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ATL Conference 2010
Monday 29 March - afternoon session
Second session of Conference: 15.00-17.00
During this session there was an address by ATL National President Lesley Ward.
Resolutions
12 Workload - carried
13 Narrowing of the curriculum - carried
14 Support staff development - carried
14 Amendment to resolution 14 - Support staff development - carried
15 Faith schools - moved to next business
16 FE workload - carried
16 Amendment to resolution 16 - FE Workload - carried
17 Student visas - carried
18 Biometric information - carried in part
12 Workload - carried
CHESHIRE BRANCH
THAT Conference recognises that many fought hard for the national Workload Agreement and they must be disheartened by the lack of progress in improving the wellbeing of teachers. Conference believes that despite the intent of the Agreement teachers still do not have a work-life balance. The workload of teachers is such that there will be increasing numbers of resignations amongst older teachers who are forced to work overlong hours in order to meet the requirements of paperwork. Conference instructs the Executive Committee to:
(i) pursue every avenue to reduce the requirements of paperwork so that teachers are free to teach;
(ii) do all it can to ensure the Workload Agreement delivers as originally advertised.
Proposer: Ian Bonner, unattached member, Cheshire West and Cheshire
Seconder: Molly Giles, Lysander Community High School, Warrington
13 Narrowing of the curriculum - carried
INNER LONDON BRANCH
THAT Conference expresses concern that the pressure for results on students and teachers is causing a narrowing of the curriculum, where the focus of teaching is on preparing work only to pass the test to the detriment of providing real and substantial learning opportunities. Conference requests that the Executive Committee investigates the effects and consequences of this on all individuals concerned and education as a whole.
Proposer: Jean Roberts, Old Oak Primary, Hammersmith & Fulham
Seconder: Kim Knappett, Forest Hill School, Lewisham
14 Support staff development - carried
COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Somerset and Oxfordshire branches
THAT Conference confirms its position that the work of teaching assistants and learning support staff is invaluable in supporting vulnerable children and those who experience difficulty in accessing their education, and by allowing teachers to focus on learning and teaching. Conference recognises the good work already done by ATL to meet the needs of its growing number of support staff members. Conference calls on the Executive Committee to consider further ways in which it can help schools and colleges to implement best practice in the employment, deployment and career development of all staff who support the work of teachers and lecturers, including a review of the value added by them and a campaign to ensure that the best becomes the norm.
Download a recording of this resolution.
Proposer: Richard Salter, Unattached member, Somerset
Seconder: Bella Hewes, Unattached member, Oxfordshire
14 Amendment to resolution 14 - Support staff development - carried
ESSEX, SOUTHEND AND THURROCK
Amendment: delete the words "and by allowing teachers to focus on learning and teaching".
Proposer: Lesley Batterham, Southend and Thurrock Branch
Seconder: Jenny Inglis, Executive Member, Berkshire
15 Faith schools - moved to next business
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
THAT Conference calls upon the Executive Committee to establish a review into the current ATL policy on faith schools and report back to Conference no later than Conference 2011.
Proposer: Niamh Sweeney, Cambridge Regional College, Cambridgeshire
Seconder: Richard G Martin, Unattached member, Leeds
16 FE workload - carried
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
THAT Conference asks the Executive Committee to lobby the AoC, IfL, government, and college managers to acknowledge the heavy workload, long hours and stress culture present in many FE colleges. Conference further asks the Executive Committee to introduce measures to reduce them and to restore a healthy work-life balance for FE staff, which include:
- manageable and realistic timetables;
- time to carry out PPA during the working day;
- time to carry out the administrative tasks associated with individual roles;
- this time to be protected and comparable to that now given to teachers in schools.
Proposer: Stella Jales, Executive Committee member
Seconder: Ian Edney, Executive Committee member
16 Amendment to resolution 16 - FE Workload - carried
CALDERDALE AND NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BRANCHES
Amendment: on line three, delete the word "introduce", and replace it with "press for the introduction of".
Proposer: Andy Garner, Calderdale Branch
Seconder: Ralph Surman, Nottinghamshire branch
17 Student visas - carried
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
THAT Conference asks the Executive Committee to urge the government to reconsider its proposals to change the Tier 4-Points Based System for student visas.
Proposer: Tendai Mashapur, Bellerbys College, Cambridgeshire
Seconder: Steve Taylor, Cambridgeshire
18 Biometric information - carried in part
BRENT BRANCH
THAT Conference, concerned by the use of biometric information in schools, calls on the Executive Committee to:
(i) raise the matter, and the use of fingerprints in particular, with the Secretary of State as a matter of urgency - LOST;
(ii) publicise their concerns via the media and parents' organisations - LOST;
(iii) set up a working party to formulate a policy on the matter to be put to the Executive Committee for consideration as a matter of urgency - CARRIED;
(iv) in the interim, oppose, with the use of industrial action as necessary, the introduction of any such measures without full consultation with staff, parents and unions and advance written permission from parents - LOST.
Proposer: Hank Roberts, Copland: A Specialist Science College, Brent
Seconder: Azra Haque, Hay Lane Special School, Brent
