Minute of meeting of 9 June 2025
Perth and Kinross Council · 12 November 2025
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 12 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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JOINT NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR TEACHING STAFF Minute of hybrid meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff (JNCT) held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth on Monday 9 June 2025 at 2.30pm. Present: Representing Perth and Kinross Council Councillors J Rebbeck and Councillor C Shiers; J Donnelly, G Knox, F Mackay, D Macluskey, P Smith and N Thomson (all Education and Learning); P Johnstone (Strategic Planning, People and Performance). Representing Teachers’ Associations J Cook, J Craigon, L Gibb, L J Grant, M Laurie, J Leslie, M Taylor and C Weston (all EIS); M Mackie (SSTA); Shaun Topen-Cooper (NASUWT) In Attendance: J Guild for Joint Secretary (Management Side). Apologies: Councillor S Carr. Councillor J Rebbeck, Convener, Presiding. 1. Welcome and Apologies Councillor J Rebbeck welcomed those present to the meeting and apologies for absence were noted as above. 2. Declarations of Interest (Elected Members Only) There were no Declarations of Interest made in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. Minute of Meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff of 12 March 2025 for Approval The Minute of meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff of 12 March 2025 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. Matters Arising (i) Membership Updates The following Membership Updates were agreed: • James Craigon to replace Anna Dickinson on the Teacher’s Side. • Gillian Knox and Nick Thomson to replace Gillian Doogan and the outstanding vacancy on the Management Side, respectively. Councillor Rebbeck acknowledged that this would be John Donnelly’s last meeting and a replacement secondary representative will be sought in due
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course. Councillor Rebbeck thanked John for his commitment to the JNCT over the last four years. (ii) Neonatal Leave In response to a question from S Topen-Cooper regarding awareness of the entitlement to Neonatal Leave for those beginning Maternity Leave, P Johnstone agreed to review the information sent to staff to ensure this is incorporated. (iii) Digital Tenancy in Schools In response to a question from J Cook regarding timescales for migration in the next session to ensure inclusion for training requirements within WTAs, D Macluskey confirmed discussions with Data Protection colleagues regarding the roll out have now concluded and guidance will be issued soon. (iv) Remote Learning Guidance C Weston advised this work is now taking place in conjunction with Gillian Knox, following the departure of Gillian Doogan. 5. Business for Noting (i) Learning and Families Committee of 2 April 2025 For Noting The business of Learning and Families Committee of 2 April 2025, be noted. (ii) Learning and Families Committee of 28 May 2025 For Noting The business of Learning and Families Committee of 28 May 2025, be noted. 6. Employee Survey Update There was a slide-based presentation by D Macluskey providing a breakdown of Employee Survey results. The presentation included overview data, positive feedback, constructive feedback and suggested improvements, broken down into primary and secondary. In response to a question from J Cook regarding the use of “team” and what this extends to within a school setting, C Weston confirmed this has been identified by the Employee Survey Data Working Group and will be reviewed for future surveys. M Mackie advised that while the feedback is welcomed, the percentage of those not feeling safe in the workplace is concerning, and this was echoed across the Committee. In response to a question from J Craigon regarding the low number of responses at 412 for secondary staff, D Macluskey agreed this was a low response rate but advised it is the highest for education staff in comparison to previous surveys. D Macluskey added how important it has therefore been to ensure
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feedback has been shared with management teams and you said, we did documents produced, to ensure responses are valued and taken on board. Resolved: The Committee noted the update. 7. Relationships and Behaviour Update There was submitted a report by the Principal Educational Psychologist (G/25/69) providing an update on the work of the Nurturing Relationships Steering Group, which is now in the third year of operation. In response to a request from C Weston for the Teacher’s Panel to have sight of work as it develops and involvement in consultations, D Macluskey agreed to feed this back to the Principal Educational Psychologist. Resolved: The Committee noted the contents of G/25/69. 8. Attendance Update There was submitted a report by the Educational Psychologist (G/24/70) providing an update on ongoing work in relation to improving attendance in our schools. In introducing the report, D Macluskey advised secondary attendance remains a challenge and in addition to the national work ongoing, some individual schools have been carrying out their own work. In response to a question from J Cook regarding internal truancy disguising issues, D Macluskey agreed this is an issue and advised it is a focus of national work. Resolved: The Committee noted the contents of G/25/70. 9. Intensive Support Provision – Update on Statutory Consultation and Phase 2/3 F Mackay, Service Manager, Inclusion and Additional Support, provided a verbal update on three consultations ongoing in relation to Intensive Support Provisions in Kinross High School, Perth High School and Viewlands Primary School. F Mackay advised that Education Scotland are now to complete their own information gathering and focus groups in relation to Kinross and Perth High Schools before continuing to the next stage with a published report being made available online for comment for a period of no less than two weeks. This will be published after the school holidays to allow full engagement. A full report will then be heard by the Learning and Families Committee to seek agreement to formally establish Intensive Support Provisions in the involved schools. F Mackay advised Viewlands Primary School will complete the same process but is slightly behind, with a visit from Education Scotland awaited.
