Report April 2016

THE MAGAZINE FROM ATL, THE EDUCATION UNION

WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

APRIL/MAY 2016 £2.50

Standing

up together

Members speak out on the Government’s white paper, workload, pupil well-being, support staff and much more at ATL’s Annual Conference WO R KLOAD

COMBAT STRESS

Practical advice on reducing workload-related stress

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MARY BOUSTE D

FORCED ACADEMIES

ATL general secretary on fighting together to protect our profession

J O I N T H E D E B AT E

REV KATE BOTTLEY

The Gogglebox star on finding her place in further education

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Contents UPFRONT

UPDATE

ATL responds to the flurry of Government announcements, including the white paper, KS1 and 2 assessment and the workload group reports

WORKLOAD AND STRESS Ways of combatting stress related to excessive workload

23 LEGAL ADVICE

9 WALES AND

Our legal team on the right to see an employee’s medical records

Bethan Jones looks ahead to the elections in Wales, while Mark Langhammer explains the “insulting” pay offer in Northern Ireland

YOUR VIEWS

NORTHERN IRELAND

F E AT U R E S

ATL members on trying to keep people in teaching, bad banter and a backlash against forced academies

12 ATL ANNUAL

PRIZE CROSSWORD

CONFERENCE 2016

Liverpool hosts member debates and speeches on academies, workload, support staff, FE and much more

30 FINAL WORD

Gogglebox’s Reverend Kate Bottley on finding her place in FE Y O U R AT L

19 USEFUL CONTACTS

Win a £50 M&S voucher

NOTICEBOARD

Information, events and opportunities to get involved, such as by becoming part of our advisory groups on FE, support staff or the independent sector

RESOURCES

Summer events based around our workload campaign and a newsletter for ATL’s reps

How to get in touch with ATL

Report is the magazine from ATL, 7 Northumberland Street, London WC2N 5RD Tel 020 7930 6441 Fax 020 7930 1359 Email report@atl.org.uk or membership@atl.org.uk Website www.atl.org.uk Editor Alex Tomlin News editor Sally Gillen Report is produced and designed for ATL by Think Publishing, Capital House, 25 Chapel Street, London NW1 5DH Tel 020 3771 7200 Email info@thinkpublishing.co.uk Sub editor Mike Hine Art editor Clair Williams Designer Alix Thomazi Advertising sales Michael Coulsey or Anthony Bennett 020 3771 7200 Account manager Kieran Paul Managing director Polly Arnold

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ATL accepts no liability for any insert, display or classified advertisement included in this publication. While every reasonable care is taken to ensure that all advertisers are reliable and reputable, ATL can give no assurance that they will fulfil their obligation under all circumstances. The views expressed in articles in Report are the contributors’ own and do not necessarily reflect ATL policy. Official policy

Welcome KIM KNAPPETT, ATL NATIONAL PRESIDENT

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! On 23 March, I was proud to be part of the #TellNickyNo demonstration and rally in London alongside thousands of colleagues from ATL and the NUT, supported by parents and students. I know many of you also joined in with other events around the country, signed petitions and lobbied your MPs as we stand up against the threat of mass academisation proposed in the budget and education white paper. The scary thing is that we know academies, and in particular multi-academy trusts, do not improve educational outcomes for the majority of our pupils and that the so-called freedoms given to heads and principals are often a ‘bullies’ charter’ for making the jobs of education professionals harder. As our feature on page 20 shows, schools are having to spend time addressing soaring stress levels, rather than preventing it in the first place. So, back to my themes: we need to continue to talk – to tell the Government and the public why the current plans for education are flawed; to communicate clearly the alternatives; and to show that we should be trusted to get on with the task in hand. The report on our Annual Conference in Liverpool on page 12 demonstrates that ATL members have a lot of good suggestions to improve our education system.

Cover illustration: David Biskup

JOIN THE DEBATE…

report@atl.org.uk @ATLReport facebook.com/ATLUnion

Report, ATL, 7 Northumberland Street, London WC2N 5RD

13/04/2016 10:37

U P D AT E

Forced academies a “step too far”, warns ATL The Government has published an education white paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, that sets out plans to turn all schools into academies The paper was published the day after chancellor George Osborne announced all schools would become, or be in the processing of becoming, academies by 2020 in his budget statement. ATL general secretary Mary Bousted warned: “Forcing schools to become academies is an ideological step too far and not in the interests of parents.” The 128-page white paper also outlines plans that include recruiting and retaining teachers, initial teacher training and developing leaders in education. Dr Bousted added: “Nothing in this white paper addresses the fundamental fault lines in English education. Ministers seem to believe that, magically, there will be enough high-quality multi-academy trusts to support the thousands of schools that they will force to become academies. “Once all schools are academies, ministers will find there is nowhere to hide. They will no longer be able to cherry-pick and misrepresent data, claiming it shows that academies achieve better educational standards than local authority schools. Ministers will be judged on whether a self-improving, school-led

system actually delivers results, and on current performance they would be wise not to believe their own hype.” Dr Bousted went on to say that proposals to replace qualified teacher status with accreditation, which will be based on a teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom, are “problematic”. Another announcement in Osborne’s budget was that the school day will be extended by an hour. Dr Bousted said: “Extending the school day when the Government itself acknowledges there is a serious teacher workload problem won’t improve learning if exhausted teachers, on diminishing pay, have not got just an extra hour to teach, but also have to fit in planning, marking, assessment and data analysis for that extra lesson.”

“NOTHING IN THIS WHITE PAPER ADDRESSES THE FUNDAMENTAL FAULT LINES IN ENGLISH EDUCATION”

ATL RALLIES AGAINST MORGAN PLANS ATL members took part in rallies held across England to protest against Government plans to convert all schools into academies. General secretary Mary Bousted addressed a crowd taking part in the London demonstration at Westminster Cathedral. Speaking afterwards, Dr Bousted said: “The fact that more than 2,000 teachers marched through London on the last day of term protesting against forced academisation shows the strength and depth of feeling on the issue.

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“It is almost impossible to find anyone who supports the Government proposals,” she added. “They must be withdrawn, otherwise we will see teachers and school leaders leaving the profession and standards of education will fall. Is this what the Government really wants?” The 14 rallies took place on 23 March, a week after the Government published the education white paper Educational Excellence Everywhere, which sets out plans to force all primary and secondary schools to become academies.

ATL f ights cuts to support staff pay ATL is urging Durham County Council to reconsider cost-cutting proposals that will see thousands of support staff in the region lose up to £5,000 a year. The council plans to cut pay by reducing hours from 37 to 32.5 hours a week and changing all contracts to term time only. In a written response to the consultation in December, ATL regional organiser Ken Smith said: “It is an outrage and completely unacceptable that some of the lowest-paid employees with the council will be hit the hardest. “How can a council justify reducing their annual pay by 25%?” he added. “Such proposals will hit some of the most vulnerable and hard-working employees.” One ATL member said: “Gone are the days of support staff washing paint pots and wiping runny noses. We are practitioners and educators with an important and valid role in the lives and well-being of children.” Following the consultation, which generated more than 600 responses, a second consultation is now underway, which includes proposals to phase in the cuts over three years, rather than in one go from September. ATL is continuing to fight the cuts. A petition against them has more than 16,000 signatures. Go to http://petition.parliament.uk/ petitions/113637. WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

13/04/2016 10:38

UPDATE

IN BRIEF ATL POSITION ON PREVENT ATL is calling for clarity from Government and its agencies that Prevent – the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy – should be dealt with through safeguarding systems. In a position statement, ATL also calls for good-quality training for staff on any particular issues for Prevent. While ATL recognises there are groups that are trying to exploit vulnerable young people through radicalisation, the direction from Government is “confused and unhelpful”. It conflates radicalism and radicalisation. “Most radicalisation happens through online sources, not in schools,” says ATL. Schools and colleges should not shy away from teaching about radicalism. • A motion on Prevent was debated at ATL’s Annual Conference. The motion warned Prevent is marginalising individuals and groups.

Workload reports published Delegates at the TUC’s women’s conference in London. Photography by Janina Struk

TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE In March, ATL general secretary Mary Bousted chaired the TUC women’s conference, where around 300 delegates debated a wide range of issues, including stronger rights for female carers. Chair of ATL’s Independent and Private Sector Advisory Group Helen Porter (pictured above, back right) proposed ATL’s motion ‘A woman’s workload is never-ending’, calling for a better work-life balance and increased awareness of the health and safety aspects of heavy workload. The motion was carried unanimously. ATL’s equalities officer Wanda Wyporska, who attended, said: “What came out of the three days was the determination of women trade unionists to continue to fight for equal pay and better conditions for atypical workers, such as support staff.”

Photography: Sarah Turton

JOIN THE DEBATE… report@atl.org.uk

@ATLReport

facebook.com/ ATLUnion

Report, ATL, 7 Northumberland Street, London WC2N 5RD

WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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Rep award winners Seven exceptional reps have been recognised in ATL’s 2016 Rep Awards, including: Celia Geen, of the College of West Anglia, who has been named AMiE rep; Tina Lauder, of Rossington All Saints Academy, who is workplace rep – academy MAT; and Sundus Alzouebi, a union learning rep at Darnall Forum. Two reps won in the workplace rep – FE college category: Mike Pevitt, who is based at Bolton College, and Wendy Wilderspin at Cambridge Regional College. Joint winners also scooped the workplace rep – academy school award: Sheryl Fuller at West Green First School and John Roche at St Andrew and St Francis CofE Primary School.

