Workload And Working Time Policy: Extracts from the NUT Guidance For Representatives...

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Extracts from NUT teachers’ workload and working time policy – identifying and raising concerns

WORKING TIME: Are directed activities restricted to no more than 1265 hours over the year, with pro-rata restrictions in place for part-time teachers?

WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND PROFESSIONAL DUTIES: What steps do you consider members could take to address any problems arising from these issues?

MID-DAY BREAK: Are you allocated a reasonable period of time at mid-day; Are you required during the mid-day break to undertake any duties including attendance at meetings?

PPA TIME: Is allocated PPA time during lesson time; Do teachers with management and leadership responsibilities receive adequate non-contact time to undertake their additional responsibilities?

PLANNING: Are there any problems with unnecessary or excessive requests for planning documents; What steps do you think members could take to address problems arising from these issues?

MEETINGS AND PARENTS EVENING: Does the meetings [including parents' evenings] programme at your school achieve on average no more than one meeting a week?

REPORT ON PUPILS: Are reports on pupils at your school limited to no more than one report on each pupil per academic year?

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS IN ENGLAND (FROM SEPTEMBER 2007): Do you want – no more than three targets per cycle – no more than one lesson observation lasting no more than one hour per cycle – not to make pay progression recommendations on colleagues; What steps do you think members should take to achieve this?

COVER: Do you do more than 38 hours cover per year; Is cover undertaken by teachers at your school displayed on the staff notice board to demonstrate equitable distribution?

INVIGILATION OF EXAMINATIONS: Have you been released from the invigilation of external examinations such as national curriculum tests, GCSE, AS/A2 examinations, mock examinations or other tests requiring alterations to your timetable?

ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS: Do you undertake tasks which do not require your professional skills and the judgement of a qualified teacher; If so what steps should be taken to stop this?

CLASSROOM OBSERVATION IN ENGLAND: In a given academic year do you wish lesson observations to be limited to no more than three hours with each lasting no more than one hour [one of the three devoted to performance management] and at least five working days’ notice for all lesson observations [no drop ins]; What steps are you and your members prepared to take to achieve this?

SCHOOLS CAUSING CONCERN IN ENGLAND: If your school has been designated as causing concerns by OFSTED and members believe that they are being subjected to excessive workload demands, has advice been sought from the NUT London East Regional Office?

CLASS SIZES: Do you have class sizes that exceed NUT policy and the locally agreed Class Size arrangements adopted by your governing body?

Please contact Newham Teachers' Association if you have any questions.

Best Wishes,
Peter Smith