ATL

ATL Conference 2010

Tuesday 30 March - afternoon session

Fifth session of Conference: 15.00 - 17.30

During this session there was an address by Human rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, Founder and Director, Global March Against Child Labour and International Chair, Global Campaign for Education.

Resolutions

34 KS2 SATs - carried in all parts
35 Removing barriers to achievement - carried
36 Link between television programmes and ADHD - lost
37 Student debt - carried
38 Workload associated with APP - carried
39 Admission dates at foundation stage - carried
40 Casualisation of the school workforce - not taken
41 Protection from the promotion of racism in schools - carried in all parts
42 Behaviour challenge - carried in part
42 Amendment to resolution 42 - Behaviour challenge - carried
43 Unsatisfactory teacher performance - not taken

34 KS2 SATs - carried in all parts

COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Inner London branches.

THAT Conference recognises that the withdrawal of SATs from KS2 science and KS3, and the overwhelming opposition to the continuation of the remaining KS2 SATs, is based on detailed evidence and research. Conference instructs the Executive Committee to:
(i) continue to lobby the government to seek the removal of the remaining SATs;
(ii) ensure that any lawful industrial action taken by the NUT and NAHT in order to boycott the summer 2010 SATs tests is not undermined, and that ATL members are advised not to undertake the work of colleagues involved in such action.

Proposer: Helen Brook, The Vine Inter-Church Primary School, Cambridgeshire
Seconder: Kim Knappett, Forest Hill School, Lewisham

35 Removing barriers to achievement - carried

WIRRAL BRANCH

THAT Conference asks the Executive Committee to call upon the Secretary of State to instruct HMCI to conduct an evaluation of progress made in delivering 'Removing Barriers to Achievement', the government's long-term vision for children with SEN and LDD. We are now beyond the outline timetable for implementation and Conference believes it is appropriate to request evidence of improvements in outcomes for pupils with SEN/LDD and the next steps in the delivery of the strategy.

Proposer: John Williamson, Wirral Inclusion Officer, Wirral
Seconder: Jeffrey Bevan, Wallasey High School, Wirral

36 Link between television programmes and ADHD - lost

CORNWALL BRANCH

THAT Conference believes that the prevalence of ADHD in schools is unacceptably high. Pupils affected with this disorder require considerable additional resources to deal with their needs. Conference notes that there is evidence that suggests a link between the watching of certain TV programmes and the development of ADHD. The link is particularly strong for cartoons and other entertainment programmes with fast moving images. Conference asks the Executive Committee to:
(i) consider the evidence available and to decide whether it would be useful to publicise it as a potential cause of ADHD;
(ii) consider whether to call upon the government to fund research to ascertain whether the suspected link between certain TV images and ADHD is sufficiently strong to consider taking action to reduce the risk.

Proposer: David Guiterman, Cornwall College, Cornwall
Seconder: Walter Dudley, Newquay Tretherras School, Cornwall

37 Student debt - carried

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

THAT Conference reaffirms its discontent with the unacceptable level of debt that teaching graduates take with them into the profession; it adds a continuous strain for new teachers which will last for a number of years. Conference asks the Executive Committee to continue its campaign on graduate debt with partner organisations such as the NUS.

Proposer: Brian Ward, Executive Committee member
Seconder: Ralph Surman, Cantrell Primary School, Nottingham

38 Workload associated with APP - carried

COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Berkshire and Hertfordshire branches.

THAT Conference, while recognising the value of assessment for learning in improving the attainment of students, has concerns about the administrative workload caused by the recent implementation of revised or new national strategies such as APP and consequently urges the Executive Committee to:
(i) conduct research into members' experiences of APP;
(ii) evaluate its effectiveness and consider what is good practice;
(iii) investigate the differences in practice between APP in the primary and secondary phases;
(iv) make representations through WAMG to the DCSF with their findings.