Teachers should be allowed to use forms of feedback other than deep marking, but alternatives must be properly considered so they do not become a time-consuming and ineffective new fad. That is ATL’s call to the Government, in response to the Workload Challenge reports published by the Department for Education (DfE) in March. In our response to the three reports – on planning and resources, data and marking – ATL also urges the Government to make sure that data at all levels has a strategy behind it, and that there is clarity and consistency from Ofsted and regional schools commissioners. ATL general secretary Mary Bousted said: “The reports have some powerful recommendations, which should help schools to tackle teachers’ workloads so they can concentrate on teaching, learning and raising pupils’ achievements. “But it is vital that the Government continues to take this issue seriously. The DfE needs to stick to the promises in its protocol and ensure that schools and teachers have all the information they need to plan teaching and pupil development at least a year in advance.” She added: “Policies that affect education must be rigorously assessed to check their impact on teachers’ workloads, with a guarantee they will not be introduced if they are not manageable or cannot be effectively implemented.” To read the reports and ATL’s full response, go to www.atl.org. uk/workloadgroups. A closer look at marking and workload will be in June’s Report .

APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 5

13/04/2016 11:30

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12/04/2016 04/04/2016 09:42 13:33

UPDATE

KS2 assessment in chaos, says ATL ATL general secretary Mary Bousted has written to members advising them not to use Standards and Testing Agency guidance or tick sheets for key stage 2 assessments. The guidance gave teachers until 22 May to assess pupils’ work against 34 criteria, which would have left a teacher with a class of 30 children checking more than 6,000 boxes. ATL raised concerns that this would hugely increase workload, and Dr Bousted said the guidance should

be withdrawn. ATL members have been told to use their professional judgement of where children sit against the old 4B level when deciding if children reach the ‘expected standard’. Following lobbying, the Department for Education issued a clarification that the deadline would be extended until 30 June. It also said that teachers were not required to use the ‘exemplification materials’ if they are confident in their judgements,

outlining that the expected standard is “broadly in line” with the old level 4B. Dr Bousted then wrote to education secretary Nicky Morgan saying the arrangements for assessment were “chaotic”. The letter added: “I would like to advise you that ATL will robustly defend any teacher who faces negative consequences for following your guidance.” ATL continues to lobby for further changes to the assessment arrangements for key stages 1 and 2.

ATL on tackling teacher shortage Bursaries for trainee teachers should be reviewed and the funds used to repay student loans, ATL has told the Government. In written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on training new teachers, ATL says there is little evidence bursaries impact on retention. “Those who have benefitted from tax-free bursaries of £30,000 – the equivalent in take-home pay of around £40,000 – are unlikely to find posts which offer the minimum end of the main teachers’ pay scale attractive “By repaying a percentage of their loans over a number of years, teachers would be incentivised to stay within teaching, helping to address the issue of retention.” ATL’s submission also warns it is “deeply concerning” that there is no aim to address the WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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pre-existing teacher shortage, including that caused by four years of missed recruitment targets. Department for Education figures show there were 630 vacancies in 2010, rising to 1,730 in 2014. Although the figures are helpful in showing an upward trend, they are unlikely to be reliable, says ATL. The picture of school vacancies is incomplete because of a lack of reporting at school level. ATL Future, trainee and NQ members also say the plethora of teacher education routes is complicated and off-putting. ATL recommends a review of the effectiveness of bursaries and tackling workload as a matter of urgency. Workload is driving up teacher departure from the profession, with a recent ATL survey showing 81% have considered leaving because of the workload.

Politicians faced tough questions from ATL members in Wales. Photography by Natasha Hirst

Hustings in Wales ATL members in Wales grilled politicians from the main political parties on what they would do to put education first if they are voted in following May’s elections. In what was a lively debate with some lighter moments, members asked questions on topics including work-life balance and education funding.

APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 7

13/04/2016 10:39

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12/04/2016 09:42

THE VIEW FROM… WALES / NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland

Wales

MARK LANGHAMMER

BETHAN JONES ATL Cymru president on the Welsh elections

WHATEVER THE OUTCOME of the Welsh Assembly elections on 5 May, we desire an open and honest discussion across political parties with learners as the focus, not political agendas – using the best of all for the benefit of learners. The ATL and AMiE manifesto clearly highlights our aspirations. ‘Put Education First’ underlines the necessity for a strong curriculum with portable qualifications respected across the UK, vital to ensure the best education for all our children and young people. Curriculum reform needs to be done well at the outset without needless tinkering. We want to see fewer changes to policies and targets.

Furthermore, we want an excellent, skilled workforce. The New Deal and Furlong report sound promising, but improvements in standards can only come with time and resources for CPD. We want investment in education. The school funding gap between Wales and England is neither fair nor right and needs to be addressed. Justice and parity brings us to our next target – fair terms and conditions for all staff, including support staff. We also want a guarantee to keep the state education system – public funds invested in learners in a system free from privatisation, catering for all children. We want a system that ensures the next generation of pupils can succeed and flourish in all areas, so they can be the innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs of the future. We want a system in which professionals are highly skilled, valued and supported throughout their careers. Our plea to the politicians, therefore, is please listen. The profession calls on you to work with us, not against us.

Pay offer is an insult to the profession PAY TALKS for 2015–16 have broken down. With Government imposing a oneper-cent overall limit, the end to automatic incremental progression and movement towards performance-related pay (PRP), negotiations were always going to be difficult. ATL voted in March 2015 to take industrial action (short of strike) based on: 1) an end to contractual automatic incremental progression 2) the implementation of PRP 3) ongoing cuts that compromise the ability of members to discharge their professional duties with integrity. The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council, the group of five teaching unions, made proposals in July 2015. The central element was a three-per-cent pay increase on all scales. We considered negotiating away automatic progression in return for ‘progression through CPD’. This avoided ‘performance’ pay with a fair, independent appeal system. After months of negotiations, school employers offered continued payment of increments (legally binding in any case) and one per cent

One change can make a difference ATL’s work-life campaign is already having a positive impact in improving workload in schools and colleges. n Share

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‘with strings’. The offer was dressed up as representing a 2.13% uplift. In reality, with increased living costs, national insurance and pension, the proposal is a real-terms pay cut. The offer is between £230 a year for newly qualified teachers and £370 a year for those with 12 years’ experience. In return, teachers would lose automatic movement on the pay scale. The offer is derisory and we could not accept it on your behalf. Teachers have seen workloads increase and support services cut from under them. They deserve a pay increase that reflects their efforts and contribution to society.

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14/04/2016 10:50

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FIGHTING TALK Mary Bousted had harsh words for the Government in her Conference speech to delegates in Liverpool Mary Bousted marked the Government’s performance on education policy as two out of 10. Basing her judgement on the essential elements of successful education policy set out by Andreas Schleicher, coordinator of the international PISA tables, the two marks were given for the recently issued guidance on marking, data management, and resources and lesson planning. This “has the potential, if used properly, to cut out a lot of the nonsense which currently counts as ‘good practice’ in too many schools”, she said. However, the positive feedback ended there, as Dr Bousted continued, “I can think of no time when teachers, lecturers and school leaders have felt less involved, less consulted and less able to exercise their professional judgement than now.” She reeled off a list of Government incompetence that is causing teachers to leave in droves. The failings included the lack of accreditation for many of the GCSEs, AS- and A-levels due to start in September, the absurdity of baseline testing of four-year-olds, the five Department for Education (DfE) clarifications needed over key stage 2 assessment, and a primary curriculum that turns writing from “a creative act into a rule-bound chore”. Dr Bousted shared the views of a parent, whose six-year-old son, despite being at ‘the expected level’ for reading, had been put in a special group as it looked like he might fail the phonics test. The parent was “beyond depressed” at the way “every child is reduced to a piece of data” for accountability purposes. This contributes, Dr Bousted said, to the increased stress and mental health problems children and young people experience, something that members also raised in several motions throughout Conference, along with the dire lack of support available in and out of schools. A telling statistic, Dr Bousted highlighted, was that England’s students spend more time rote learning and preparing for tests than any others in Europe. “How are rote learning, testing and memorisation going to achieve the key elements of 21st-century learning?” Dr Bousted asked. “We are heading, full pelt, in the wrong direction.” Despite this, she added, secretary of state Nicky Morgan has decided to “soldier bravely on” through the white paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, which Dr Bousted said “asks us to believe six impossible things before breakfast, including the big whopper – that the forced academisation of all schools will improve educational standards”.

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Is Morgan unaware, Dr Bousted wondered, of the DfE’s own analysis showing that just three of the top 20 multi-academy trusts (MATs) achieve above average value-added results, that head of Ofsted Sir Michael Wilshaw warned the minister of serious problems in many MATs and academies, and that financial scandals, such as at Perry Beeches Academy Trust, are prevalent? Dr Bousted marvelled at the DfE’s response to Perry Beeches, where £1.3 million was paid to a third-party supplier subcontracted to a company owned by the chief executive of the trust, Liam Nolan, effectively paying him a second salary. Perry Beeches’ schools were then handed to another MAT. The DfE described this as showing “the system is working”. This misspending of taxpayers’ money was appalling, she added, when the post-16 sector was in crisis due to several years of funding cuts. “So, Conference, what is forced academisation of all schools really about?” Dr Bousted went on. “We know it’s not about education standards – it’s about running schools as businesses and breaking the public service ethos of the profession.” It is also about taking parents out of the picture, she added, pointing out the backlash of angry parents on Mumsnet to Morgan’s case for forced academies. These observations drew applause from delegates, but they were soon laughing as Dr Bousted revealed the white paper’s declaration that, should a trust stop operating an academy at short notice, the secretary of state will be responsible for running the school. “You know, I really like this proposal,” Dr Bousted said. “It shows willingness on Nicky’s part to muck in. Will she be there at 8am, greeting children and their parents? Will she struggle to put together a timetable filled with EBacc subjects for which she cannot employ teachers? Will she give teachers a helping hand when Year 9 are playing up on a wet Friday afternoon? She would learn a lot.” Calling for a coordinated response, Dr Bousted said: “We must fight together to protect our profession, for the sake of the children and young people whose education depends on us. If we fight together, with parents and councillors, with other unions, with politicians, with governors, with the whole of civil society which opposes the madness of forced academisation, then this is a battle we can win.” Delegates showed their approval with a standing ovation.

WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

13/04/2016 10:44

SPOTLIGHT ON… CONFERENCE 2016

ATL Conference

PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH TURTON

FROM OPPOSING FORCED ACADEMIES TO CALLING FOR SUPPORT TO IMPROVE PUPIL WELL-BEING, MORE THAN 400 ATL MEMBERS SHOWED THEY KNOW THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR EDUCATION

FORCED ACADEMIES Members voted unanimously to pass an urgent motion condemning the Government white paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, as an attack on democracy, state-run education and the teaching profession. ATL will now ramp up its opposition to forced academisation and escalate campaigns to work with other unions to defend the public service ethos of the profession. Introducing the motion, former ATL president Mark Baker mocked the white paper’s title, telling the audience: “It should read ‘educational excellence… all over the place.’” He then launched a scathing attack on the Government’s track record on education. “Education does not thrive when starved of resources,” he said. “Education does not thrive when schools are threatened, bullied and now compelled into becoming academies. Education does not thrive when its workforce is denigrated, criticised and scapegoated, paid for on the cheap. Education does not thrive when our children and young people are being tested to destruction. “This Government has a blinkered and incoherent view of our state education system,” he continued. Baker went on to describe the Government as “ignorant of the carnage before it”, squandering millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money and damaging thousands of lives in pursuit of dogma, while blaming the profession, local authorities, the media, Ofsted and parents because its whimsical ideas are not working. “Neither the secretary of state nor Nick Gibb here have offered one jot of evidence in support of their plans – because there isn’t any.” Ofsted has focused inspections on nine of the largest multi-academy trusts with damning reports, said Baker. “The Government’s policies have failed, and with this white paper it is seeking to cover WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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its tracks, removing qualified teacher status to hide the colossal teacher shortage of their own making.” Ending his address, Baker said: “The Government now wants to transfer the problem to schools and then blame headteachers for the looming crisis, while simultaneously reducing school budgets. With this Government showing such indifference, arrogance and narrowmindedness, we are a profession of lions led by donkeys.” GOVERNMENT POLICY ATL members highlighted the many problems with Government education policy throughout Conference, from the first motion on one of the most pressing issues facing the profession: recruitment and retention. Proposing the motion calling for the Executive Committee to commission research into the extent of the crisis – especially senior and middle management posts – president of ATL Cymru Bethan Jones said excessive accountability, relentless testing and a lack

Mark Baker: No evidence for academies plans

NEW UNION Delegates at ATL’s Annual Conference agreed to move ahead with talks with the NUT around creating a new union to protect and support members and the children, young people and adults they educate. In a closed session at Conference, delegates representing members from across ATL spoke at length about the opportunities and challenges around creating a new union for education professionals across every role and sector. Against the background of the Government’s white paper plans to force schools to become academies, to undermine qualified teacher status, and to further erode pay and working conditions, delegates overwhelmingly supported

the continuation of talks to create a 500,000-strong union, which would be able to mount a very powerful defence of education. Although delegates have agreed ATL should carry on discussions with the NUT, there will be many opportunities for members to have a say on the union’s future. The new union would not go ahead until: the Executive Committee gives its backing; a special conference is held to agree the new union’s structure and rules; and the wider membership gives its support in a ballot, likely to be held next year. We will keep you up to date with progress at every stage. For information, visit www.atl.org.uk/newunion. 3 APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 13

13/04/2016 10:44

Rosanna Rackley: Staying calm and not reading the Daily Mail

of trust in teachers is “highly destructive and demoralising”. She added: “The situation is reaching critical proportions. Urgent changes are needed.” Next up was a motion calling for ATL to look at the impact of bursaries, pay scales and conditions, and to lobby Government for effective recruitment and retention of new professionals. ATL member Geoff Pye hit back at education secretary Nicky Morgan who, days before Conference, had placed responsibility for the recruitment crisis at the door of unions. “I hope you’re listening, Nicky Morgan,” he said. “Your speech appalled me. It was disingenuous of you to blame teaching unions for the recruitment and retention crisis.” He went on to give examples of new teachers who were considering quitting, including a primary teacher struggling

The courage to listen ATL president Kim Knappett’s speech to Conference called for ATL members to talk and for the Government to listen Kim Knappett returned to her themes of time, trust and talk for her presidential speech, telling Conference that these are the way to influence the future and counteract the failings of Government policy. “We need to reclaim our time,” she told members. “We need to stop doing things that have little or no effect on the pupils we teach and start doing tasks that have a tangible impact on our students.” As an example, she related how she had taken the advice of Ofsted by having no lesson plan when a member of her senior leadership team observed her recently. The “poor SLT member” was bereft without the paperwork, while she and the class managed perfectly well, proving that “much of the time we spend – or waste – on paperwork is not for us or for pupils, but for those who seek to check up on us”. She called for education professionals to help deal with the myriad challenges of today’s education system by talking more to each other. “When I started to teach, we talked – often in a staffroom over a cup

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of tea. Now, we sit in our classrooms and email the colleague down the corridor. “When we talk about work-life balance, I feel that we have the emphasis wrong – we work together with others so let’s get things into perspective and go for a life-work balance – one whereby we make time to talk and to listen to each other.” Finally, Knappett moved on to trust. She quoted education secretary Nicky Morgan, who called for education unions to stop doing battle with the Government and stop doing down the profession. Knappett responded: “We don’t want to ‘do battle’; we want to be trusted, to have our opinions listened to. Why should making our point and suggesting alternatives be seen as doing down the profession?” She concluded with a quote, attributed to Winston Churchill: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Knappett’s challenge to education professionals is “to have the courage to talk, and my challenge to the politicians is to have the courage to listen – you just might learn something”.

to live on her £22,400 salary and worried that she will not get an incremental rise. “She has peers working nine to five for several thousand pounds more, while she is being ground down by the relentless hours she has to put in. “Nicky Morgan, deal with the problem,” he said. “Don’t try to deflect it to us.” A motion calling for meaningful consultation to be carried out on proposed free schools and thorough vetting of any individual or group applying to open one was put forward by headteacher and AMiE member Robin Bevan. “Free schools have been initiated where there is no need, where there are no available buildings, except at a very high cost, and with pupil intake numbers so low that the cost per pupil is exceptionally high,” he said. The motion was carried. Following that, members voted to ask the Executive Committee to research the impact of national multi-academy trusts (MATs) on regional variations in education standards, and to compile a report on the effects on students’ education. Elsewhere, the Government was accused of creating a ‘them and us’ climate of fear through its Prevent strategy. “This is not the way to tackle terrorism,” said former ATL president Hank Roberts, proposing a motion to state that safeguarding is the appropriate route to deal with such matters and to lobby the Government to provide adequate training of education professionals to improve the understanding of issues around radicalisation. Mike Pevitt, of Bolton, described how the large Muslim population in his area feel alienated by the strategy, and have asked why extremist groups such as the English Defence League are not mentioned in it. Rosanna Rackley summed up her argument, saying, “Calm down, protect our kids and stop reading the Daily Mail.” Two of the lesser-known victims of Government policy were defended on Wednesday morning as school libraries and small schools took centre stage. Cathy Tattersfield proposed the motion ‘Stop shutting school libraries!’ by revealing the unsurprising research finding that there is a link between having a good-quality school library and academic achievement, and that not having one has a disproportionate effect on disadvantaged pupils. Lesley Mumbray-Williams, a school librarian of many years’ experience, had been told that she had three days to tell her successor “everything I know” before WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

13/04/2016 10:44

SPOTLIGHT ON… CONFERENCE 2016

leaving. Within weeks of her departure, a third of the library’s stock was in skips. This motion was enthusiastically carried, as was the one on protecting small, rural schools. Trevor Cope, of Devon, described how the loss of a village school could be catastrophic for the local area. “I’ve seen four village schools close,” he said. “That’s four villages without a heart.” WORKLOAD Unsurprisingly, excessive workload was on members’ minds, and four motions that sought to deal with it were all carried on Monday morning. Elizabeth Wells proposed the motion calling for ATL to contact other unions to discuss joint action to reduce the workload burden. She began by cataloguing the numerous tasks she completes as part of her job before adding to the list, “play with daughter, spend time with husband, do bedtime”, before returning to marking. “I can’t do this until I’m 70,” she said. “We have a huge crisis, despite what Nick Gibb says [see page 16]. If all the unions supporting our wonderful profession speak up, that’s thousands of voices.” Bob Groome, of Norfolk, had a simple solution: “Just say no. They can’t sack us all. And to those who say, ‘the children will suffer’, I say ‘they’re suffering now.’” Proposing the motion calling for more PPA time, David Irvine offered a visual demonstration. He added weights to a spring, representing a teacher, for each of the tasks that make up his role, checking occasionally if the spring was still intact and then continuing until it eventually broke, spilling the weights. However, his list of tasks went on and on.

to gauge the issue and guidelines for independent schools. “Just as children are not units of production, teachers and staff are not machines,” she said. “Staff are not selling their lives, or their families’ – just their professional expertise, for the hours needed to provide that education.” While all staff are struggling with workload, trainee and newly qualified members lined up to demonstrate the particular challenges they face, because of “the simple fact that it takes TNQs longer to do each of the many tasks that make up the gargantuan workload of a teacher”, explained Huw Tindall-Jones of ATL Future. “And for trainees, they have the added stress of assignments on top of it all.” Seconding the motion, which called for ATL to lobby the Government to make significant changes and continue to call for a review of Ofsted, Ffion-Medi Ryan said she had known being a new teacher would be hard, but hadn’t expected it to be such a sacrifice that she had to miss her mother’s 50th birthday and her best friend’s hen do. “This motion is calling for a lifeline for TNQs,” she said, “and this can be what makes the difference between a good teacher and another teacher on the scrap pile.” Workload was also a key part of a motion proposed on Tuesday to raise awareness of mental health issues and suicide in men. Many speakers bravely and emotionally shared their own experiences, including another NQ, Jack Hill, who said that, when he started his Teach First training, he never thought mental health issues would affect him, and how he was expected, as a man, to be strong. “I was wrong,” he concluded.

