This provides an update on current developments at a national level and the potential for industrial action by Secondary School Teachers Trades Unions.
In December 2015, teaching union EIS announced that they had consulted their members on possible industrial action in response to workload concerns related to the new SQA qualifications.
Of those who participated 93% expressed support in principle for industrial action. On Friday, 13 May, EIS announced plans to hold a statutory ballot of members over these concerns.
It follows a review by a working group established by the Scottish Government to examine ways of reducing bureaucracy and extra workload linked to the new curriculum and qualifications.
The Assessment and National Qualification Working Group has since published an interim report setting out a series of recommendations to address concerns under four main headings:
- Changes to national qualification assessment requirements
- Quality assurance and verification
- Expectations on advice and good practice, and
- A new programme of engagement with teachers and schools.
Teaching unions have indicated that they do not believe it will make an immediate impact on workload concerns.
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) began taking action short of strike from 12 May in relation to this issue.
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) are also balloting members with a view to seeking a formal mandate for action.
Subject specific SQA guidance is set to be published at the end of May, and this also has the potential to have an impact on workload.
Ballot papers will be issued to EIS members over the coming weeks.
The EIS has stated that any action would stop short of a strike but would see teachers working to contract.
If support is given for the action, it is believed this would begin close to the start of the summer holiday period at the end of June and would likely impact on assessment and reporting related to the new qualifications.
This is a national campaign, and while as a Council we are already introducing a number of measures to reduce workload at a local level, we would not be involved in any local negotiations to influence the outcome of the ballot process.
If support is achieved for industrial action, it is believed this would begin at the end of June and would likely impact on assessment and reporting related to the new qualifications at our secondary schools.
West Dunbartonshire Councillor Martin Rooney 