UCU: Inspection, observation and deprofessionalisation

Motion

Motion text: Conference recognises that the 'light touch' inspection regime introduced in colleges and schools by OFSTED has created serious problems, including:
1. a lack of overall coherence with each college having its own unique policies, some based on national agreement, some by local negotiation, others by management imposition:
2. an overall increase in intrusive methods with increases in stressful observations.
3. a lack of objectivity with marked inconsistencies within and between institutions, leading to de-professionalisation of lecturers and increased scope for bullying by management, arbitrary awarding of grades and arbitrary disciplinary action in some cases.
4. inconsistency between the negligible attempts to assess managerial competence and the methods used for lecturers.
Conference therefore resolves that UCU shall take action, with other unions where possible, to ensure that the problems identified above are brought rapidly to an end and replaced by systems agreed with the AOC to reverse the drive to de-professionalisation.