Minute of meeting of 11 March 2026
Perth and Kinross Council · 16 September 2026
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 16 September 2026 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 Meeting Room 410, 2 High Street, Perth on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 2.30pm. Present: Representing Perth and Kinross Council Councillors J Rebbeck and Councillor C Shiers; M Shaw, E Moran, F Mackay, D Macluskey, P Smith and N Craik- Collins (all Education and Learning); P Johnstone (Strategic Planning, People and Performance). Representing Teachers’ Associations J Craigon, L Gibb, L J Grant, M Laurie, J Cook, C Clark, M Taylor and C Weston (all EIS); M Mackie (SSTA); S Topen- Cooper (NASUWT) In Attendance: A McConnachie for Joint Secretary (Management Side). Apologies: Councillor S Carr and J Leslie 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. An issue with the audio meant those attending online were unable to hear the room. The Convener asked whether there were any objections to proceeding with the meeting, and none were raised. 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 19 November 2025 for Approval The Minute of meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff of 19 November 2025 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. Matters Arising (i) Severe Weather Guidance D Macluskey and C Weston said they had spoken since the last JNCT meeting and agreed changes in the language.
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(ii) Zero Tolerance Approach to Violence and Aggression Incidents in PKC Schools Management and Teachers’ Associations continuing to work together on resolutions sought at previous JNCT meeting. (iii) Retaining Minority Ethnic Teachers In response to S Topen-Cooper asking if there is any update from PKC in response to the document published by Scottish Government, D Macluskey said work is ongoing, he is meeting with PKC Equalities Team and hopes to have something for next JNCT meeting. (iv) Membership Updates The following Membership Update was agreed: Colin Clark to replace Jennifer Leslie on the Teachers’ Side 5. Business of Learning and Families Committee of 4 February 2026 for Noting The business of Learning and Families Committee of 4 February 2026, be noted 6. Learning Visit Protocol and Learning Visit Observation Template There was submitted a report (G/26/21) sharing the refreshed PKC Classroom Visit Protocol and QIR Classroom Visit Observation Template for Teaching Staff. In response to C Weston asking if in paragraph 6.1 rather than “term 4 2025- 2026” it could be “term 1 2026-2027”, E Moran said they would make that change. In response to J Cook asking if the Planning Policy for Primary and Secondary will be updated, N Craik-Collins said there is ongoing work on that and will share a draft as soon as able. Resolved: Subject to agreed amendments, the Committee: (i) Approves the PKC Learning Visit Protocol and Learning Visit Observation Template. (ii) Requests that the Strategic Lead for Education and Learning shares the PKC Learning Visit Protocol and Learning Visit Observation Template with all schools and settings once approved. (iii) Following the approval of the PKC Learning Visit Protocol and Learning Visit Observation Template, suggests that a leaflet is created for staff outlining key information.
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7. PT Protected Management Time M Shaw provided a verbal update; they have agreed the table of minimum time and now need to meet to update the paper and prepare for finalisation. LJ Grant said they still need to agree what is achievable in the time allocated. 8. Employee Survey D Macluskey provided a verbal update, there were positive responses around motivation, sense of achievement, autonomy around decision making and line manager support. There were issues around wellbeing and safety at work, physical environment featured more than before then violence and aggressive behaviour then professional safety which is something they are working on at leadership forums. There was a mixed response around leadership and line management with analysis to be done. Next steps will be ironing out difficulties they are having with access to information, once they have had the time and space to analyse the information it will be shared with the wider team and work will be done centrally to put together a presentation for next JNCT meeting. In response to C Weston asking if schools will be asked to produce action plans, D Macluskey said yes and following feedback this was too bureaucratic last time they will be flexible and appropriate. C Weston had the following feedback from members, not all schools were given time to complete the survey, there was concern around anonymity, teachers did not want to answer every question and there were anxieties around who was meant by management. In response D Macluskey said he was very frustrated by schools not giving time to complete the survey and will look at a different way of getting the message out in future, in regards to anonymity it’s in the person completing the survey’s gift what they put in the comments and would hope if they have any issues they have other opportunities to engage during the year rather than waiting for the survey, having the option to only answer some of the questions would affect the fidelity of the data, and at primary level management is the head teacher but what management means at secondary level needs ironed out. In response to LJ Grant asking if the results will just be shared with headteachers or will staff get an overview, D Macluskey said results will be shared with headteachers with an expectation they produce an appropriate action plan and it will depend on responses as to what that could look like. Resolved: The Committee noted the update.
