UNIONS SAY the proposals did not explain how teachers could determine professional priorities within a 35-hour working week and a 1,365-hour year. They could be asked to work at weekends and during holidays. “Annualisation” of the working year was too vague.
In addition, the offer still proposed removing the ceiling of 25 on composite classes. Two different age-groups could be taught in classes up to 30.
Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: “The recent shift in the management side position to set a minimum of 8,000 teachers appointed as professional leaders is an important step in the right direction, but we must be much clearer as to how many professional leaders will be appointed to posts and what the nature of their duties will be.”
The union wants assurances on the future of the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee and on negotiating structures at council and school levels.
David Eaglesham, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, said the money was not there and the structure was still wrong.
“Management has still to explain how the 800-pupil secondary school is going to work. Their plans are not well thought out and developed,” Mr Eaglesham said.