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In response to a question from C Weston regarding where reports can be accessed, F Mackay confirmed these are on the school estates page under school estate reviews then live reviews. Resolved: The Committee noted the update. 10. Improving Health and Wellbeing and Attendance in the Education Workforce Update Report There was submitted a report (G/25/71) providing an update on the work ongoing in relation to improving health and wellbeing and attendance in the education workforce. D Macluskey advised a Project Officer is to be appointed to take forward the project plan as contained in Appendix 1. C Weston advised a working group is very welcomed and would further welcome communications to those involved being issued timeously prior to the summer break. In response to a question from S Topen-Cooper regarding available budget for identified actions, D Macluskey advised reduction of teacher sickness absence is a priority and it is hoped evidence of this being achieved will attract a focus for future budgets. P Johnstone confirmed that sickness absence for teaching staff in 2023/24 was 9.1 days per FTE, and this reduced to 7.5 days in 2024/25 with corresponding SJC/Craft/Chief Officers being 13.1 days in 2023/24 and reducing to 12.6 days in 2024/25. The total number of days lost for mental health reasons also reduced in the same period from 17,639 in 2023/24 to 17,417 in 2024/25. In education overall there has been a reduction of 22% (from 10,102 to 7,905). Within that there has been a significant reduction in education single status days lost to mental health (5,630 reduced to 3,652) and also a reduction for teachers (4,472 – 4,212) equivalent to 6%. Resolved: The Committee noted the contents of G/25/71. 11. Principal Teacher Management Time There was submitted a report (G/25/72) detailing the current approaches to providing management time to Principal Teachers in PKC Secondary Schools and recommendations for future approaches. In introducing the report, L J Grant advised this work has been ongoing following changes in the SNTC handbook and introduction of a mandatory requirement for management time for Principal Teachers. L J Grant advised proposals are linked to salary points to take account of different management structures and form a fair way of establishing entitlements. L J Grant added that Guidance Teachers have also been taken into consideration due to significant
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additional caseloads and consideration will also be given to subject specific tasks i.e. HE food orders. L J Grant advised it is recognised that timetabling already taking place may impact the roll out for the next session and a phased approach is suggested however, a minimum of three periods protected time is requested for the next session. D Macluskey thanked those involved for all the work carried out. He agreed the modelling against the job sizing feels realistic and, in principle, is presented as a good approach overall. Resolved: (i) J Donnelly and L J Grant present to the Headteachers Network for benchmarking against current timetables, comments and incorporation of subject specific requirements. (ii) The contents of G/25/72, be agreed in principle and brought back to the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff on 19 November 2025. 12. End Violence at Work Charter There was submitted a report by the People & Culture Manager (G/25/73) sharing the intention to gain agreement of the Joint Consultative Committee to the commitments to the Unison End Violence at Work Charter. Resolved: The Committee noted the update and intention to gain agreement from the Employees Joint Consultative Committee. 13. Any Other Competent Business (i) Supreme Court Ruling P Johnstone advised on the recent Supreme Court Ruling in relation to the Equality Act 2010. P Johnstone confirmed that further updates are awaited from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, but any staff impacted are encouraged to seek additional support as required from HR or PKC’s Equalities Team Lead. S Topen-Cooper extended his thanks for PKC’s supportive approach to this matter. 14. Date of Next Meeting 3 September 2025 at 2:30pm in Meeting Room 410, 2 High Street, Perth.