“IF ALL THE UNIONS SUPPORTING OUR WONDERFUL PROFESSION SPEAK UP, THAT’S THOUSANDS OF VOICES” Seconder Mary Thompson told of research showing that people regularly working more than 11 hours a day are at much greater risk of heart attack or stroke. “The 10% PPA time granted in 2005 is outdated,” she said. In the independent sector, teachers’ private lives are regularly interrupted by emails and phone calls from parents and pupils, Clare Kellett told delegates as she proposed the motion calling for a survey WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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PUPIL AND STUDENT WELL-BEING Delegates showed pupil well-being is uppermost in their minds, with successful motions ranging from asbestos removal to tackling hunger among students. In an impassioned speech, Hank Roberts called for ATL to lobby the Government to fund the removal of asbestos from schools, saying pupils and teachers were being condemned to an “early death sentence” by the Government’s failure to clear the deadly building material. “The Government says it is safe as long

David Irvine: Springing to the defence of teachers

Huw Tindall-Jones: So many gargantuan tasks, so little time

as it is not disturbed,” said Roberts. “Asbestos can always be disturbed.” Speaking in support of the motion, Allison Barnes, lead member for health, safety and well-being, said the DfE had missed its March 2016 target for updating guidance on asbestos. Hunger among children was also highlighted, with members passing a motion to commission research into the scale of the issue and its effects on learning. John Puckrin cited an ATL survey, which found 41% of respondents believed pupils’ families rely on food banks. The motion also calls for ATL to develop policy to support holiday provision programmes that include meals and enrichment activities; fund the development of resources and training for organisations to deliver; and support new and existing holiday provision programmes. “We live in the fifth richest economy in the world, yet nine poorer European countries have lower levels of child poverty than we do,” Puckrin concluded. Later, members passed two motions on the pupil premium. The first, proposed by Maxine Bradshaw from north Wales, 3 called on the Executive Committee to APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 15

13/04/2016 10:44

Politicians grilled Schools minister Nick Gibb and shadow education secretary Lucy Powell were questioned by former TES editor Gerard Kelly on topics submitted by ATL members

Schools minister Nick Gibb: Taking a ‘we’ve started so we’ll finish’ approach

Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell: Hold your horses on academy conversion

16 REPORT | APRIL/MAY 2016

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Schools minister Nick Gibb was jeered by Conference delegates after he denied there is a crisis in teacher recruitment and retention and claimed the Government has no option but to make all schools become academies. Gibb defended measures in the white paper, saying there is no choice but to make all schools academies by 2022. He said: “We looked ahead five years and there is an issue with sustainability. It was very clear we had to have a plan for how you tackle a situation where three quarters of all schools are academies. “The whole academies programme is about having a profession-led system so that the profession is in charge,” he responded, provoking laughter and jeering from the audience. Confusingly, when Gerard Kelly asked why it was necessary to compel all schools to become academies rather than allow them the option, Gibb said: “It has been voluntary for the past five years and in essence it is voluntary for the next few years,” which was met with incredulity from delegates. Gibb chose his words carefully when he was asked if he accepted there is now a recruitment crisis. “I think there is a challenge,” he said, and then had to wait for the laughter to die down, before adding: “We have not sat back and said we don’t think there’s a problem. We have taken every measure possible to deal with this. We have very generous bursaries. We spend over £300 million a year to

encourage graduates into the profession.” Kelly then cited ATL’s survey of teachers, which found almost nine in 10 named workload as the main reason they are leaving. Gibb responded by saying that three workload groups on data, lesson planning and resources, and marking had produced recommendations that he hoped would “change the zeitgeist so much that we will eliminate the excessive amounts of pressure put on teachers in those three areas”. Later, answering questions from Kelly, shadow education secretary Lucy Powell warned the Government would face a “huge hurdle” in getting the white paper made law. The level of opposition to the academy plans should prompt a “radical rethink”, she told the audience, urging schools not to rush into conversion. “I am working hard at the moment to oppose many of the measures in the white paper,” she said. She added that she knew of multi-academy trusts contacted by 60 primary schools in the previous two weeks. “People are very quickly moving to protect themselves; take your time and let’s just wait and see what happens.” Questioned about whether Labour had been wrong to introduce the academy programme, Powell said what Labour had introduced was designed for a small number of schools that had struggled for many years, and had come with additional support, resources and leadership.

press for the primacy of professionalism in providing support. The second asked the Executive Committee to survey members on incorrect use of the premium and to lobby the Government to ensure there is a transparent system for allocating the money and regular checks. Sexist bullying, an issue that ATL general secretary Mary Bousted spoke out against just before Conference, was highlighted by Helen Porter in a motion calling for ATL to work with other organisations to provide resources for members and build awareness of the issue. Porter told members that sexist bullying and harassment, including inappropriate touching, was disproportionately experienced by girls, and cited results from the Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2015. The poll, commissioned by Girlguiding, found 81% of young women aged 11–21 had experienced some form of everyday sexism in the past week. The motion was passed. Pupils’ mental health was of concern to members proposing the motion to campaign to ensure that all pupils should have access to an appropriately trained, dedicated counsellor. Supporting the motion, Kirstie McAlpine said: “Counsellors in schools are a safety valve and their presence enables talk around mental health.” She explained how a target-driven culture was creating some of the mental health problems. “Schools are the cause of some of the stress,” she said. “They need to be part of the solution.” Delegates agreed and passed the motion. The target-driven culture was the subject of a motion that called for the rejection of the meeting or non-meeting of targets as a measure of achievement. The motion was passed, as was a related one questioning the efficacy of testing seven-year-olds. SUPPORT STAFF Feelings ran high when members called for more respect for the professionalism of support staff in a series of motions on Monday afternoon. Kathryn Booth and Susan Coates were both part of the expert panel that produced a set of professional standards for teaching assistants, only to find out, through a journalist, that the DfE had decided not to publish them. Proposing a motion to ensure that every member has access to a copy of the standards, a clearly enraged Booth said the decision not to publish “dismisses the professionalism of TAs”, while Coates added that it reinforces WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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SPOTLIGHT ON… CONFERENCE 2016

“WITHOUT ACTION NOW, IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO RECLAIM THE PROFESSION FROM AN UNPLEASANT AND DEHUMANISING FUTURE” the message that TAs are invisible. “There is nothing in the standards that is even slightly controversial. What is it that the Government fears?” she asked. Among the many speaking in support of the motion, TA Keren Townsend told how earlier in the day she had asked schools minister Nick Gibb why her role wasn’t considered professional. His response, she revealed to gasps from the audience, was to ask her why she didn’t train to be a teacher. “I choose to be a TA,” Townsend declared, “and I am treated as a professional by my colleagues.” A similar story was told in the motion calling for ATL to campaign and lobby for the restoration of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which was set up in 2009 to address low rates of pay for support staff but was then summarily scrapped in 2010 by the incoming coalition Government. “Support staff deserve to have a national pay and conditions framework,” said proposer Katie Harrison. “We need to stop being treated as second-class citizens.” Both these motions were carried, as was one stating that teaching assistants shouldn’t be required to have degrees, as some schools and academies are now requesting. This alarming development appears to be an attempt to get “teachers on the cheap” and delegates voted for the motion to monitor the trend. The final support staff motion highlighted the detrimental effect on sick pay of term-time-only contracts and called for the Green Book to be amended to include a different sick pay entitlement calculation for term-time staff which does not result in them suffering a detriment. FURTHER EDUCATION Members voted to pass a motion calling for a campaign to: reverse the cuts to FE funding; raise awareness that young people should be given the opportunity to focus on what they are good at and not be failed by the misguided, exclusive focus on the academic; and lobby the WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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Government to give arts, vocational and creative skills parity of funding and status with academic courses. Wendy Wilderspin questioned whether the Government’s target of an extra three million apprenticeships by 2020 is realistic. “Good though the idea of the apprenticeship is, it doesn’t suit everyone. Some need the support offered by FE colleges.” Another motion calling for research into concerns that FE is in danger of becoming a depository for young people who have been failed by the system was also passed. The debate then moved on to the area reviews of FE, with members passing a motion to protect local sixth form colleges and FE colleges and take all steps to persuade the Government to maintain stability in the sector following the reviews. Simon Holland, who seconded the motion, said highly successful sixth form colleges are put at risk by the reviews, while Stella Jales said she was concerned that, in rural areas, college closures resulting from area reviews would make it more difficult for students to pursue their education because they may have to travel up to 50 miles. LEADERSHIP Members voted overwhelmingly for the Executive Committee to build on a report highlighting the increasingly corporatised nature of leadership in schools and colleges. Proposing, Robin Bevan warned that adopting a business-style, marketefficiency approach to education leads to teaching to the target and recruiting students on to inappropriate courses. Failing to properly specify and stick to the moral and ethical goals of education will drive professionals out of teaching, he said. Seconding, Julia Neal said: “Without action now, it will be too late to reclaim the profession from an unpleasant and dehumanising future.” Members also challenged gender bias in educational sector management through a motion proposed by Judith Cliff, who demonstrated the lack of progress from teaching to leadership for many women with a selection of pink and blue balloons, the former, representing women, often being popped while the latter, the men, remained intact. “We all have a responsibility to the future generations of all gender identities that we teach to instil the core values that gender does not define or limit our ability,” she said. “However,

