Councillor Henry; M Dewar, Acting Head of Service, G McKinlay, Head of Schools, M Convery, Head Teacher, St James Primary School and L McAllister, Education Manager (Curriculum & Early Years) (all Children’s Services).

K Fella, A Howie, JP Tonner, J Welsh and H Whittle (all EIS).

K Brown, Committee Services Officer (Finance & Resources).

The Chairperson intimated that there was an additional item in relation to a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to the Teacher Exchange Scheme which had not been included in the notice calling the meeting. The Chairperson, being of the opinion that the item, which was dealt with at item 5 of this Minute, was urgent, authorised its consideration.

H Whittle (EIS) entered the meeting during consideration of the following item.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to the proposed introduction of a Teacher Exchange Scheme designed to offer permanent teachers the opportunity for professional development and to support the Council to build capacity within its teaching staff. A copy of the proposed scheme was appended to the report. The report outlined the benefits of the Teacher Exchange Scheme and proposed that the Scheme be introduced as a pilot for the school session beginning August 2016 and ending June 2017. The pilot would cover permanent unpromoted teachers with a full evaluation of the pilot scheme to be undertaken at the end of June 2017.




DECIDED: That the Teacher Exchange Scheme, as outlined in the appendix to the report, be approved in principle with any final amendments to be agreed by the Joint Secretaries prior to offering the opportunity to teaching staff for session 2016/17.

Councillor Clark; P Macleod, Director of Children’s Services and J Trainer, Acting Head of Early Years & Inclusion (both Children’s Services); R Hannah, J McCusker and M Russell (all EIS); L Mullin, Principal HR & OD Adviser (Finance & Resources); and M Greenlees and G Glover (both SSTA).

In accordance with the terms of the local recognition and procedure agreement, which stated that the Chair of the Committee should alternate between the two sides comprising the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff, it was agreed that Councillor Henry chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

DECIDED: That Councillor Henry chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

There was submitted the Minute of meeting held on 17 November 2015.

DECIDED: That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Schools relative to the SNCT publication JS.15/63 in relation to family leave, a copy of which was appended to the report.

The report intimated that the SNCT Support Group had met on 26 November 2015 and had asked the Joint Secretaries to remind LNCTs that continuous service provisions for all Family Leave contained within Section 7 Paragraph 7.1.2 of the Handbook of Conditions of Service were to be applied consistently when a teacher moved employment between Councils.

The report confirmed that Renfrewshire Council continued to implement all aspects of the SNCT handbook and that this was to be applied consistently.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to the continuing concern at both local and national level regarding the workload of teachers.

The report intimated that integral to managing workload in schools was that all school staff were involved in the construction of the working time agreement on an annual basis and that these agreements were adhered to by both sides and the integrity of the 35 hour working week was maintained on an ongoing basis. On 21 December 2015, SNCT published JS/15/62, a copy of which was attached as Appendix 1 to the report, which sought to ensure LNCTs were aware of the importance of managing teacher workload through appropriate use of working time agreements.

Appendix 2 to the report provided SNCT details on collegiality with reference to the working time agreement. This included a set of questions which should be used in all schools. This approach ensured that teachers evaluated their personal workload against the figures agreed in the school. Responses to these questions provided good evidence of the ongoing evaluation of the working time agreement. They would also yield information which would feed into the school consultative group’s annual review of the working time agreement. Implementation of the agreed working time agreement should be monitored rigorously in each school and a mechanism should be in place to ensure issues were able to be resolved quickly and in a collegiate manner. The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) had a role to play in monitoring workload and resolving issues that had not been resolved at school level and as a result workload monitoring reports would be brought to the meetings of the JNC for Teaching Staff on a regular basis.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be agreed that schools would ensure that all staff were involved in the construction of the working time agreement and that the agreement was realistic and adhered to by both sides; and

(b) That it be agreed that monitoring reports would be submitted to the JNC for Teaching Staff on a regular basis.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff would be held on 22 March 2016 at 2.00 p.m.