Working Time Agreements
and
Managing Teacher Workload
West Lothian Local Association
Terry Gray, Area Officer
April 2017
Objective for today
Simple….
we want to support EIS reps &
members in making the most of this
tool and in negotiating effective
Working Time Agreements
Content
SNCT Statement on Teacher Professionalism
35 hour working week
WTA process
Ground rules
Tips for better balance
Negotiating…and what happens if no
agreement is reached
• Planned Flexibility
•
•
•
•
•
•
SNCT Statement on
Teacher Professionalism
• Climate of collegiality must underpin
enhanced professional role of teachers
• Due regard to workload and contractual
obligations to allow time for core role as
leaders of learning
•
Anything that makes it impossible for
teaching staff to complete their duties within
the 35 hour working week = Excessive
workload (SNCT App. 2.18)
35 hour working week
• 35 hour working week - 22.5 hours
class contact maximum
• 7.5 hours (1/3 class contact time)for
personal planning and preparation
• 5 hours for collegiate work
• 190 hours annually (38 teaching
weeks x 5 hours)
THIS IS CONTRACTUAL
WTA process
• WTA – agreed and negotiated annually
between teacher reps and HT (or SMT
rep) ..this is the School Negotiating
Committee
• Must take account of LNCT advice which
is updated and issued annually
• Greatest opportunity to collectively
manage teacher workload
• Accounts for use of 190 hours over school
year
WTA process contd.
• In place for August – negotiations
should be complete before end of
June
• Organise a school branch meeting in
April/May to discuss and evaluate the
current WTA
• SNC meets to negotiate changes and
draft school calendar
WTA process contd.
• Further EIS meeting to discuss WTA
negotiation and decide on position
• If agreed HT and staff reps sign-off, if
not then further period of
negotiation required
• LA Secretary can provide advice
throughout the process
Ground rules
• WTA must have a calendar of events
(dates and times must also be agreed)
• Take account of part-time staff
• Allow only 1 event in a week e.g. avoid
having parent’s meetings and a staff
meeting in the same week*
• Don’t feel pressured to just ‘agree’ to last
year’s WTA!
• Ensure WTA is shared with all staff
*N.B This is does not mean 1 meeting EVERY week!
Tips for better workload balance
• Keep brief notes of how long activities
actually take throughout the year – this
will help with the next negotiations
• Consider balance of hours allocated to
activities such as planning, moderation,
and curriculum development - does this
work for your school?
• SIPs should be realistic and every activity
costed in terms of time
Tips for better workload balance
- cont
• CfE Working Group on tackling
bureaucracy –ensure time for professional
dialogue – look at balance of meetings and
consider alternatives.
• Set aside realistic time for flexibility – we
know that teachers will have extra
preparation/correction to deal with as well
as events such as school inspections etc,
Suggestion for balance of hours
Activity
Hours
Class Contact
855 (22.5 hours per week)
Personal Allowance
285 (7.5 hours per week)
In‐Service Days
35 (5 days per year)
Planning, Assessment, Reporting and Recording
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
Curricular Development
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
Collegiate Activity
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
Performance Review
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
Meetings with Parents
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
Staff Meetings
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
Personal Review and Development
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
Balance of Time
To be negotiated and agreed at school level
TOTAL
1365
What happens next…
• Once your school has agreed the WTA
and school calendar for the following
session it should be submitted to both
Joint Secretaries of the LNCT
• If any agreement has been reached for
flexibility then the detail of this (including
all staff involved, and the specific model
to be used) MUST be submitted to the
LNCT alongside the WTA for scrutiny
What happens next if you don’t
reach agreement…..…
• If you are unable to reach agreement
then the LNCT should be notified of the
failure to agree. School branches should
contact their LA Secretary early in the
negotiation process if this looks a likely
outcome.