Keren Townsend: Choosing to be a support staff professional

Judith Cliff: Bursting balloons to make her point

the institutions in which we practise professionally rarely reflect this,” she added, citing the fact that, in Derby, where she lives and works, only three of 14 secondaries have a female head. Niamh Sweeney went on to propose a motion on equal pay, saying that, in the public sector, where women have tended to fare better, progress has not just stalled but gone into reverse, with a widening pay gap in the past two years. “Women are still experiencing a lasting penalty from working part time or for taking time out of the workplace to accommodate childcare,” she said. “It is not just mothers. Overall, full-time women earn 33% less than similar full-time men aged 42. Women earn, on average, £300,000 less over their working life.” The gender pay gap starts very early, she continued: “According to a website that lets parents set up online accounts to pay pocket money, boys are getting 15% more than girls for doing the same chores.” The motion was passed. n

MORE INFO

Details of all Conference motions are at www.atl.org. uk/conference. APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 17

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YOUR ATL… CONTENTS AND CONTACTS

Your ATL

REMEMBER TO PASS YOUR COPY OF REPORT TO COLLEAGUES WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN IT

EXPERT ADVICE, TEACHING TOOLS, MEMBER BENEFITS – AND YOUR RIGHT TO REPLY IN THIS SECTION

ATL solicitor Sharon Liburd explains the law around access to medical records

The chance to shape ATL policy by putting yourself or a colleague forward for a place on our specialist groups for support staff, the independent sector and FE

LEGAL ADVICE

YOUR VIEWS

NOTICEBOARD

Members hold forth on losing valuable teachers, forced academies and the dark side of banter

Being a Rep newsletter and new recruitment posters

Your chance to win a £50 M&S voucher with our cryptic crossword

ATL’s special summer conferences offer CPD and advice to help reps in their roles

CROSSWORD

RESOURCES

REP EVENTS

COMBAT STRESS

Excessive workload leads to significant stress, but ATL’s workload campaign provides advice and resources to help reduce that stress and keep you in better health

USEFUL CONTACTS If you need help with matters related to your employment, your first point of contact should be your school or college ATL rep, or your AMiE regional officer if you are a leadership member. You can also contact your local ATL branch for advice and support. If they are unable to help, contact ATL using these details: General enquiries: 020 7930 6441 info@atl.org.uk BELFAST: 028 9078 2020 ni@atl.org.uk CARDIFF: 029 2046 5000 cymru@atl.org.uk AMiE MEMBERS: Call the employment helpline on 01858 464171 helpline@amie.atl.org.uk

WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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Membership enquiries: membership@atl.org.uk Pension enquiries: 020 7782 1600 Out-of-hours helpline: 020 7782 1612 ATL’s regional officials are available to speak to you about work problems Monday to Friday from 5pm to 7.30pm during term time.

If you are not a member of ATL and would like to join, please contact us on

0845 057 7000 (lo-call)

Personal injury claims:

033 3344 9616 Call Morrish Solicitors LLP, ATL’s appointed solicitors, or go to www.atlinjuryclaims.org.uk. This service is open to members and their families, subject to the rules of the scheme. TERMS OF ATL’S SUPPORT ARE OUTLINED IN OUR MEMBERS’ CHARTER, AVAILABLE VIA WWW.ATL.ORG.UK. WHEN EMAILING ATL FROM HOME, PLEASE INCLUDE EITHER YOUR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER OR HOME POSTCODE TO HELP US DEAL WITH YOUR ENQUIRY MORE EFFICIENTLY.

APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 19

13/04/2016 11:03

Combat

stress

Long hours and excessive workload are piling pressure on staff like never before, but ATL is finding ways to tackle it. Words by Sally Gillen THE UNUSUAL – perhaps unique – approach to staff well-being adopted by one large academy chain that ATL is aware of is a startling sign of the times. Nurses are employed by the unnamed chain to check staff blood pressure daily and give advice on well-being. At the same time, the workload burden is such that staff regularly work 14-plushour days. The move to medically monitor staff, rather than tackle the causes of stress and prevent it reaching unmanageable levels in the first place, is, of course, worryingly flawed. It may be a graphic illustration of the scale of the stress problem within one organisation, but it is replicated across the country, according to ATL’s research. Findings from our workload survey, published in November to launch our ‘It’s about time…’ campaign, show workload – the main cause of stress – has pushed 81% of education staff to consider leaving teaching. One member said: “In the past 12 months, I have experienced real 20 REPORT | APRIL/MAY 2016

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physical stress symptoms, like poor sleep, for the first time in more than 30 years (including 12 as a head). No system of prioritisation works well enough, because no human being could possibly get through the in-tray in the time available.” ATL director of organising Collette Bradford says: “The number of education staff who are reporting health issues to us, raised during their ATL ‘It’s about time…’ campaign meetings, is increasing.” Stress is clearly a prevalent and serious issue for ATL members and their colleagues, driven by the volume and pace of change in education, highstakes accountability (Ofsted), long working hours and workload, she adds. Unrelenting stress takes a physical toll, causing health problems, such as headaches, stomach upsets and chest pain. Psychologically, it can reduce confidence and impair decisionmaking. Consequently, it can have a significant impact on cognition, explains Gill Hasson, tutor and author WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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Y O U R AT L … STRESS

MAKE ONE SMALL CHANGE

If you could make one change to the way you work to reduce unnecessary workload, what would be it? Share your tips on Twitter using #Make1Change. ATL rep Chris Baldwin (@chrisbaldwin) says: “Leave your school bag at school one evening a week – just take yourself home.” ATL rep Kim Beatham says: “Don’t look at work email after 7pm.”

of a number of bestselling books, including Overcoming Anxiety. “In our brains, we have something called the amygdala,” she explains. “It is the oldest part of our brains – the reptilian part – where our emotions come from. “The newer part of our brains is called the neocortex. It’s where our thinking, reasoning, rationalising and understanding come from,” she adds. “Every time we’re stressed, the emotional part of our brain is triggered and is on full alert. When it’s on full alert, it switches off the neocortex. This means you cannot learn, reason, understand or make decisions.” Finding ways to bring down the stressful feelings is essential in order to allow the neocortex to work for you. There are a range of mindful breathing techniques that can work. Changing your way of thinking will also help, says Hasson. “Negative thinking and ‘catastrophising’ come with stress. Replace negative thoughts, such as ‘I can’t do this, I’m so overwhelmed’, ‘it’s all too much’ and ‘I’ve got so much to do’, with more helpful, positive thoughts, such as ‘I can do this’, ‘I just need to focus on one task at a time with my full attention, then move on to the next one’, ‘I’m capable of doing this’, and so on. Getting enough sleep, cutting down on sugar and eating as healthily as you can will also help you cope with stress, she adds. ATL branch secretary for the Isle of Man Leona Bell says: “Stress among members is very high at the moment. One of the causes is the excessive number of meetings that are not an efficient use of time and from which there are no clear outcomes. At my school, we often feel meetings are just about management giving us information. That could be done in another format.” The local branches of ATL, NASUWT and the NUT are in the process of WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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drafting a policy setting out a worklife policy for teachers on the island, which they will push the Isle of Man Government to sign, says Bell. It includes a protocol that staff should not be expected to attend more than one meeting a week. It also contains a clause that part-time staff should not be expected to come in for parents’ evenings if they fall on a day when they would not normally be at work. Personally, Bell says, she tends not to get too stressed. “I make sure I exercise – swimming is good – and I relax by playing the piano. Beyond that, I make a lot of lists, which helps me prioritise, and I congratulate myself when I tick something off. I also think that if I can’t get something done in the school day then it will have to wait until tomorrow.” For those who need help and support managing stress, ATL has a number of training courses for members on psychological techniques such as mindfulness and emotional resilience. In the eastern region, for example, ATL has organised a two-hour workshop on how to build resilience for a better work-life balance, run by an occupational psychologist, while ATL Midlands has run mindfulness courses. Nationally, a course on building resilience to develop strategies for dealing with day-to-day demands is also available. As well as running courses for members on ways to manage stress, ATL also focuses on training reps to press for workplace conditions that minimise work-related stress. “Training is really important in relation to health, safety and wellbeing,” says Jacqui O’Neill, ATL’s national learning and development manager. “The school or college senior leadership team needs to ensure it has a trained and competent person who is responsible for managing work-related stress and other workplace hazards. “We are aware that there are some gaps appearing in the health and safety training and competency of leaders in some workplaces; this used to be delivered by local authorities.” ATL offers a three-stage training programme for all ATL health and safety reps, and O’Neill would encourage ATL members to find out if they have a health and safety rep in their workplace and, if not, to elect one and book them on a course. “ATL members can change their working

“ONE OF THE CAUSES OF STRESS IS THE EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF MEETINGS THAT ARE NOT AN EFFICIENT USE OF TIME AND FROM WHICH THERE ARE NO CLEAR OUTCOMES” conditions,” she says. “As a health and safety rep, you can make your own workplace a better, safer and healthier place to work.” Around the country, ATL is scoring small victories when it comes to tackling workload, sometimes in collaboration with other unions. Two schools – one in London and another in the north east – have reviewed and reduced the number of meetings. Leaders at the school in the north east have also agreed to review marking procedures to reduce frequency and volume. ATL director of organising Bradford says that, although many of the workload issues faced by members are caused by Government policy, there are small things members and their colleagues can change in their workplaces to support a healthy worklife balance and improve well-being. Organisers are working with a number of schools with ATL reps to improve work-life balance and reduce stress caused by long working hours, she adds. A number of members in schools have agreed with colleagues to leave 15-30 minutes earlier each evening. Another school in the south west has secured an agreement with the senior leadership team to finish parents’ evening half an hour earlier this year. “Small changes to work patterns can really make the difference to how members feel about their working lives,” says Bradford. n

ATL RESOURCES ON MANAGING WORKLOAD

For more about courses and workshops on developing resilience and managing stress, go to www.atl.org.uk/learningzone. For advice and help, go to www.atl.org.uk/ abouttime. For advice on stress, go to www.atl.org.uk/advw2.

APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 21

13/04/2016 11:08

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12/04/2016 09:45

YOUR ATL… LEGAL GUIDE

AT SOME POINT in our working lives, many of us will need to take sick leave as a result of physical or mental health problems. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 oblige employers to provide health surveillance, where this is identified as necessary by the risk assessment, and to take account of employees’ capabilities and abilities to work safely, without risk to health. The provision of an occupational health service (OHS) can assist employers to comply with legal obligations. According to the Health and Safety Executive, “Occupational health is about how work and the work environment can affect an employee’s health and equally how an employee’s health can affect their ability to do the job.” Most educational establishments set up their OHS through external providers. Employees in the maintained sector have a contractual obligation to attend a medical on request in the case of prolonged or frequent absence. Those employed elsewhere may have similar obligations in their contracts. However, even if one has the right of refusal, it is usually in the employee’s interests to cooperate with reasonable medical enquiries. Employees who are or may be disabled are often referred to an OHS for consideration of the duty to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate their needs in the workplace, eg reducing working hours or acquiring/modifying equipment. Some employers seek an opinion from the OHS as to whether an employee is disabled. Responses are often non-committal, but advise that the employer should nevertheless treat the employee as if he or she is disabled and recommend reasonable adjustments. Ultimately, it is for employment tribunals to determine whether those claiming disability discrimination are disabled.

It is not uncommon for employers to wish to seek a medical report from the employee’s doctor. However, the employee must be notified and consent obtained beforehand, according to the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988. The notification should explain that the employee has the right to check the report first for accuracy. If consent is given, the employer must inform the doctor if the employee requires access to the report first. The employee is responsible for making arrangements with the doctor to see the report within 21 days of the request being made. During this period, the employee can: R request the doctor amends the report R attach a written statement to the report where there is a difference of opinion and the doctor has refused to amend it R stop the doctor supplying the report. Even if the employee does not wish to see the report, the doctor must wait 21 days before supplying it to the employer. The Data Protection Act 1998 requires employers to notify employees that personal records are being kept and

Medical records

ATL solicitor Sharon Liburd explains the law around access to an employee’s medical records WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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that they have the right to access and, if necessary, correct them. Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, health professionals must give individuals access to their medical records. However, disclosure can be refused to all or any part of the record if it is considered likely to cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of the individual (or others). Job applicants are offered some protection under section 60 of the Equality Act 2010 with regard to questions about health and disability. In general, it is unlawful for an employer to ask any applicant questions about health or disability until he or she has been offered a job. Responses to such questions are regarded as one of the main reasons why disabled people are not shortlisted for interview. However, these questions may be asked in certain circumstances to: R ascertain whether the applicant can participate in an assessment to determine his/her suitability for the job R establish whether any reasonable adjustments are needed to enable a disabled person to participate in an assessment during the recruitment process R determine whether a job applicant would be able to carry out a function that is intrinsic to the job R support the taking of ‘positive action’ in employment for disabled people R monitor diversity among job applicants. After the selection process, the employer is permitted to make an offer of work conditional on meeting its health or other requirements and can then ask questions relating to health and disability. Members should contact ATL using the details on page 19 for more advice. APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 23

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YOUR ATL… YOUR VIEWS

Letters STA R L E T T E R

February 2016) has established what they mean by the term ‘banter’. But for some children RECOMMENDED READING across the country – and I found the March edition of their teachers – banter has Report very interesting. The become competitive pointletter from C Hollings was scoring in speech: a constant heartbreaking. There is a good teacher no longer fully employed joshing and one-upmanship that only makes the speaker because of overwork. I wonder feel good by making others if C Hollings’ daughter feel small. will consider teaching We need to foster as a career. My two a spirit of spoken children said early collaboration in on that teaching The author of this letter wins our classrooms, was not for £100 in book tokens. If you want to not one of them, as they voice your opinion on issues raised in Report or any other aspect of education, competition. did not want please send a letter or email to the Speaking and to put in the addresses below, including your listening criteria ridiculous phone number. One letter will be chosen every issue to win have always long hours. the tokens. rewarded the art I would suggest of building on others’ you send the March contributions and involving edition to the education the less confident by drawing minister, but reading about them in. Simon Bayliss will be There was a time when counterproductive. He is Jerry Springer set back the amazing, hence the award, importance of speech in the but I fear the minister will then classroom by seeming to expect everyone to be like him. promote the volume of an But perhaps reading Steven argument over its force. The McNichol’s article on cult of banter now threatens behaviour management might to inflict even worse damage demonstrate just how complex on children’s oral work. life in the classroom can be – Speech is now seen as a duel although I note Nicky Morgan of wits, not a means to an end; went to a fee-paying school in a speakers feel that, to have the nice part of south-west London, last word, they must have the so perhaps his comments really last laugh. I wish all schools won’t chime with her. I look forward to the next issue. could see banter the way Springwell does; but for many E Owen, Shropshire of us, there’s a version of banter that should – quite frankly – BANNING BAD BANTER be banned. I’m delighted that Springwell Name supplied Learning Community (Report,

WIN!

JOIN THE DEBATE…

Overheard ATL members respond on Facebook to Government plans to make all schools academies Jacqueline Cashman: I’m appalled by this news. We must fight this battle; it is so important. And I’d go further, in that all academies should revert back to local authority control.

greater funding for schools, create easier access to services for SEND pupils, give teachers more respect to encourage more highquality personnel into the profession... to name but a few ideas about how education and pupil achievement could be improved.

Suzanne Holland: It’s a great way to remove terms Janet Goddard: I do not believe and conditions, promote the benefit or detriment has favouritism and reduce been of any concern in the standards. Academies are not process, only the necessity obliged to teach the national for the state to rid itself of the curriculum or employ qualified responsibility for educating teachers, thus sidestepping people as quickly as possible recruitment issues. If the and placing it with those who Government wants to wash have the finances to bail its hands of educational out any mistakes made by responsibility, it should step ‘free schools’ being run by off completely: no Ofsted businesses. That way, if there inspections, no reception are failings, the Government baseline testing, no SATs – can wring its hands in apparent the list goes on. support of those who failed and promise that ‘lessons Paul Curran: I will get very will be learnt’. boring with this, but if you have children, or even just Rachael Bell-Berry: Becoming care about the direction our an academy isn’t the answer country faces over the next to improving education. Neither 20 or more years, please read is lengthening the school day. up on this issue. It is more Stop messing about with the important to our future than school curriculum, provide the EU referendum.

report@atl.org.uk @ATLReport facebook.com/ATLUnion

Report, ATL, 7 Northumberland Street, London WC2N 5RD 24 REPORT | APRIL/MAY 2016

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WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

13/04/2016 17:18

YOUR ATL… PRIZE CROSSWORD

WIN!

Prize crossword ACROSS 1 Dreadfully late and a bore, but highly decorated (9) 8 No term revision for Oxford college (6) 9 Live in a tent? You and me? In university grounds? (6) 12 Try and get a taxi in Thailand (4) 13 Arithmetical sign indicates ‘metre’ in the States (5) 14 Feel the lack of a female 18 across? (4) 17 Allocating parts in a play – act as well as sing, possibly? (7) 18 Rejoins the race to get this job in school? (7) 19 Let nine off, not being strong on discipline (7) 22 To be top in Geography, pay attention and shine (7) 24 Some faculty pedants write mechanically (4) 25 Speed might place me top (5) 26 Spiritual teacher in Language Centre, not half rude! (4) 29 Teaching session at end of sentence in the USA (6) 30 Length of former marquee (6) 31 Small child gets £1,000 for piano (4,5)

A £50 Marks & Spencer voucher

DOWN 2 Old instrument – initially learn under the expert (4) 3 Prohibit monarch joining financial industry (7) 4 Tell what happened after the close vote? (7) 5 Large scholarly book from you? Quite the opposite! (4) 6 Exceptionally clever person produces some hydrogen – I usually don’t (6) 7 Wordplay is hard to penalise (6) 10 Teach cool new design – sweet! (9) 11 Start an OU scramble to become a space traveller (9) 15 Cried out, ‘Drink!’ (5) 16 Giant-killer, six, embraced by father (5) 20 Boy, when challenged about record (6) 21 When to catch Head of English in a study, perhaps? (7) 22 When students go travelling, sort out gear and pay (3,4) 23 Endless awful tantrum from one who won’t go to school? (6) 27 Keen to return as opera singer (4) 28 Famous school apparently concentrates on just ten letters of the alphabet! (4)

27 29

28 30

HOW TO ENTER

Send your completed crossword with your contact details to: ATL April/May crossword competition, Think Publishing, Capital House, 25 Chapel Street, London NW1 5DH. The closing date is 26 May 2016. If you have an ATL membership number, please include this here: The winner of the April/May competition will be announced in the July issue of Report.

