverpool.
Susan explained to colleagues in England and Wales that while the Chief Inspector’s Report pays tribute to the delivery of Nursery Education in Northern Ireland and states;
“The highest and most consistent quality is in the nursery schools, where over one half of the provision is judged to be outstanding”,
yet Nursery Principals in Northern Ireland have consistently been treated differently than their colleagues in other sectors.
For example, despite NAHT(NI)’s success in achieving 2 days non-contact time for Principals in small schools, this facility has not been extended to Principals in the Nursery Sector. Susan outlined for conference the range of duties and responsibilities which Nursery Principals are required to fulfil and the measures taken by our Nursery Committee to try to address what could only be described as blatant inequality. Conference noted that despite all of her efforts and the efforts of her committee no satisfactory explanation has been offered in relation to why this group of Principals were excluded from this provision.
Susan’s presentation was well received and her resolution:
‘Conference calls on the Department of Education for Northern Ireland to ensure that Nursery Principals receive their entitlement to funded, dedicated , non-teaching time immediately’,
was seconded my Michael Newman and received unanimous support.
Affiliated membership of ICTU
NAHT NI has just confirmed its intention to affiliate with ICTU.
Training and Development
NAHT are in the process of putting together our training and development programme for next year. Amongst others, a conference will be offered on managing staff attendance and sickness. This will include an update on ‘fit notes’, referrals to OH and NI procedures. It would also be our intention to run the annual conference for Vice Principal’s and SMT.
In addition there will be our annual update on salaries and pensions and managing redundancy in collaboration with the LRA.
We are inviting members to contact us with any issues which you would like to have addressed in the incoming school year. Please contact Patsy on 02890776633 / patsyc@naht.org.uk
Information on all forthcoming events will be forward to members via email and placed on the NI section of the website:
http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/your-location/northern-ireland
Fern Turner,
Regional Officer and Director of Trade Union Services
Tel: 07860926101 mobile
028276 64140Ballymoney Office
02890 776633Belfast Office
