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Stand up for Quality Education
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Notice of Independent Research on Teacher Workload
The EIS has commissioned independent research on Teacher Workload. The study is being conducted by a research consortium from the University of the West of Scotland and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
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This research aims to gain an understanding of the extent and nature of the excess workload of teachers.
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Members will soon be asked to participate in this research by completing an online diary which will provide a snapshot of workload activities over a week. The diary tool will be carefully designed to minimise the time taken to complete this at the end of the study week.
Please look out for the invitation to take part as member participation is crucial.
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Violence & Aggression in Schools
The EIS national branch survey on ‘violence and aggression’ was published late last year. The full report has been shared with all members. The EIS report, drawn from around 900 branches, found significant and rising levels of ‘violence and aggression’ in schools and set out recommendations to address it.
The Scottish Government published its "Behaviour in Scottish Schools: Research Report 2023". The independent report findings and recommendations align closely with the EIS report. Violence and aggression in schools remain a live political issue, and we are seeking to work with political parties, COSLA, Education Scotland, parents’ groups and other trade unions to make progress in this area.
The EIS continues to campaign at a national level to address ‘violence and aggression’ in schools, and Local Associations and Branches are also progressing the campaign locally.
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FELA National Pay Dispute & Industrial Action
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FELA members have just voted, by a strong majority, for industrial action in pursuit of their national dispute on pay – they have not received a cost-of-living pay increase since 2021. The FELA Executive will shortly consider how to use this industrial action mandate.
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Council Elections 2024/25
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The EIS Council is the principal executive committee of the EIS.
It meets around five times a year, usually in Edinburgh, and also at the AGM.
Nomination forms for all members interested in standing for election to Council for 2024/25 will be available from the MyEIS section of the EIS website.
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Elections to the GTCS Council convening in April 2024 are now open, with the deadline for voting being midday on Friday, 9th February.
The EIS is committed to ensuring a strong teacher voice within GTCS Council and to this end is supporting candidates across the range of vacancies in the Primary, Secondary and FE Categories.
You can play your part in ensuring that the voice of the teaching profession is spoken and heard on GTCS Council by voting for all remaining EIS-supported candidates in the Primary and Secondary categories. You can read their election statements on our website.
Please look out for your online voting information which you will receive directly from GTCS.
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The EIS has submitted a detailed response to the latest Scottish Government consultation on reform of the national education organisations, which focuses on the creation of a new national qualifications body and new approaches to inspection.
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We have been clear that the new body replacing the SQA must deliver the long-overdue culture change which places trust in teachers’ professional judgement and which will see the new organisation’s governance arrangements ensure that the body actively listens and responds to the voice of the profession.
We have also reiterated our calls for a fundamental review of the current system of inspections, highlighting its very limited worth in the view of teachers, and outlining the need for reform based on trust in teacher professionalism, empowerment and system-wide collaboration.
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Additional Support for Learning
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The Education, Children and Young People’s Committee of the Scottish Parliament has launched an inquiry into Additional Support for Learning, focusing on the following themes:
- the presumption of mainstreaming;
- the impact of COVID;
- the use of remedies set out in legislation.
The EIS has submitted a full response, highlighting the urgent need for resources to support teachers in meeting the diverse range of additional support needs in their classes. Investment in specialist teachers, support staff and allied professionals, is essential if the promise of inclusion made to children, young people and their families nearly twenty years ago, is to be kept. With 37% of pupils in Scottish schools with an identified additional support need, the time for action is now.
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Anti-Racism Creative Showcase
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The EIS is the sole funder of this year’s Show Racism the Red Card Creative Showcase. Taking part in this showcase is a great way to engage learners in an anti-racist curriculum. The showcase is open to all in Education, from EY to S6 and all entries will feature in our online gallery, with some invited to an in-person event in Glasgow. Visit Show Racism the Red card for further information and to submit pupils’ artwork. The deadline for submissions is 9th February 2024.
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Stories of Section 2A – EIS LGBT History Month Event
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Today, Scotland is the first country in the world to commit to a national rollout of LGBT Inclusive Education. But, it was only just over 20 years ago that a piece of public sector legislation prohibited the teaching of LGBT lives and relationships in schools.
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So many of Scotland’s teachers and students lived through the devastating effects of Section 2A (known as Section 28 in England and Wales). What can we learn from their stories of the past, to help us take LGBT Inclusive Education forward in the present?
This LGBT History Month, the EIS sets out to begin gathering the stories of Section 2A, which will form part of a larger project in partnership with the Time for Inclusive Education Campaign (TIE).
Our "Stories of Section 2A – EIS LGBT History Month Event" will take place on Thursday 22nd February, from 6pm-8pm, on Teams.
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Go Green - Register for the Online SEJ
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Members can opt out of receiving a printed copy of the SEJ by post.
If you no longer wish to receive a printed copy of the SEJ please complete the form on our website.
Members opting out of the printed version of the SEJ will instead receive an email with a link to each new online edition of the SEJ upon publication.
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We support and train members to become school-based EIS Representatives, this includes Health & Safety and Equalities Reps.
The EIS works with the college tutors to deliver TUC accredited Reps’ training. This year’s future dates will be published shortly.
If you are a member who has an interest in becoming a Rep, want to learn more, or have recently taken over as a new Rep then please explore our courses on our website.
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Are You a Probationer Teacher? – EIS Membership & Support
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Unions are strongest when members are engaged, and we hope you'll become an active participant during your probation year or once you are an established teacher.
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Get ready for a great year with top savings from EIS Extra
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With EIS Extra, you can enjoy fantastic savings that’ll boost your balance after the festive period and make room for more enjoyment throughout 2024.
So, if this is the year you want to jet off somewhere new, spend more time with friends and family, or even just do the hobbies you enjoy, you’ll have more opportunities to do just that. There are also plenty of savings to be made on health and wellness products so you can feel your best for whatever you jump into.
Start exploring today to discover discounts and offers that’ll make this year the best one yet.
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To unsubscribe email membership@eis.org.uk with the subject line unsubscribe from member bulletin.
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