ATL Sandwell

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers in Sandwell

ü for three years the only professional association website dedicated to its Sandwell members.

ATL

the thinking person’s alternative

last update: Saturday, 13 June 2009

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

B. F. Skinner 1904 – 1990

Photo: Rosita, Schaaflicht Belgium

ATL Sandwell EXTRA

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Just like the proverbial iceberg, ATL Sandwell’s website contains much that is hidden. To access more pages, simply subscribe to our regular email bulletin

Not a member?x

To join ATL on line

click here

The TES says:x

“Morning Star-reading socialist firebrands can join the NUT. Bearded sandal wearers can join the NASUWT, and those who enjoy breaking in sensible shoes at village fetes can join ATL.” TES 7th April 2006

ATL Sandwell annual general meeting decisions

As from 1^st September 2009

President Mr John Dawson

Treasurer Mrs Sandra Baker

Joint Branch Secretaries Mrs Valerie Cartwright and Mrs Jean Retberg

Health and Safety Rep. Mrs Lorraine Cemm

Sandwell Building Schools for the Future partner is to be Environments for Learning (E4L) which is made up of Interserve and Agilysys, who will contribute expertise in construction, educational transformation, facilities management and ICT. click for website

OfSTED news For the latest news from your friends at OfSTED click here

Single Status Read the background and overview in Sandwell and guidance for members involved click here

Members can subscribe to the regular email bulletin which contains links to the very latest news on single status and equal pay claims in Sandwell. click to find out more

ATL’s education acronym collection

click here to read from AALA to YSS and find out what they mean!

HLTA All you ever wanted to know about the standards for higher level teaching assistants and more click here

Meetings

A good performance development meeting is one in which:

àthe employee does much of the talking

àthe manager listens actively to what the employee feels

àthere is scope for reflection and analysis

àperformance, not personality, is evaluated

àthe whole period is considered – not just recent or isolated events

àachievement is acknowledged and reinforced

àends positively with mutually agreed action plans

A bad meeting is one which

àfocuses on failures and omissions

àis controlled by the manager

àends with disagreement or ambiguity.

What NOT to do in meetings click here

ATL is affiliated to no political party However, you may find this plain guide to political systems enlightening, confusing or amusing.

Getting connected to the ATL professional network is the title of our new A4 to encourage ict refuseniks. To gently encourage a colleague into the 21^st century click here, print out and talk it through with them. We have resources from the ULR fund to give appropriate one-to-one support.

Planning offsite visits?

First, contact your school’s Educational Visits Co-ordinator.

Second, view the latest guidelines for such activities click here

Third, contact Christina Grange, who is Sandwell’s Offsite / Out of Hours Health & Safety Co-ordinator 0121 569 8152

Who is ATL in Sandwell?

Support staff, teachers and headteachers are in membership. Together we:

· are the smallest of the recognised teacher unions which offers membership to all who are involved in delivering the curriculum.

· respect members’ views;

· support individuals;

· make available free publications;

· run excellent training courses;

· have a dedicated phone line and messaging service.

Are you a Support Staff Member

and confused about pay scales? click for help

ATL members’ charter When receiving support from ATL, this is the document which explains our guiding principles. click here

In Sandwell, our vision is to:

· encourage members to access the excellent range of ATL sponsored research materials and training courses.

· offer members support in professional and employment matters and, where appropriate, refer members to appropriate regional and national support.

· represent the views of members in collective negotiations and policy development with Sandwell local authority.

· work in partnership with other professional associations and agencies for the benefit of education professionals and young people

“Planning is what people do instead of thinking”

attributed to author Terry Pratchett

DCSF latest news for education staff during 2009 for your convenience

TSN

The Teacher Support Network is an independent charity which provides help and support to educational professionals. Click for helpful guides on:

Stress - understanding & dealing with it

Money Makeover - get the most from yours

Grants and money advice

Equal pay – the movie produced by LGE, Local Government Employers, now on YouTube click here Remember this is not the ATL perspective but it explains how councils may be thinking.

Pay scales for teachers from 1^st September 2008 click here and choose from leadership, post threshold, unqualified etc etc.

Part-time teachers pay The methodology used to calculate your actual hours worked will be subject to a new formula from 1^st September. To download a fact sheet on the new arrangements click here

School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document is the 223 page document which governs the employment of teachers in most schools. To access this document click here Warning: Some Academies have chosen to write their own.

TESsummary

for ATL’s very own highly selective take

click here

Teachernet To find the latest updates on the Teachernet website click here

Contact details for all Sandwell’s neighbouring ATL branches click here

Big Brother bother? ATL’s advice about what’s acceptable and what’s not: A4 legal advice

What do OfSTED lesson observation gradings mean?

click here for A4 pdf downloadable sheet.

Working elsewhere

If you are working with other schools, you might find these principles useful.

What do you want to do when you leave school?

In around half an hour this DVD explains the changes to the TPS Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Watch it in the comfort of your own home or arrange a lunch time showing for colleagues. It could seriously help you plan for your future. To borrow a copy contact the branch office.