Welcome back to the start of another term. A lot has happened organisationally over the last year to the provision of education across the borough: the re-designation of Grappenhall Hall Special School to cater for KS3/4 only, the decision to eventually close Woolston Community High School and the reorganisation of the Centrally Employed staff into area teams. ATL has been active in all these changes ensuring that the best deals have been offered to colleagues who have decided to relinquish their full time posts or their specific responsibilities. I am pleased to state that ATL members involved have welcomed the support and success achieved so far.

Much of my case work load in June and July has been focussed in the primary sector and I would like to stress a few points that have arisen in passing. Primary colleagues must not do the planning, setting and marking of work that is undertaken by the class when the class teacher is on PPA time(a problem that does not arise in the Secondary sector). This would be in direct contravention of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document which is statutorily binding on Head teachers and Governors. They must ensure that the regulations are satisfied. This time should have been budgeted for: failure to do so cannot be used as a response. Please contact me immediately if this is happening in your school or if you are still required to undertake any of the clerical/admin tasks that were ‘outlawed’ in the workforce reform agreement or if you hold a TLR and do not have designated management time for this responsibility.

Our LA WAMG (Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group) has been strengthened with the attendance of Senior LA Advisors at all future meetings. This will enable the group and the LA to have more immediate and effective communications with Head teachers. WAMG will be focusing on the number and purpose of lesson observations that are not part of the statutory Performance Management Regulations. Advice will be issued to Head teachers after our October meeting. At the time of writing the Unions are still awaiting the outcome of the job evaluations that were carried out for all non-teaching posts in the LA. This is a mammoth task when you consider the range of jobs that had to be covered but progress will have to be made this end of the year.

You may recall that over the last 18 months I have doubled up my branch role to incorporate that of ATL H&S Representative. I am pleased to announce that Gary Taverner will take on this role from the start of this term. He will represent ATL at all levels of H&S meetings with the LA and participate in the Joint H&S Inspections that the TUs undertake with the LA. Gary can be contacted by phone on 01925 636414 or by email at gtaverner@boteler.org.uk

Our membership in Warrington Branch grew by nearly 10% last academic year. Please encourage any colleague who is not in an association to join up with ATL.

Finally, and again this has arisen from involvement with case work, please get in touch with me if you have any concerns regarding your contract or pay and conditions. Check out your position and get informed opinion before you have your intended discussion with management.