UPS expectations

[Feart]

I am on UPS 3 (or whatever it’s now called!) I had my meeting and submitted my evidence a few years ago and haven’t been asked to do anything extra so far. However, I’ve heard a few things being said recently in school about UPS teachers taking on more to ‘reflect their pay grade’. I may be wrong but I thought UPS was more of a service reward rather than an additional responsibility reward. I’m already snowed under and struggling to find time to get the basics done, I’m seriously concerned about being asked to take on anything extra! Are they allowed to do this?

Part of ups is having / showing / proving wider impact beyond your own classroom.

Nearly all the teachers at my small primary are ups so we have counted things like subject leadership in this.

@TreeLawney
Yeah I get that, I’m secondary and we had to have a portfolio to prove the wider impact and I’m still doing all of that. I was just wondering whether they can use our pay scale as an excuse to pile more on to us. For background, we are already under an extreme amount of pressure due to unreasonable expectations from senior management and morale is extremely low.

[quote Feart]@TreeLawney
Yeah I get that, I’m secondary and we had to have a portfolio to prove the wider impact and I’m still doing all of that. I was just wondering whether they can use our pay scale as an excuse to pile more on to us. For background, we are already under an extreme amount of pressure due to unreasonable expectations from senior management and morale is extremely low.[/quote]
Sounds similar to the SLT attitude at my primary school tbh OP. I feel your pain!

Secondary UPS here and we have an extra objective in PM. 4 objectives rather than 3 with one being conrtribtion to whole school. I have thought about questioning it but my department/line manager are fantastic in that obectives are built around what we normally do.
However saying that, this year I am responsible for an NQT as my UPS objective (have done this several times before) and it is an absolute nbioghtmare - failing but can't fail.

It isn't just a service rewards, it's more a payment for the benefit the school gets from the experience that long-service has given you.

In my school we have specific post threshold standards, I don't know if they're unique to our school or if they're for everyone, but we have to show how we have had wider impact in our department for UPS2 or across the whole school for UPS3. So things like coaching other colleagues, delivering CPD, researching latest best practice and sharing with other teachers etc. would count.

I don't agree with people being expected to take ownership of a specific subject area etc. though, that's a TLR role, not UPS.

@Meredusoleil
Yeah I thought it might be becoming more of an issue in teaching in general.

@amnm
We have all of that too. We have to produce a portfolio of evidence, attend an interview for each UPS point etc. This would be in addition to everything we are already doing such as whole school CPD training etc. The workload has also already increased dramatically over the past year as it is too. We are all at breaking point already. Staff morale is very low as well, teachers are shouted at for minor errors by SMT, nobody ever says thank you. If teachers ask for permission to attend a medical appointment the response they get is ‘make sure you make the time up’ Very insulting when you’ve spent the entire evening marking! They have no regard for staff well-being whatsoever.

It isn't meant to mean extra work or responsibilities and there is a clear distinction between UPS and TLRs but some schools do try it on.

I'm on UPS1 having just gone through threshold and already have the dread as to what it might be used as an excuse for piling on me. It should mean the same as the evidence you showed for threshold ie. having an impact on the wider school and that can be sharing resources with colleagues, supporting colleagues etc.

It isn't spelt out, but I feel it should be, that part of the benefit to the wider school is that you are a safe pair of hands and can adapt to new initiatives, changes in curriculum, behavioural challenges etc without them having to worry about you needing extra support or struggling and being able to support and guide your colleagues, albeit informally, in adjusting too. Your data is solid, your students are doing well, you're not creating problems or extra work and are quietly improving the curriculum and resources as you go along.

To me that, especially with such poor retention rates and high turn over of staff in many schools, is a benefit to the wider school in itself as is the quality of relationships you build with students and parents.

Oh and don't forget directed time. UPS doesn't effect that so they can't, or at least shouldn't, add responsibilities or expectations that add to your directed time workload.

Thanks @swallowedAfly

The issue in my school is that everyone is terrified of SMT. A few colleagues have gone to the union but the standard response seems to be that they are well aware of the situation in the school and that they have tried in the past to get involved to change things but there is a culture of fear which means the majority of staff won’t speak up and until they have the backing of the staff then they are powerless to help us. Of course being on UPS3 means that finding another job isn’t really an option either. 😩

@Feart

Thanks *@swallowedAfly*

The issue in my school is that everyone is terrified of SMT. A few colleagues have gone to the union but the standard response seems to be that they are well aware of the situation in the school and that they have tried in the past to get involved to change things but there is a culture of fear which means the majority of staff won’t speak up and until they have the backing of the staff then they are powerless to help us. Of course being on UPS3 means that finding another job isn’t really an option either. 😩

Are you sure we don't work at the same school OP? My union has said the same to me. I'm one of the only members of staff to 'dare' voice my concerns to SLT. Not that it makes any difference of course. But at least I feel like I'm actually trying to do something about it rather than just moaning (not saying you are OP).

I would recommend both of you get in touch with your regional representative, explain the situation and the response you've had from your school rep. It shouldn't require mass courage to get a school to follow guidance.

So you think you should be paid more simply for ‘time served’?! That’s age discrimination.

If you earn more, be prepared to do more.

@DogsAndGin
I’ve been at UPS3 for a few years now and I don’t think there will be many (if any) schools with tougher criteria to be met in order to be recommended for this progression!
My post is about new requirements being suggested in addition to this. The workload is already extreme in my school and has got far worse since covid. I cannot physically or mentally give any more. This is why I am concerned.

I would take DogsandGin's comment with a pinch of salt, they were on another thread claiming teachers are the only profession to get a staff room and why do we think we're so special that we need a specific place to take our breaks

I asked a similar question recently regarding the difference between UPS and TLR, seems really blurred and I don't really understand how you're meant to contribute to wider school life without taking on something Although I agree it absolutely shouldn't be piled on.

To get to UPS you need to show 'substantial and sustained' impact in the school and this should be wider than just in one class or year group. It should really be schoolwide in primary.
Every two years you are then eligible to progress to the next point of UPS - up to UPS3. So you have to continue to demonstrate substantial and sustained impact, and to keep progressing.
It isn't a case of having more piled onto you (although I have no doubt that this is what you are experiencing) but that it is in line with School Teachers Pay and Conditions that this is what you MUST do to be paid at UPS. It definitely isn't a 'long service' award.