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9. Working Time Agreement Update C Weston said she met with E Moran last week to finalise changes, dates are updated annually and any other changes are in red in the document. Resolved: (i) The Committee noted the update. (ii) Democratic Services to upload Agreement to SNCT website. 10. Raising Attainment Update There was submitted a report G/26/23 providing an update on progress on the Raising Attainment Strategy 2024-2027, specifically, information on a range of performance measures across the Scottish Governments National Improvement Framework for Education priorities. In response to L Gibb asking about attendance and with pupils achieving in everything apart from numeracy and literacy is an academic pathway the only pathway, D Macluskey said they know attendance in Perth and Kinross compares poorly, it’s a constant battle and has improved since this time last year, F Mackay said the current curriculum is not meeting all needs, there is no one answer and it is something N Craik-Collins is looking at. N Craik-Collins said there is a cultural shift in the Scottish education system, it is a complex picture, and it is about building on the individual strengths of pupils. In response to M Laurie saying it was good to see positives and case studies and asking if there will be the funding to keep them going, the Chair said that is largely a political decision and there is an awareness they have gone as far as they can with the budget without being detrimental to children’s opportunities. In response to C Clark saying they are seeing schools cutting courses rather than extending the curricular offer, D Macluskey said that is not what his data shows and if they are he does not think it would be a budgetary decision. The Chair said they are in schools all the time and meet families in the community and sees the difference teachers and pupil support assistants make. C Weston said delivery should be face to face in school and not an online learning offer. Resolved: The Committee noted the update. 11. Excursions Guidance D Macluskey provided a verbal update, PKC’s Excursion Guidance needs updated and refreshed due to changes in Council organisation, with the
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Outdoor Education Bill to come, and to align it with the Cost of School Day Policy. In response to C Weston asking if the unions could have sight of it first, D Macluskey said they would. Resolved: The Committee noted the updated. 12. Job Sizing Locality Co-Ordinator Post F Mackay provided a verbal update; this is the creation of a new post as part of the move from centralised inclusion resources to 4 locality areas and the job profile has come back from the Teacher’s Panel. In response to C Clark saying they have concerns about loss of specialisms, F Mackay said they would ensure the teacher post covers what is being lost, small teams will be being kept together and will keep their specialisms. Resolved: (i) C Weston to confirm Teachers’ Side agree job profile. (ii) Democratic Services to upload job profile to SNCT website 13. Employment Rights Act 2025 P Johnstone provided a verbal update, Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 with some changes going live in February 2026 with more in April 2026. These changes are to overall Council guidance and are not specific to teachers. Main changes are with Statutory Sick Pay, Paternity Leave, menopause support and harassment becoming protected through whistleblowing, with updates and amendments already made to any Council policies that needed them. In response to C Weston saying she knows of another local authority that offers 5 days paid leave in relation to the menopause and asking if that is something PKC would consider, P Johnstone said there is no requirement they offer that. Resolved: The Committee noted the update. 14. Any Other Competent Business (i) S Topen-Cooper asked for clarification around guidance he understood has gone out to headteachers concerning “triggers” when there are sickness absences and if it is up to the discretion of the manager to decide whether a trigger should lead to formal action.
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P Smith said the word “triggers” is not in the document and it would be up to a manager to decide if there was a need for a formal Health and Wellbeing meeting. (ii) S Topen-Cooper said he had been approached by several members reporting being asked by line managers if they are taking strike action and asked if a clarification go out to managers emphasising that employees should not be asked whether they are a member of a union, which union or whether they intend to follow union instructions. P Johnstone said as part of forward planning they can ask individuals if they are coming into work and they are not obliged to answer; managers should be aware not to ask about union membership and if that is happening let them know the specifics. (iii) C Weston asked if parental complaints could be reviewed at a future JNCT as the increase in unreasonable and excessive complaints is affecting mental health and wellbeing from headteachers down, could we look at the data and what we are doing as a whole. D Macluskey said complaints are not upheld and while some are the process has its use. The aim is to deal with complaints at the earliest point before they reach the ombudsman. How complaints are dealt with has been changed with a team dedicated to stage 2 complaints and more are being resolved at stage 1 than ever with fewer escalating to stage 2. We cannot stop what people say or complain about but we can investigate thoroughly and rebut and a fuller conversation would be helpful. F Mackay said challenging parental communications would be included too. E Moran said the management team can get involved and help if wellbeing is affected, staff should come forward and should not sit with it if the situation is too much. 15. Date of Next Meeting 24 June 2026 at 2:30pm in Meeting Room 410, 2 High Street, Perth.