This is an agreement with the Local Authority which schools have to observe.
The Authority will provide a noticeboard or reasonable space on an existing noticeboard at each school for the exclusive use of the organisations.
Although most business can be done by letter or at normal organisation meetings, there will be occasions when the use of a telephone is necessary. The Authority will permit the use of its telephones on organisation or joint business without charge, with the permission of the Headteacher and wherever possible in reasonable privacy. Calls should not normally be made during the period 9.00 am - 1.00 pm.
The Authority will make available premises for organisation or joint business, provided such meetings do not interfere with the work of the school. Normally, no charge will be made, except that if the Authority is involved in extra expense, a charge will be made on the basis of the actual expense incurred only.
Representatives may distribute information and material relevant to organisation or joint business at the school at any mutually convenient time, by arrangement with the Headteacher.
Representatives may, by arrangement with the Headteacher of their schools, use typing and other administrative facilities (eg photocopying machines) for Union business provided that it does not interfere with the work of the school. The Representatives will arrange for payment for these facilities with their Heads, payment being made into school funds.
Representatives may use the internal mail system free of charge, to communicate with their members on joint or Union business.
The Authority and the recognised organisations accept the need for adequate training of Representatives.
The Authority and the organisations, in recognising the responsibilities of an accredited Representative both to his/her members and as an employee, give a joint undertaking that the Representative will not be discriminated against for fulfilling those responsibilities.
In the event of the Authority considering taking disciplinary action (other than an oral warning) against a Representative, the Authority will notify the JCC member for that organisation.
Bearing in mind that the intention is to conduct joint business at mutually convenient times that do not disrupt the work of the school, there will be only rarely occasions when a Representative cannot fulfill his/her role as a teacher; other teachers at the school accept that they will provide sufficient cover on such occasions so as to minimise the disruption of the teaching of the children.
The amount of time off shall be guaged in "free periods", that is, the Representative is entitled to the number of periods shown, free of class teaching duty; the "free periods" shall not be necessarily additional to periods of non-teaching duty already scheduled.
| 0 - 5 members | Nil |
| 6 - 12 members | 1 per week |
| 13 - 24 members | 2 per week |
| 25 and over | 3 per week |
Representatives granted time off under this Section must be present at the school, except by mutual arrangement with the Headteacher, but will not be called upon to act as a teacher in any way during the period granted. Representatives may, however, be asked by the Headteacher to assist in emergencies and, in the event of their agreeing to assist, an equivalent period of time off shall be granted on request at a later time mutually acceptable to the Representative and the Headteacher.
In the event of a school being adversely affected by the arrangements concerning senior Representatives, the Headteacher may make application to the Chief Officer for extra assistance.
You are entitled to access to documents concerned with pay, conditions of service, and the Local Education Authority's regulations. This includes information from your headteacher on the structure and allocation of posts of responsibility in the school and the Articles of Government. Details about your school's budget are also essential.
National documents that should be available to you are the Schoolteachers' Pay and Conditions Order (the 'Blue' Book) and the Conditions of Service of Schoolteachers in England and Wales (the 'Burgundy' Book).
If you experience any difficulties with access to information, contact the Office.
This is an agreement with the Local Authority which schools have to observe.
Schools to make the following information available if requested :