Reasons for striking? Loss of PPA? 25 'banned' tasks?

[Redlocks30]

A colleague has just told me that Gove is proposing to remove PPA time and removing the ban on the 25 tasks teachers shouldn't be asked to do, but I cannot find anything online about that specifically? The strike action is targetting the dismantling of the pay structure and increasing pay to performance, but nothing about PPA/25 tasks. IS this true?

[juniper9]

These are the things I could think of (I posted this the other day in Primary Education). I'm sure there are loads more, but my brain is mush these days.

• As of 2014, teachers' pay will be determined by the Head. There is no national guidelines as to what counts as performing at each level, so individual Heads will be able to choose their own terms and conditions. This will lead to discrepancies between schools, and schools do not have to offer a similar pay when you move job.
  
  
• Part of the pay scale will be determined by pupils' progress. This will lead to teachers teaching only what is required to push up levels, the possibility of teachers forcing / faking levels and won't allow for new pupils who 'mess up' data, children who are having family problems, SEN issues which affect progress etc.
  
  
• Gove wants to get rid of levels (technically sub-levels don't exist) but then how will schools decide if pupils have made sufficient progress for the teachers to earn their next pay level? It will lead to schools using their own system, which could easily be abused.
  
  
• Gove wants to get rid of PPA time. He also wants to shorten the holidays and lengthen the day, but without increasing pay and whilst reducing the protection of our terms and conditions
  
  
• Gove wants to increase the entry grades into teaching. At the same time, he's not going to increase the pay or conditions and is also getting rid of the requirement for teachers to have Qualified Teacher Status, meaning that any person could be teaching your child. He's downgrading the professionalism of the profession, but expecting a higher calibre of applicants (for lower pay).
  
  
• Our pension contributions have gone up substantially and will continue to go up, yet the pension we receive will happen later in life, and will be worth less. Very few teachers will make it to 68 and so very few will be entitled to their full pension.
  
  
• Gove insists on comparing us to eastern Asian countries, but in fact these countries have started changing their teaching policies to reflect our more creative approach. He benefited from his Victorian-esque education and therefore believes that this one size will fit all. His ideas are antiquated and not supported by any current research, yet he won't listen to those who disagree with him.
  
  
• He's not willing to discuss things with the unions. He is keen to dismiss all teachers as being moaners who don't care about standards, and says we all need a shake up. He has removed all respect for the profession and has no respect for the dedication shown by the vast majority.

[BatmanLovesIckyBarry]

Great post, juniper

[Littlefish]

Excellent summary Juniper. Please could you cut and paste it on every thread about strikes for the rest of this month!

[melonribena]

Very informative!

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

I didn't know about PPA being under threat as well! Does he have any reason for that? How likely is he to be able to push all this through?

[storynanny]

Supply teachers are also going to receiving less pay, in my case up to 45% less daily as schools will choose what point on the scale to pay them. Not sure I will want to continue if my 35 years of expertise are only paid on point 1.