ATL Sandwell

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers in Sandwell

ü still the only professional association website dedicated to its Sandwell members.

ATL

the thinking person’s alternative

last update: Wednesday, 07 February 2007

Use this ten-point checklist to ensure you are up-to-date with personal professional documentation.

ATL Sandwell EXTRA

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

Professional Checklist

1: Do you know how to access the Local Authority website and view the bulletin and other information on-line?

The Local Authority website is accessible to all, including parents. There is a wealth of information including jobs on offer. However, there is a restricted area which contains the bulletin, circulars to schools, courses on offer, and access to the Local Education Authority’s “virtual offices”. If you haven’t been told how to access this extra data, ask you headteacher or line manager, or ring the branch office 0845 370 2213 – 24 hour message service. Leave you name and a convenient contact number e.g. home or mobile.

2: Do you have a job description?

Your job description is an essential document which protects you as well as setting out your terms of reference. JDs need to be reviewed at least annually. Review should ideally be a negotiation process. Aim for clarity and remember that phrases like “… and any other duties at the direction of the headteacher” do have to pass the test of reasonableness. Better still press for "any other appropriate duties consistent with the payscale." Avoid being over ambitious and taking on too much, and made sure that your performance can be measured. Soon your job description will be available to your colleagues, so bear that in mind when writing or negotiating one.

3: Have you been involved in the performance management process, and have up-to-date records of meetings?

If you want to check that the process is running fairly click here which explains the scheme in some detail. Spend some time reading through this material, and you’ll be better placed to use the scheme to your benefit.

4: Do you have access to the national ATL website?

The whole world can access the website, but much of the data can only be reached when you log in. In order to do this you will need your membership number. You’ll be sent a password to your email address. Now is the ideal time to get up to date with what’s on the web and where.

5: Have you had a pension forecast from the TPS – Teachers’ Pensions?

Even though this is not entirely up-to-date when you receive it, this document is a useful guide to what pension you might expect to get in terms of your work at a teacher so far. If you want to read around the subject go to and order your set of factsheets, or the ones that interest you. And have a look at the Pensions website

6: Do you know the name of your school’s Link Advisor?

Your school’s link advisor is employed by the Local Authority to support your school in ensuring compliance with current and new initiatives. Frequency of visits will vary depending upon need. Some advisors try to give advice on areas which they are not best placed to give, and that can lead to problems. It’s always useful to know who is advising your school.

7: Do you know the name of your school’s Personnel Officer?

Each school has a member of Shaftesbury House Personnel Team – sometimes referred to as Human Resources – assigned to them to give advice and assistance on personnel matters. It’s very useful to know who your Personnel Officer is in matters of illness, employment difficulties etc. The borough is divided into South: Debbie Mills, Schools Personnel Adviser 0121 569 8124, North: Lisa Franks Schools Personnel Adviser 0121 569 8112 and West: Keith Bourne / Michele Wallis (job share) Schools Personnel Advisers 0121 569 8259.

8: Do you know who your teacher / non teaching rep. is on your schools’ governing body?

Each governing body will have at least one teacher representative and one non-teaching representative. They are not bound to share all the governing body business with you, and some is strictly confidential. However, having a good relationship with this rep. can be advantageous, as they may be able to voice staff concerns to the governors as and when appropriate. And when a vacancy occurs, why not consider standing for election?

9: Have you had a salary notification – normally in September each year?

You must be formally notified of your salary each year, and this will include details of any points, management allowances, teaching and learning responsibility payments, extra points for recruitment and retention, special needs, protected allowances etc. Keep it safe, along with your salary slips which I advise you to keep in case there is any evidence of earnings required for example, for pension purposes.

10: Have you claimed your subscription against your tax?

You can claim tax relief on nine-tenths of your ATL subscription and on the whole of your subscription to a professional body (e.g. the Association of Science Education). To claim, contact your tax office (see your pay slip) and ask for form P358. Alternatively, write to your tax office, saying that: ‘I hereby claim my subscriptions to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers under ICTA 1988 (S)(201) (1) (b). Please amend my tax code accordingly’. You need to list each year and each subscription amount that you are claiming for. You should also include the following information:

4 your name and address

4 your national insurance number

4 your tax district and your employer’s tax reference (which is on your pay slip)

4 your ATL membership number.

In both cases, you must provide evidence of your subscription history. Write, with your membership number, to: Membership department, ATL, 7 Northumberland Street, London WC2N 5RD. For more information go to:

Still puzzled? If you have any concerns about any of the matters raised above, ring the Branch Office and your Branch Secretary will ring you back as soon as possible.

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