UCU: Cuts, shift to privatisation, the business agenda, the 157 Group

Motion

Motion title: Cuts, shift to privatisation, the business agenda, the 157 Group

Motion text: This Sector Conference is concerned at the under-resourced growing presence of 14-16 year olds in FE, the teaching of whom is frequently imposed without sufficient training, resources and support, leading to stress and disciplinary action against tutors, compounded by such work often being undertaken by trainers instead of qualified lecturers, leading to deprofessionalisation and an unfair burden.
We therefore instruct FEC to:
i) mount a campaign to identify colleges which are models of good practice in this field with a view to developing appropriate policy and guidelines;
ii) seek agreement with employers, supported by appropriate action up to and including strike action, that this teaching should only be done by staff willing, qualified and trained;
iii) lobby Government to put in place adequate resourcing, and end the disparity of pay between the compulsory and FE sector in the light of increasing numbers of under 16's being encouraged into FE.
iv) to support a move to convergence between Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS).