Provost Cameron and Councillor Paterson; G McKinlay, Head of Schools, L McAllister, Acting Head of Early Years and Broad General Education and A Hall, Education Manager (Development) (all Children’s Services).

K Fella, JP Tonner, M McGlynn and J Welsh (all EIS).

E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer (Finance & Resources).

S Quinn, Acting Director of Children’s Services, M Dewar, Head Teacher (Parkmains High School), L Mullin, Principal HR Adviser, A Howie, J McCusker and H Whittle (all EIS), and S Dargie (SSTA).

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

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 John Welsh would chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

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

There was submitted the Minute of meeting held on 5 February 2019.

In relation to 3 of the Minute – Review of Policy Guidelines for Monitoring and Evaluating the Learning and Teaching Experience (MELE) – the Head of Schools advised that the revised guidelines had been issued to all Head Teachers.

In relation to item 6 of the Minute – Assessment Moderation – the Acting Head of Early Years and Broad General Education advised that this matter had been raised at a recent meeting of primary school Head Teachers and that this matter would be taken forward in discussion with the Join Secretary (Teachers’ Side). 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the updates be noted; and

(b) That the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to homework apps.

The report intimated that homework was an educational tool which, depending on individual circumstances, could be supportive of the learning process.  The allocation of homework and the content of homework had, historically, been left to the professional judgement of the teacher within the framework of an agreed homework policy.

A recent development in Renfrewshire schools was the promotion of homework apps, the use of which were raising serious concerns around teacher agency, workload and excessive monitoring.

The report proposed that dialogue take place between the management and teachers’ side regarding the use of homework apps in Renfrewshire schools as one element amongst a range of homework methods which could be used to raise attainment.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That the Acting Head of Early Years and Broad General Education discuss issues around homework apps with the teachers’ side and provide information to Head Teachers that homework apps had not to be used as a monitoring tool.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be agreed that the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff scheduled to be held on 23 April 2019 be cancelled due to its close proximity to this meeting; and

(b) That it be noted that the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff would now be held at 2.00 pm on 14 May 2019.