Agenda item

Richard Hand introduced the report (Agenda Item 12), which aimed to inform members about the activities of the teaching trade unions.

Richard Hand ran through the main highlights in the report. Casework mainly related to the position schools were findings themselves in as a result of recruitment and retention, funding, and stress on the system, which was putting stress on members and causing ill health, sickness absence and work related stress. These were elements that had been cumulating over a number of years and were coming to a head, apparent from the industrial action being taken.

ASCL, which consisted of mainly secondary heads, was due to start their ballot that day (19^th June). Richard Hand was aware that NAHT had already reached the threshold of 60 percent for action in the autumn term. The NEU was currently at about 42 percent and seemed to be in line with what was happening nationally. NEU’s ballot would remain open until 28^th July 2023 and the ASCL ballot would likely run until the same point in time. If the teachers’ pay review body report was released by the end of term it would be within the window of the ballot phase.

Richard Hand concluded that many of the issues being seen related to the current state of funding and pay in schools.

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum noted the report.