New Teachers

A very big welcome to all teachers who are new to West Sussex. The NUT West Sussex Teachers Association [WSTA] is very active in campaigning over local and national issues, whilst offering support and guidance to individual teachers.

A special welcome to all NQTs. You will have chance to meet members of the WSTA at your West Sussex induction and training sessions. We hope too that you attended the NQT event on Friday October 5^th at The Hickstead Hotel.

Academies

The WSTA has been monitoring the Academy programme. DfES has now agreed that West Sussex can move to the second stage of the process, the 'feasibility phase'. This involves a 9 months consultation with interested parties, including the unions and parents.

Three Academies are now planned in West Sussex with the intention that the lead sponsor will be the Woodard Corporation. This organisation is based on the ideas developed by the 19th Century educationalist Nathaniel Woodard.

According to its website, the Woodard Corporation is a Christian group which forms the largest group of Church of England Schools in England. Woodard schools 'unashamedly serve the Church and nation from the catholic tradition'.

Please see their website (www.woodard.co.uk) for further details. 2 Trust status schools and 5 more potential academies are also mooted.

However well-meaning this organisation may be, we are concerned about the break up of the family of local schools. This is one of the reasons why the NUT, nationally and locally, is opposed to the Academy program.

Another fear is that the conditions of service of our members will be put at risk. The union, both nationally and locally, is affiliated to the Anti Academies Alliance.

For further details see www.antiacademies.org.uk or contact the Secretary of West Sussex NUT, Dave Thomas on davethomas23@hotmail.com The Union has a very important role to play in protecting members, influencing school policies and in negotiating school pay and conditions.

Performance Management

As the new academic year begins, new regulations for Performance Management come into force. Planning and reviews must be completed for teachers by 31^st October.

Your school representative has a model policy from the Union and should have been consulted about your school’s policy before it was adopted.

How Well Are You Prepared For Retirement?

The answer to the above question may well be; “I haven’t given it much thought.” Or “Well, it’s a long way off.” Were you aware that the pension rules for teaching staff changed in January 2007? Do you know when you can retire and how much pension you might receive? If you’ve answered “No.” then help may be at hand.

Earlier in the year at The Forest School in Horsham, the management, at the request of the N.U.T. representative, set aside some directed time in order for an independent financial adviser to visit the school and to speak to the teaching staff about this issue. Many were very surprised and concerned by what they heard.

Throughout the county, schools have received visits from independent financial experts. Amazingly, there are still many schools who have not taken advantage of this service. The visiting adviser at Forest said that very often approaches were turned away or ignored by administrative staff or senior management.

If your school is one of those not yet reached and you and your colleagues would like to find out about their new pension entitlements, please contact one of your local executive members as soon as possible. The longer you leave it the more you may have to do in order to ensure a decent income in retirement. Please be reassured that the visiting speaker will not try to sell you anything but of course will be happy to respond to individual requests for advice regarding the changing or enhancing of your pension provision.

Nick Isherwood/ Executive member WSTA

Occupational Health procedures and CRB checks

Occupational Health assessments are now requested by Heads when a member of staff has been off long term sick: usually more than 3-4 weeks. There is a waiting time of about three weeks for these appointments and therefore as soon as a return to work date has been agreed a school needs to request an assessment to avoid any delay returning and ensure strategies such as “phased return” can be put into place.

CRB checks

All schools will be given information on staff who have not been checked since 2002 with teaching and support staff in county schools currently being checked. All primary schools and many others in West Sussex have now completed checks. In future the need for rechecking should be avoided as a new central database will hold details. Documentation for interviews and references can be made available and referred to.

Salsa Evening

A social event for free for NQTs and only £5.00 for others was held at The Hickstead Hotel Friday evening October 5^th. Those who attended met new friends while learning to Salsa dance.

Keep up to date with the WSTA Blog: http://wsta1.org.uk/

Including news, discussions, links and CPD.

Published by WSTA

Editor Alison Baker St Phillip Howard Barnham