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION ACROSS: 1 Catastrophe 9 Mandatory 10 Tuner 11 Retail 12 Hilarity 13 Nylons 15 Wardrobe 18 Recorder 19 Esteem 21 Scouting 23 Pincer 26 Disco 27 Necessary 28 Nostradamus DOWN: 1 Cameron 2 Tenet 3 Stationer 4 Roof 5 Physical 6 Extra 7 Carlyle 8 Antigone 14 Lacrosse 16 Dismissed 17 Jennings 18 Residue 20 Martyrs 22 Thorn 24 Charm 25 Scar CONGRATULATIONS TO FEBRUARY’S WINNER – C WRIGHTON, UXBRIDGE

“Since notifying the employment agencies of my new QTLS status, I have already been offered a maths teaching position. It is a great feeling when employers are constantly ringing to check my availability.”

We’re looking for exam markers in A-level English, A-level Sociology, A-level Geography, A-level Economics and GCSE Religious Studies

Apply now to mark 2016 GCSEs, AS and A-levels

aqa.org.uk/apply

Anzoumana Gbane, GCSE and Functional Skills maths teacher

80% of the SET members who have achieved QTLS consider that the process has improved their teaching practice.

https://set.et-foundation.co.uk/qtls Gain QTLS: enhance your professional status, advance your career

025_ATL_APRIL/MAY16_CROSSWORD.indd 25

• Enhance your teaching skills. • Inform your understanding of the exam process. • Earn extra income alongside your teaching career. • Home based, ﬂexible working.

aqa.org.uk/apply

13/04/2016 17:18

Is your D&T Department ready to deliver the new single title GCSE? Book CPD places on our 2016 range of training events supporting KS3 and GCSE D&T Association Summer School – (Coventry) 7th & 8th July •A Awarding organisations’ presentations of the new GCSE specs • Workshops to support the delivery of the new GCSE • Practical workshops to improve subject knowledge, Range of D&T training courses nationwide to improve subject knowledge: • Planning to teach the new GCSE in D&T • Becoming an Excellent D&T subject leader • Improving D&T product design skills – Practical projects for KS3 and GCSE • Improving pupil sketching and drawing skills – Sir I Can’t Draw! • Electronics and programming for KS3 and GCSE • Building systems and simple control at KS3 and GCSE

NEW

For 2016

Book your places or find out more online www.data.org.uk, email events@data.org.uk or call 01789 470007

Three new resources that will help bring STEM to life through design and technology projects

Kaleidoscope

Spin Art

Designed to help students understand the underlying science, technology, engineering and mathematics needed to engage fully with the design context.

Covers the science and maths behind viscosity, centrifuges, centripetal and kinetic forces and how these and image manipulation can help in product design.

Covers how reflection, viewpoints, scale and the geometry of mirrors affects how light is perceived in the context of designing and making a kaleidoscope and a smart phone attachment.

A spin art machine allows paint that is dropped on to paper to fly off, creating interesting patterns. The paint’s viscosity and the speed and spinner’s positioning can change how the patterns appear.

Resource contains PowerPoint and Word documents Member price £3.98 Non-member price: £14.99

LED Lamp Aimed at students understanding the science and maths behind reflecting and directing light and how this can be incorporated into a product. Modern LEDs can be very powerful; using lenses, mirrors and diffusers the beam can be modified to create focused patterns.

Resource contains PowerPoint and Word documents Member price £3.98 Non-member price: £14.99

This looks at how reflection, viewpoints, scale and geometry affects how light is perceived in the context of designing and making a lighting product. Resource contains PowerPoint and Word documents Member price £3.98 Non-member price: £14.99

Visit www.data.org.uk for resources and membership Call 01789 470007 or email info@data.org.uk 026_ATL_AprMay16.indd 26

12/04/2016 14:40

YOUR ATL… NOTICEBOARD

NOTICE BOARD COMMITTEE ELECTIONS Nominations are open for election onto ATL’s advisory groups: the Independent and Private Sector Advisory Group (IPSAG), the Further and Higher Education Sector Advisory Group (FESAG) and the Support Staff Members Advisory Group (SSMAG). The groups play an important role in advising ATL’s Executive Committee on specific matters relating to their sectors and promoting best employment practice. IPSAG and FESAG meet four times a year on Saturdays at the ATL London office. SSMAG meets three times a year on Saturdays. The role is voluntary, but travel and subsistence expenses are met by ATL. Members are elected on a two-year cycle. If you are interested in standing for one of the advisory groups, send an email to Heather Ralston (hralston@atl.org.uk) with a supporting statement of up to 200 words. FESAG and IPSAG candidates should also supply a supporting nomination from their branch or the nominating signatures of five ordinary members. Applications close at 10am on Friday 17 June.

POST-16 TEACHMEET This is a free event, organised by ATL and Leicester College, which is open to all education professionals in the post-16 sector. Come along as an enthusiastic audience member or maybe choose to present and share a five- or sevenminute presentation on a topic of your choice – no sales pitches, just great ideas. The TeachMeet will be compered by FE lecturer, TES columnist and leader of the UKFEchat community Sarah Simons. She will also be opening up the evening with her keynote address. This event is for ATL members and non-members.

Event details Leicester College, Tuesday 21 June 2016, 4.30pm–7.00pm, http:// bit.ly/1XZW6Dw

INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP, MINDFULNESS: ENHANCING WELL-BEING This session will provide an overview of what mindfulness is and the key benefits WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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of practising it. People who regularly carry out mindfulness exercises report the following benefits: R feeling calmer and more relaxed R increased levels of energy and enthusiasm for their job and life in general R increased efficiency when carrying out tasks R more enjoyment out of the activity R increased confidence, selfcompassion and compassion for others R a reduction in stress, anxiety and low mood. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in several practice exercises. There will be a focus on how professionals can: R integrate mindfulness practice into their own lives R bring mindfulness meditation into the workplace to support the well-being of their students and colleagues. Attendees will be provided with a link to audio recordings of mindfulness exercises facilitated by Dr Rachel Chin, who has worked in a range of NHS and educational settings, offering training and consultation to staff. The aim in educational environments is to enhance the quality of education, increase staff well-being and morale, reduce staff burnout and improve team functioning. This workshop is suitable for anyone who wishes to enhance their well-being.

Course details Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, Saturday 7 May 2016, 10.30am–12.30pm. Any member booking this event will receive two-for-one ticket offers, valid on the day, for all of the attractions.

REGIONAL SUMMER CONFERENCES Regional conferences for reps themed on work-life campaign issues and CPD will be held this summer. See resources on page 29 for dates and locations.

ATL SAFER SCHOOLS AND DISABILITY MATTERS

On www.saferschools.org.uk we are featuring Disability Matters, a partnership led by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, together with other royal colleges, which has produced a series of e-learning modules, co-produced with disabled people, on what they need from frontline staff. For reps, there is a great module on how managers can support disabled staff.

PARTNER OF THE MONTH Are you due a tax refund? The Tax Refund Company offers members a tax code review and tax refund service. Of the thousands of members who have used this service since 2007, more than 70% learned that they had paid too much tax because HMRC had sent their employer the wrong tax code. Why not book a review now? If you do so in April or May, and you’re not eligible for a refund, you’ll receive a £25 Amazon voucher. It’s fast, reliable and risk free (you won’t pay anything unless you’re eligible for a refund). Call 0161 968 7345 or visit www.atl.org.uk/plus.

JERSEY PLANTS DIRECT Jersey Plants Direct is an internet and mail-order plant company, offering plants and gardening accessories to ATL members and schools throughout the UK. It sells a year-round range of more than 3,500 products, including bedding plants, perennials, shrubs, vegetable plants and seeds, bulbs and gardening accessories. Exclusive discounts of 15-20% are available to ATL members, and delivery is FREE. So whether you’re looking for geraniums or begonias, roses or clematis, it has all of your garden favourites. Visit www.atl.org.uk/plus.

APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 27

13/04/2016 11:14

LEAD AND MENTOR YOUNG PEOPLE ON NCS THIS SUMMER

We are urgently seeking teaching professionals of to lead and mentor young people on their National Citizen Service (NCS) journey this summer. NCS is a three week programme that builds young people’s conﬁdence, teaches them invaluable team-working and life skills, and inspires them to make a difference in their local community. Working both residentially and within the local community in

either London, Surrey, Berkshire, Yorkshire, West Midlands or the North West, our leader roles are a great way for you to continue your professional development whilst topping up your salary over the summer. As programme leader, you’ll be responsible for the overall running of the programme, managing a team of 15 staff and up to 84 young people, including the pastoral care and development of young people of differing abilities (ie. those who can exhibit challenging behaviour). Whether you are a primary or secondary teacher, specialise in SEN/PRU, the school careers advisor or even the ofﬁce administrator, we have paid positions available for all experienced

teaching staff - not just leader roles. The Challenge is a fast-growing social enterprise and the largest provider of NCS. In Summer 2016, we will support 32,000 young people on their NCS journey. The success of this depends heavily on the seasonal staff that work with our young people to motivate and lead them to strengthen their communities.

