ATL

Independent Schools Conference 2009

Ninety delegates came together in London this November to debate some of the key issues facing teachers and staff in the independent sector.

ATL's annual Independent Schools Conference was a lively mixture of speeches and seminars and a great opportunity for members to get together with other members in their sector and find out about other schools across the country. 

Sir Roger Singleton, chairman of the ISA, delivered the keynote speech on the ISA's vetting and barring scheme, which covers anyone working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults. There has been much debate about the new scheme and delegates were given the opportunity to express some of the misgivings that many ATL members have about the scheme.

The tough financial climate is affecting many in the sector, but delegates were assured that ATL had a robust programme of support and training for members. Opportunities include an innovative partnership with ATL, Edge Hill University and the Girls Day School Trust which enable employer-enabled training accreditation, allowing training to be counted towards qualifications such as masters degrees.

Other topics covered in the busy day included the Working Time Regulations, which some schools have been slow to address and bullying. Many members are concerned about bullying with staff not benefitting from some of the work that has been done to ease the problems some pupils face.

You can find out more about ATL's work within the independent sector here.