Frequently Asked QuestionsBelow is a list of members' most frequently asked questions. Click on a question to jump directly to the answer.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? e-mail us directly! Can I get Tax Relief on my subscriptions?Yes. It is possible to claim an allowance for the current and past six years. The relevant subscription rates follow:
Should I have to cover for absences which are known about in advance?Teachers' professional duties include supervising and, 'so far as is practicable', teaching pupils whose teacher is not available. You are not required to provide cover where an absence was known about for two or more days in advance, providing that the absence which is known in advance is expected to last for more than three days. There is now a national agreement about cover. What is the maximum number of pupils I can have in my class?There is no statutory maximum, except in Reception where the Government's limit on class size means that 30 is the maximum. This will extend to Year 1 in the academic year 2000-2001 and progressively through Key Stage 1. If you are concerned about class sizes in your school, contact your NASUWT Local Secretary in the first instance. Constructive dialogue with management will hopefully bring about an agreed solution bearing in mind Health and Safety issues and workload implications in large classes. If there is no agreement forthcoming then the East Sussex Negotiating Secretary (see below) should be consulted. Can I be expected to set work when I am off sick?No. If you are off sick you are off sick. It would be unreasonable for a Head to contact you at home and expect you to set work. If this happens, contact your NASUWT Representative. Can I be directed to take part in extra-curricular activities?Absolutely not! Although you can be directed to perform duties in your 1265 hours, these duties must be reasonable. Teachers are also required to work 'such additional hours as may be necessary to discharge effectively his professional duties'. These include marking, writing reports, preparing lessons and teaching materials. Extra-curricular activities are purely voluntary. It would be deemed unreasonable for a Head to direct you to undertake these. Contact your NASUWT Representative in the first instance if you have any problem. Should I have received a directed time breakdown?Yes. The division of a teacher's 1265 hours of 'directed time' between teaching and other duties is for Headteachers to determine. You have a right to the result of that determination. Many Heads follow local LEA directed time breakdowns. How do I work out my sick leave entitlement?In East Sussex the formula is as below but governing bodies can extend sick leave either on full or half pay at their discretion.
The year for sick-leave entitlement runs from 01 April to 31 March. An absence due to illness which runs across these dates is counted against the year ending 31 March. Example A teacher has used up all full pay entitlement in a year and has a three-week period of illness beginning on 20th March. Full pay entitlement will not start again on 1st April when the new sick leave entitlement year begins but will only commence until after the teacher has returned to work. Half-Pay is not quite as bad as it sounds. With reduced National Insurance, Tax and Superannuation contributions, plus the addition of Statutory Sick Pay which kicks in after 28 weeks, you will end up with a sum nearer to two-thirds of your full salary. For more details refer to the Conditions of Service manual. See your School Rep in the first instance if you have a problem. Help by emailLocal Secretary: Roy Bellingham. Tel. 01323 899319. email roybell@nasuwt.net |