Half of our roles have been ﬁlled so apply quickly! Head to www.ncsthechallenge.org/jobs 028_ATL_AprMay16.indd 28 The Challenge_ATL_Apr May_16.indd 1

16:20 13/04/2016 16:19

YOUR ATL… RESOURCES

Being a rep

RESOURCES

Our termly newsletter for all workplace, health and safety and union learning reps

Summer 2016 Policy and pay updates p2

Advice and guidance p4

Factsheet focus p5

Getting involved p6

Workplace, health and safety and union learning reps will have received the latest issue of the Being a Rep newsletter, packed full of information to help them in their roles. The newsletter leads with ATL advice for members on the confusion over key stage 1 and 2 writing assessment and Mary Bousted’s letter to Nicky Morgan informing her of ATL’s position. Elsewhere, there are updates on local Government pay and talks with Government over workload. Speaking of workload, ATL’s

Health and safety news p8

Union learning news p10

Your training p12

PRIMARY ASSESSMENT IN CHAOS As many of you will no doubt be aware, since 8 February, when the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) issued exemplification materials for the teacher assessment of writing at the end of key stages 1 and 2, arrangements for statutory assessment in primary school have been in chaos. Many members have got in touch with us raising concerns and the Government continues to issue contradictory and often unhelpful “clarifications”.

Being a Rep

Rep profile p7

‘It’s about time…’ campaign gathers pace, with new debates and new actions that reps can take to help members. There is also comprehensive advice on attending meetings with management. For health and safety reps, there is detailed advice on supporting members with mental health difficulties and helping shape workplace policy on the issue. And finally, on the union learning front, there is a roundup of learning events, including talks on vocational learning

The original guidance, which came out unacceptably late, gave teachers until 22 May to assess pupils’ work against a checklist of 34 criteria, meaning an average class of 30 pupils left each teacher checking more than 6,000 boxes. At the same time, the expected standard of achievement was raised to an old level 5, when teachers had been previously directed to work to an old level 4b. Unions pressed for greater clarity and at the time Being a rep went to press there had been six separate ‘clarifications’ from education secretary Nicky Morgan, schools minister Nick Gibb and the STA on the use of checklists and on an extended deadline. Most importantly, the deadline is now 30 June and they have stated that the “expected standard” is “broadly level 4b”.

ATL advice to members •

Members should use the old level 4b as the basis for their judgement of the “expected standard”.

•

Members should not use the exemplification materials at all.

Deadlines Despite the extension from 22 May to 30 June, ATL has found some local authorities are mistakenly chasing schools for earlier deadlines. Schools involved in moderation processes with their local authorities may have earlier deadlines, so ATL general secretary Mary Bousted has written to local authorities’ directors of children’s services, urging them to extend the deadline for as long as possible and to make sure they agree this deadline with schools as early as possible.

Expected standard Members have pointed out that the new expected standard (as outlined in the ‘Interim teacher assessment frameworks at the end of key stage 2’) does not exactly fit with the old 4b. There are aspects of the new expected standard that more closely align with the more demanding level 5. Therefore, if our members make a judgement based on 4b criteria, this could be challenged by their school leaders or the local authority.

ATL writes to Nicky Morgan On 10 March, Dr Bousted wrote to Morgan, stating:

“As you are no doubt aware, the content of the ‘expected standard’ for writing as outlined in the ‘Interim teacher assessment frameworks at the end of key stage 2’ does not fully align with the old 4b standard. In fact some statements, for example the use of punctuation (eg semi-colons) and some sentence structures, would be found in the old level 5 descriptors.

“As you have committed to trust the judgement of teachers, we have advised our members to take you at your word and to use the old 4b level as their benchmark for the ‘expected standard’ this year.

“ I would like to advise you that ATL will robustly defend any teacher who faces negative consequences for following your guidance.” What you can do: • If you are concerned that any member faces negative consequences from following this guidance, please contact ATL immediately, via your branch secretary or ATL’s London office. ATL will continue to lobby for significant improvements next year, including early involvement of ATL in the planning stages with Government. We welcome rep and member feedback @atlunion #abouttime info@atl.org.uk.

For more information: • For the latest information please advise members to visit our website: www.atl.org.uk/ks1&2assessment.

www.atl.org.uk

page one

in Hull, well-being training in the Midlands, and courageous conversations and resilience in the eastern region. The Being a Rep newsletter is also available from www.atl.org.uk/publications.

Recruitment posters All reps and contacts will receive two posters in this month’s mailing. One is for recruiting

trainee and NQ members, while the other can be used to recruit all other categories of ATL membership. For more copies, to display on multiple noticeboards, perhaps, please order from ATL Despatch at despatch@atl.org.uk or on 0845 4500 009. Free

Trainee and NQ membership

Join ATL, the education union that’s as as you are. ATL understands that all our members are unique. It’s FREE to join ATL as a trainee or NQ. ATL is not a one-size-fits-all union, we listen to you and provide support and advice on the issues that matter most. Qualifying in 2016? Membership is FREE until 2018 and half price until 2019.

www.atl.org.uk/join 0845 057 7000 (local rate)

ATL/PS115-2016

JOIN ATL TODAY

IMAGE: PAULA DUCK

SUMMER REPS CONFERENCES 2016

As part of our ongoing workload campaign, ATL is putting on learning events for reps around the country this summer. The six summer conferences are open to ATL workplace, health and safety, and union learning reps from all sectors and will focus on the workload campaign. Each event will also look at related issues, such as appraisals, making positive change, resilience, assertiveness, and courageous conversations. Details of the events are to the right and at www.atl.org.uk/learningzone. Email organise@atl.org.uk for more information or to book your place. If there is space, members who are not reps may be able to attend.

WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

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REGION

DATE

VENUE

TOPICS

Northern

24 June

York

• Workload and appraisals • ATL work-life campaign: making a case • Mental health first aid • Building resilience

London and south east

29 June

London

• Working together to make positive change in your workplace – ATL work-life campaign • Building emotional resilience for staff and pupils

South west

1 July

Bristol

• Managing a well workplace • Your rights and the law • Making a change in your workplace • Mindfulness and emotional resilience

Eastern

2 July

Bedfordshire

• Alan Gibbons – author and campaigner for local libraries • Courageous conversations • Building a work-life campaign in your workplace

North west

5 July

Manchester

• Working together to reduce workload • Assertiveness • People’s History Museum presentation

Midlands

21 July

Birmingham

• Coaching to achieve work-life balance • Do you have a right to work-life balance? • Courageous conversations in the workplace

APRIL/MAY 2016 | REPORT 29

13/04/2016 11:32

FINAL WORD… REVEREND KATE BOTTLEY

Marvellous misf its

ILLUSTRATION: PHIL WRIGGLESWORTH

Gogglebox’s Reverend Kate Bottley explains how she finally fitted in as a chaplain in an FE college

I NEVER REALLY meant to be a vicar and I certainly never meant to end up working in FE. But life has a funny way of not turning out quite as you expect. As Woody Allen said: “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” I wasn’t brought up in a religious family, but started going to church when I was 14, mostly because I fancied the vicar’s son (we’ve been married for 18 years this year). Later on, I trained to be an RE teacher in secondary schools and thought that would be my career path until I drew my pension. When my kids were little and while on maternity leave, I had a bit of an epiphany and felt that I was being called into the ministry. Once my lovely and long-suffering husband and I established that this wasn’t just a whim, we set off on the long route to ordination. I served my curacy (a kind of apprenticeship) in three local churches. My curacy had been good, but not straightforward, and my line manager didn’t think I was going to be easy to place. Vicars apply for jobs like anyone else and I scoured the jobs pages of the Church Times looking for something that might speak to me. In church terms, I’m a bit of a misfit. Most clergy are (still) male, most are over 50 and most are introverts. I am none of these things. Being a misfit is something I’ve struggled with over the years. At school, being short, fat, ginger 30 REPORT | APRIL/MAY 2016

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and clever, the bullies had a field day. Once I became a Christian and started going to church, they had even more reasons to point out my difference from the herd. I just couldn’t seem to find my place. Applying for my first vicar job confirmed this. That was until I had a chat with my bishop. He knew how I felt and he was keen to help me to find my place in the Church of England. The diocese put together a proposal: they’d give me three churches to look after and also asked me to do some chaplaincy in the local FE college. I’d never thought about chaplaincy and I’d never thought about FE. I was a secondary school teacher but I’d left that behind and, now I was a vicar, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to mix Reverend Kate my call to education and my call Bottley is vicar at to the ministry. three churches in I needn’t have worried. On my Nottinghamshire first day in my new FE college, I and chaplain at North Notts College knew I’d made the right choice.

From the emo kids in the foyer, to the mechanic lads in the dining room, the group of hairdressing trainees in turquoise tabards and the shy ASD lad doing IT – every one of them I talked to on that first day seemed to have a story of not quite fitting. Some had come into FE because school hadn’t been a great experience, some couldn’t find the course they wanted at sixth form and some saw this as a last chance at education in a different setting. These were my fellow misfits and they were beautiful, eloquent and amazing. The staff were a bit odd too: beautiful misfits who had found a place to learn and laugh together. For some, FE is seen as the poorer, weirder cousin to more mainstream post-16 education: we take all ages, all abilities and, mostly speaking, all-comers. But I love it and I’ve found where I fit. I hope that our learners feel the same. WWW.ATL.ORG.UK

13/04/2016 11:32

TEACH HEART DISEASE A LESSON

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Dodgeball is a great way for children of different ages and abilities to have fun and get active. It’s easy to learn, simple to organise and teachers get a fab organiser’s pack worth £30 with three dodgeballs. To find out more about this popular initiative, visit bhf.org.uk/dodgeball or email dodgeball@bhf.org.uk

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12/04/2016 09:52

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12/04/2016 12:51 12/04/2016 11:43:30