ATL

ATL Conference 2007

Tuesday 3 April - sessions two and three

Second session of conference

During this session there was an address from Stuart Herdson, President of ATL.

Support for pupils with psychological, emotional and behavioural needs - CARRIED

10. SWINDON BRANCH

THAT Conference, noting the serious delays in pupils receiving external professional help due to psychological, emotional and behavioural problems, requests that the Executive Committee urgently lobbies government to increase the funding for these pupils to ensure that they have to wait no more than 10 working days from diagnosis to receipt of support.

Proposer: Phil Baker, Unattached member, Swindon; Seconder: Rob Kiver, Lethbridge Primary School, Swindon

Cyber-bullying - CARRIED

11. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

THAT Conference recognises the distress caused to teachers by inappropriate and often offensive comments and video clips posted on websites, including ratemyteacher and youtube, by past and present students; and

(i) calls on those websites to be more vigilant when monitoring the appropriateness of student comments and video clips;

(ii) insists they incorporate easily accessible complaints facilities to allow teachers to register their concerns;

(iii) urges the Executive Committee to ensure that schools' anti-bullying policies incorporate cyber-bullying, in line with DFES guidance, and that such policies are used to support teachers in such situations;

(iv) urges the Executive Committee to raise the issue of cyber-bullying with the Secretary of State for Education and ask him to take all reasonable steps to protect the integrity of the teaching profession.

Proposer: Andy Brown, Executive Committee; Seconder: Lesley Ward, Executive Committee

Anti-bullying policies - CARRIED

12. WIRRAL BRANCH

THAT Conference requests that the Executive Committee campaigns for all LAs, schools and colleges to adopt rigorous anti-bullying policies that protect pupils, students, parents and all staff and for all school and college leadership teams to take seriously the problems raised by bullying.

Proposer: Jeffrey Bevan, Wallasey School, Wirral; Seconder: Anthony Collins, Wirral Hospital School, Wirral

Social class and education - CARRIED

13. COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Brent and Inner London branches.

THAT Conference, recognising that social class is the strongest determinant of educational achievement, requests that the Executive Committee campaigns with other trade unions to ensure that government directs a greater proportion of wealth created by our society into education in order to reduce the social divide.

Proposer: Jean Roberts, Old Oak Primary School, London; Seconder: Hank Roberts, Copland Specialist Science Community College, Brent

Workload (priority resolution) - CARRIED IN BOTH PARTS

42. COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire branches.

THAT Conference, whilst recognising the National Agreement to Raise Standards and Tackle Workload as a force for good, which has resulted in some improvements in schools, notes that a satisfactory work-life balance has still not been achieved.

Conference therefore, requests that the Executive Committee continues to monitor the situation and works within the Social Partnership to press the STRB to reduce teacher workload.

Conference further requests that the Executive Committee, as part of this work, investigates proposing:

(i) a contractual formula that sets a sensible limit to the total number and composition of students for whom the teacher has an accountable responsibility;

(ii) that morning, break-time and after-school `duties' are inappropriate activities for teachers to be expected to undertake.

Proposer: Robert Martyn, Oxfordshire branch; Seconder: Russell Bowen, Balcarras School, Gloucestershire

Classroom diversity - CARRIED

14. NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH

THAT Conference, noting the increasing ethnic and national diversity within the classroom and noting in particular the increase in the number of pupils for whom English is not their first language, requests that the Executive Committee calls upon Government to commit more resources for better ICT and CPD for teachers, lecturers and other education professionals in order to cope with this diversity.

Proposer: Andy Brown, Ballymena Academy, Northern Ireland; Seconder: John Pollock, Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Northern Ireland

Work-life balance of new entrants - CARRIED

15. KENT BRANCH

THAT Conference urges the Executive Committee to investigate the pressures placed on new entrants to the profession by the weight of planning that is required in some schools.

Proposer: Zoe Fail, Sherwood Park CP, Kent; Seconder: Meryl Harries, Barnsole Junior School, Kent

Initiatives to address anti-social behaviour - CARRIED

16. BERKSHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference requests that the Executive Committee makes representations to the government to ensure that any new initiative to address anti-social behaviour by children and young people is both holistic and systemic.

Proposer: Jenny Inglis, Berkshire branch; Seconder: Maureen Meatcher, Unattached member, Berkshire

The 14-19 curriculum - CARRIED

17. BIRMINGHAM BRANCH

THAT Conference re-affirms the Association's historic position that assessment must serve the curriculum and not drive it. Conference therefore calls upon the Executive Committee to seek a fundamental re-appraisal of public examination assessment methods and procedures.

