DORIS CHADWICK	0114 2391078	PIPWORTH SCHOOL , PIPWORTH ROAD, SHEFFIELD S2 1AA
WENDY ALLSEBROOK	0114 2456885	WOOLLEY WOOD SCHOOL, OAKS FOLD ROAD, SHEFFIELD  S5 0JN wallsebrook@woolleywood.sheffield.sch.uk
SARAH BILLSON	0114 2507394	TALBOT SCHOOL, LEES HALL ROAD, SHEFFIELD S8 9JP
CHRISTINE CASE	0114 2348805	MYERS GROVE SCHOOL, WOOD LANE, SHEFFIELD S6 5HG christinecase@myersgrove.sheffield.sch.uk
ANGELA DIDCOTE	0114 2396130	GLEADLESS SCHOOL, HOLLINSEND ROAD, SHEFFIELD  S12 2EJ
ANTONY FAIRBROTHER	0114 2313469	FOXHILL PRIMARY,  KEATS ROAD, FOXHILL, FOXHILL, SHEFFIELD  S6 1AZ tfairbrother@foxhill.sheffield.sch.uk
ADAM FORD	0114 2670000 EX 219	HIGH STORRS SCHOOL, HIGH STORRS ROAD, SHEFFIELD  S11 7LH a.ford@highstorrs.sheffield.sch.uk
DARREN HARRISON	0114 2557331	NEWFIELD SCHOOL LEES HALL ROAD, SHEFFIELD  S8 9JP dharrison1@newfield.sheffield.sch.uk
JANE KNIGHT	0114 2321278	MANSEL PRIMARY SCHOOL, MANSEL CRESCENT, SHEFFIELD S5 9QS,
JULIA MARSHALL	0114 2439391	FIR VALE SCHOOL, OWLER LANE, SHEFFIELD  S4 8GB jmarshall@firvale.com
IAN THWAITES	0114 2558598	BENTS GREEN SCHOOL,MATHEWS LANE, SHEFFIELD  S8 8JS ithwaites@bentsgreen.co.uk

 

(09/11/11) Thousands of head teachers in England and Wales have voted in favour of strike action over changes to pensions.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) could now join thousands of other public sector workers on strike on 30 November.

But the NAHT general secretary said he would be "delighted" if they did not have to go ahead with the action.

The strike, also supported by teachers and support staff, is likely to see thousands of schools closed.

The teaching profession is angered by planned government changes to the teachers' pension scheme (TPS) which, it says, will mean teachers working longer, paying more and receiving less when they retire.

NAHT members hold leadership positions in most special schools, 85% of primary schools and more than 40% of secondary schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, meaning disruption would be widespread.

Pupils' learning will be disrupted and working parents will be inconvenienced as they make arrangements for childcare on that Wednesday.

Ballot turnout

Turnout for the ballot was 53.6%, with 75.8% in favour of strike action, the NAHT said.

It is the first time the NAHT has voted in favour of such action in its 114-year history.

(Article by Katherine Sellgren BBC news education reporter)

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(20/05/11) Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education wants every 'Outstanding' school to become an Academy.

UNISON believes academies will create a two tier education system where the better off are concentrated in academies and our most vulnerable children, often from socially deprived backgrounds, remain in LA schools with less funding.

Academies are funded by the taxpayer but are not at all accountable to the local community.

Academies can determine pay and conditions - they can change, for example, your pay, holiday and the length of the school day.

Academies are basically a way of privatising the education system via the back door.

There is no 'new' money for academies; the money simply comes from the local authorities existing budget leaving schools outside of the academy system with less money.

Academies will only receive extra money in the short term. Staff, parents, pupils and local communities need to balance the short term gain against the break up of the current accountable education system.

If you hear that your school is considering acquiring academy status please contact the Branch as soon as possible.

(20/05/11) Sheffield City Council is currently revising their Managing Children and Young People's Identified Health Needs Policy.

A large part of this will include the Administration of Medicines (by school support staff).

While UNISON has no problem with policy's being improved we are deeply concerned the authority have already revised Job Descriptions for Teaching Assistants levels 1-4 to include the administration of medicines.

The new job descriptions have not been shared with UNISON and there will be no increase in rates of pay to reflect the high levels of responsibility and additional duties.

At present the administration of medicines, including procedures more associated with medical professionals, is voluntary.

If the council move to make this compulsory UNISON will rigorously defend our member's rights.

If you are being put under pressure to administer medicines or carry out medical procedures please do not hesitate to contact UNISON.