Proposer: Aneurin Hathway, The Heathcote School, Stevenage
Seconder: Carly Prout, Park House, Newbury, Berkshire

39 Admission dates at foundation stage - carried

HERTFORDSHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference believes that the Cambridge Primary Review has correctly highlighted the issue of the appropriate age at which children should begin formal education and urges the Executive Committee to investigate the issue with a view to forming an ATL position.

Proposer: Karen Clout, St John's Infant and Nursery School, Radlett
Seconder: Jackie Harvey, Mill Mead Primary School, Hertford

40 Casualisation of the school workforce - not taken

COVENTRY BRANCH

THAT Conference believes that current government policy will lead to the casualisation of the school workforce in England. Conference calls upon the Executive Committee to:
(i) investigate the impact of the introduction of more work-related learning and the Diploma programme on the working conditions of the school workforce;
(ii) investigate the impact on schools, and in particular the effect of learner-led funding, arising from the proposed devolution of funding for post-14 education to local authorities;
(iii) use the information gained to support and enable the long-term security of the school workforce.

Proposer: David Kinnen, President Kennedy School, Coventry
Seconder: Emma Moore, Performing Arts Service, Coventry

41 Protection from the promotion of racism in schools - carried in all parts

COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Hertfordshire and Wiltshire branches.

THAT Conference both notes the government's review of the current provisions which protect children against the promotion of racism in schools and also reaffirms ATL's equality and diversity statement. Nevertheless, Conference asserts that the present safeguards are adequate and that teachers should only be removed from the profession because of personal misconduct or professional performance and not solely because of their membership of a legal political party or non-proscribed religious group or organisation. Conference instructs the Executive Committee to:
(i) advise the government of ATL's position;
(ii) oppose any proposal to exclude someone from membership of the union solely on the grounds of their membership of a legal political party;
(iii) oppose any attempts by the GTC to bar persons from teaching solely on the grounds of their membership of a legal political party.

Proposer: Phil Whalley, Hardenhuish School, Wiltshire
Seconder: Michael Catty, Unattached member, Hertfordshire

42 Behaviour challenge - carried in part

CHESHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference believes that every child has the right to learn in a safe and comfortable environment in the classroom but doubts that the Behaviour Challenge will be effective. Conference calls upon the Executive Committee to press the government to ensure that schools are provided with the means with which to deal with disruptive pupils who damage the education of the large majority. Conference asks that:
(i) the penalties schools suffer for using the last resort of excluding disruptive pupils be withdrawn - CARRIED;
(ii) the benefits system be adjusted so that the parents of disruptive pupils lose part of their child benefit - LOST;
(iii) the government ensures that the parents of disruptive children attend classes to help them develop strategies for dealing with their child's unsatisfactory behaviour - CARRIED;
(iv) such pupils are dealt with in a sensitive but firm manner so that they can eventually make a positive and economic contribution to society and not become NEET - CARRIED.

Proposer: Molly Giles, Lysander Community High School, Warrington
Seconder: Jean Ward, Weston Primary School, Halton

42 Amendment to resolution 42 - Behaviour challenge - carried

Amendment:

Insert the word "persistently" before "disruptive" in Roman numeral (ii)

Proposer: Andy Garner, Calderdale
Seconder: Jill Lewis, North Wales

43 Unsatisfactory teacher performance - not taken

NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH

THAT Conference notes the policy of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council that the Unsatisfactory Teacher Procedure in Northern Ireland is fundamentally flawed. Conference calls upon the Executive Committee to place pressure on the Department of Education for Northern Ireland and the employing authority to engage indiscussions around a new scheme of peer assessment, which will be teacher-led, teacher-driven, and will encompass:
(i) teachers who are in their first two years of teaching;
(ii) teachers who opt for professional support measures through the scheme;
(iii) teachers who are identified as requiring support.

Proposer: Carolyn Roberts, Ballyclare Secondary School, Ballyclare
Seconder: Theo Laverty, Dominican College, Portstewart