Proposer: David Ambler, The College High School, Birmingham; Seconder: Ken Oliver, The College High School, Birmingham

Lesson observation by students (partnerships in learning) - CARRIED IN ALL PARTS

18. HERTFORDSHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference, recognising that members in some secondary schools have been involved in setting up student observations of lessons as part of Student Voice and Partnerships in Learning, urges the Executive Committee to:

(i) investigate the good practice and protocols that persuaded teachers to accept this;

(ii) prepare advice and guidance for members in other schools that express an interest in setting up such a scheme;

(iii) consider if the secondary models could be suitable for use in primary schools;

(iv) oppose the extension of student observations into primary schools if appropriate.

Proposer: Aneurin Hathway, Heathcote School, Hertfordshire; Seconder: Adrian Petty, St Edmund's College, Hertfordshire

Continuing learning journey initiative - CARRIED

19. BRADFORD BRANCH

THAT Conference, anticipating with enthusiasm the move to a more equitable transition between Foundation Stage and KS1, expresses grave concern at the continued devaluing and loss of play in the curriculum.

Conference therefore urges that the Executive Committee presses LAs, headteachers and senior management to be proactive in the complete implementation of the Government's Continuing Learning Journey initiative.

Proposer: Alison Sherratt, Riddlesden St Mary's CE Primary School, Keighley; Seconder: Ann Nash, Unattached member, Bradford

Citizens for the future - NOT TAKEN

20. INNER LONDON BRANCH

THAT Conference believes that all children need the opportunity to develop as independent learners with the right to be taught the skills that will enable them to become lifelong learners that permit them to fulfil their roles as citizens in the 21st Century.

Proposer: Kim Knappett, Forest Hill School, Lewisham; Seconder: Liz Coston, Torridon Primary School, Lewisham

CRB checks - CARRIED

21. COVENTRY BRANCH

THAT Conference urges that the Executive Committee presses the government to revise the system for CRB checks so that any person employed by two or more LAs at any given time is subject to only one check.

Proposer: Stephen Holmes, Coundon Court School and Community College, Coventry; Seconder: David Kinnen, President Kennedy School and Community College, Coventry

Third session of conference

A series of workshops took place before the third session of the conference began.

Governing bodies - CARRIED

22. BRADFORD BRANCH

THAT Conference, whilst accepting the majority of governing bodies work hard and well, expresses concerns at the growing number of governing bodies who fail in their duty as 'critical friend'. Conference asks that the Executive Committee presses the government to ensure that checks and balances are in place to ensure independence and accountability.

Proposer: Philip Shackleton, Greenhead High School, Bradford; Seconder: Ann Nash, Unattached member, Bradford

PFI and marketisation - CARRIED

23. COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Swindon and Warwickshire branches.

THAT Conference:

(i) has no confidence in this government's ability to organise the provision of schools in this country to ensure that all pupils attend schools that are fairly funded, fit for purpose and are answerable to their local community in an effective manner;

(ii) urges the Executive Committee to continue to oppose the increased marketisation of education;

(iii) as a matter of urgency, calls upon the Executive Committee to request that the government holds an independent enquiry into the PFI before any further projects of this type are embarked upon.

The enquiry should consider whether the PFI is value for money, the buildings are built of sufficient quality and whether there is appropriate access to PFI schools by local community groups at a reasonable charge.

Proposer: John Collins, George Eliot Community School, Warwickshire; Seconder: Phil Baker, Unattached member, Swindon

Health and safety- ALL PARTS CARRIED

24. COMPOSITE From resolutions submitted by Brent and Swindon branches and the Executive Committee.

THAT Conference, welcoming ATL's Organising Agenda's bid to increase the numbers of school and college health and safety representatives, requests that the Executive Committee includes the following objectives within this campaign:

(i) that there is a health and safety representative on each branch committee;

(ii) that school and college joint union/management health and safety committees are established;

(iii) that LAs and independent employers are persuaded to sign up to the Safety Reps' Charter;

(iv) that all rooms in which ATL members work with pupils and students are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992;

(v) that the installation of sprinklers in all new and refurbished school and college buildings becomes a statutory requirement;

(vii) a campaign to highlight the importance of preventing and reducing workrelated back or musculo-skeletal injuries to staff who work in educational establishments; and

(viii) whilst applauding the government's decision to introduce Section 3 of the Compensation Act 2006, lobby the Government to:

(a) highlight the threat posed by asbestos exposure to the health and safety of those who work in educational establishments and to pupils and students;

(b) check, and if necessary, strongly urge compliance of Regulation 4 of The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations by employers to prevent further suffering;

(c) urge the government to increase substantially state benefits for sufferers from asbestos induced disease, including but not limited to payments under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979;

(d) compel the insurance industry to establish a fund of last resort, so that there is a payment of full and adequate common law levels of damages to asbestos victims or their surviving family;

(e) secure legislation to achieve the rapid removal of all asbestos from school and college buildings.

Proposer: Lesley Ward, Executive Committee; Seconder: Hank Roberts, Copland Specialist Science Community College, Brent

Role of ULR in enhanced professional development - CARRIED

25. WORCESTERSHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference calls upon the Executive Committee to secure, by working with branches:

(i) a learning agreement in each LA area acknowledging the role of the ULR in enhancing personal learning and professional development;

(ii) provision for ULR statutory facility time which should be additional to facilities provided for other union duties and activities;

(iii) an agreement by LAs to set up a general training fund for all their employees to fund necessary facilities;

(iv) a learning forum in each LA, involving ULRs, to formulate policy on effective use of CPD.

Proposer: Stephen Baker, Droitwich Spa High School and Sports College, Worcestershire; Seconder: David Stanbury, Unattached member, Worcestershire

Every child matters - CARRIED

26. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference requests the Executive Committee to urge the Government to prioritise Every Child Matters rather than Every File Matters.

Proposer: Ralph Surman, Cantrell Primary School, Nottinghamshire; Seconder: Philip Brooks, Unattached member, Nottinghamshire

Long serving teachers are an invaluable asset - CARRIED

27. WILTSHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference believes that long-serving teachers are an especially valuable asset in schools and should be encouraged and cherished.

Proposer: Phil Whalley, Hardenhuish School, Wiltshire; Seconder: John Hawkins, Unattached member, Wiltshire

Restraint - CARRIED

28. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT

Conference welcomes the revised DfES guidance on the use of reasonable force in schools and colleges, but calls upon the Government to ensure that it is a mandatory requirement for all education employers to:

(i) have a restraint policy in place;

(ii) provide initial and ongoing training on restraint.

Proposer: Jovan Trkulja, Executive Committee; Seconder: David Guiterman, Executive Committee

Local government democratic structures - CARRIED

29. WIRRAL BRANCH

THAT Conference, noting the impact of the Local Government Act (2000) on democratic structures, calls upon the Executive Committee to review the consequences of the Act and to offer advice and guidance for positive action as appropriate.

Proposer: Jeffrey Bevan, Wallasey School, Wirral; Seconder: John Williamson, Wirral Education Centre, Wirral

Early years - CARRIED

30. HERTFORDSHIRE BRANCH

THAT Conference, recognising that the DfES has taken into account the concerns of early years practitioners that children are entering the school system with weaker speaking and listening skills, urges the Executive Committee to enter into dialogue with the DfES with the aim of initiating research into the causes and remedies of the problem.

Specifically, Conference requests that the Executive Committee:

(i) monitors the introduction of the Nursery Pathfinder Project;

(ii) analyses the likely impact on the work of Foundation Stage practitioners of the introduction of the increased entitlement;

(iii) takes action, if appropriate, to prevent any potential adverse effects.

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

FE funding - CARRIED

31. COMPOSITE from resolutions submitted by Avon and Wiltshire branches.

THAT Conference urges the Executive Committee to press the government to release the necessary funding to:

(i) close the funding gap between schools and colleges;

(ii) close the pay gap between FE lecturers and teachers in the maintained sector and to ensure the full implementation of national pay awards in the FE sector, with salaries equivalent to those of school teachers;

(iii) provide facilities worthy of the 21st century.

Proposer: Stella Jales, Wiltshire College, Wiltshire; Seconder: Veronica Rodriguez, Unattached member, Avon

Identity politics - CARRIED

32. BRENT BRANCH

THAT Conference, rejecting 'identity politics' calls upon the Executive Committee not to fund delegates to attend identity based conferences such as those called solely for specific 'identity based' groups where attendance is limited only to members of such groups.

Conference further reaffirms support for ATL's involvement at appropriate inclusive events which oppose any and all forms of discrimination and where collective action is discussed.

Proposer: Hank Roberts, Copland Specialist Science Community College, Brent; Seconder: Azra Haque, Unattached member, Brent