Management Information Sheet
School Workforce Remodelling
School Workforce Remodelling
Further to my letter of 14th January, 2005, a number of Headteachers have asked me to amplify the advice I gave in that letter.Planning guaranteed 10% Planning, Preparation & Assessment Time (PPA) for September 2005
Several colleagues are using their current timetable (2004-05) as a trial run but without publishing it to see if it will work for their schools. First attempts at this exercise are producing an uneven spread of PPA time across the week/fortnight. Having refined it, they are able to see how it might work for next year. Headteachers will be aware of pressured times (such as Monday mornings) and they can plan accordingly.
If you are able, allowing for all of the pressures, it would be helpful to produce the 2005-06 timetable by mid-July so that the staff are aware of their commitments for next year. It will also enable the colleague in charge of cover to be able to see when they can use staff as cover teachers.
N.B. The 10% PPA time is 10% of their teaching time. e.g. in a 25-period week a colleague who teaches 20 periods will have 2 periods allocated for PPA, leaving 3 to be used for cover purposes. The PPA time, once published, is sacrosanct.
Cover You will be aware that since September 2004 there has been a 38-hour per year limit on the cover done by each teacher. The "no detriment clause" means that if – say, a school averaged 30 hours last year, the cover this year should not exceed this figure. It is the intention of the Government to reduce this figure to "almost zero" in the coming years. They do not specify what they mean by "almost zero" or put a specific date on this process.
Cover Supervisors & Cover Teachers
Several Headteachers are employing Cover Supervisors and the most successful in this respect have a vigorous selection process; a thorough induction programme; and ensure that the quality of cover work is high and appropriate to the class. I can give more details of this process should Headteachers want it. I also have sample job descriptions. It is important to ensure that support staff employed in a cover supervision role are appropriately graded.
Invigilation
No teacher should invigilate Public Examinations after September 2005. Headteachers are using a variety of strategies and staff to appoint replacement exam invigilators. The issue of behaviour in exams as a result, is concerning Headteachers. Subject staff can be available at the start and end of each to help invigilators and a specialist should be on hand to deal with emergencies during an exam.
Headteachers who have tried this system have exercised control in the exam hall by arranging with the consent of their teaching staff, for one or two teachers with a presence (and who are surplus to invigilation requirements) to work quietly in a prominent position in the exam hall for part or all the exam. These colleagues must not, however, invigilate.
The WAMG guidance pack on exam invigilation has now been published - advance copies can be ordered from Prolog on 0845 602 2260 quoting reference NRT/0065/2005. For your information, packs are being sent through NAA to their mailing list of exam officers, but are not being mailed to all schools.
"Gained Time"
This is the time acquired by colleagues as a result of not having to invigilate examinations. Headteachers can direct their staff to use this in a number of ways such as: -
- Preparing a bank of quality materials for supply staff/cover supervisor;
- Extra support with difficult classes;
- Extra help for the Learning Support Department;
- Schemes of Work;
- Curriculum materials for the next academic year;
- Team teaching;
- Widen teaching styles through planned team teaching;
- Additional group and individual work;
- Prepare policies;
- Booster classes Coursework support;
- Visit pupils / parents of new intake;
- Start new timetable?
- Work Experience visits?