Minute JNC 100625
Renfrewshire Council · 2 September 2025
Back to Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff — 2 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff Date Time Venue Tuesday, 10 June 2025 14:10 Corporate Meeting Room 2, Renfrewshire House, Present Representing Renfrewshire Council Management Councillor E Rodden; G McLaughlin and E Henry, both Heads of Education; A Hall and Y Ward, both Education Managers (all Education and Children’s Services); and R Cree, Head of People and Organisational Development (Finance and Resources). Representing Renfrewshire Council Teaching Staff K Fella, J P Tonner, Y Murray, C Niven, J Aitken (all EIS); R Kane (SSTA); T Lawson (NASUWT); and D Thompson (EIS - Adviser to Teachers' Side). Apologies Councillor J Paterson, K Clark, Strategic Lead Partner (People), K Henry, Head Teacher, St Andrews Academy, D Rigmand, Head Teacher, Wallace Primary School, M Russell and T Millar (both EIS) and L Gibson (NASUWT). Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. In Attendance L Baillie, Resource Support Manager (Education and Children’s Services) (Items 1 to 5 only); D Cunningham, Committee Services & Licensing Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources).
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Chairperson In accordance with the terms of the local recognition and procedure agreement, which stated that the Chair of the Committee should alternate between the two sides comprising the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff, it was agreed that Councillor Rodden would chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff (JNC). DECIDED: That Councillor Rodden chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff (JNC). Welcome Councillor Rodden thanked Mr Tonner for his contribution as Joint Chair of the JNC and welcomed the new members to the Committee. 1 Minute of Previous Meeting There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 25 March 2025. DECIDED: That the Minute be approved. 2 Matters Arising Under reference to Item 4 of the Minute of the previous meeting held on 25 March 2025 – Teacher Booker Supply Booking System, it was advised that there had been issues with payments to supply teachers in respect of short and long-term pay rates. It was agreed that further information would be provided for this matter be investigated and a solution sought. It was also noted that the agenda for this meeting contained an error in the name of the Advisor to the EIS, this should have read D Thompson, not D Campbell. DECIDED: (a) That it be noted there had been issues with payments to supply teachers in respect of short and long-term pay rates and that further information be provided for this matter to be investigated and a solution sought; and (b) That it be noted that the agenda for this meeting contained an error in the name of the Advisor to the EIS, this should have read D Thompson, not D Campbell and that this would be corrected for future meetings. 3 Action Log The action log for the JNC was submitted. The Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) noted that this had not been updated and advised the Committee that the Log required to be discussed by the Joint Secretaries.
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DECIDED: That it be noted that the action log had not been updated by the Joint Secretaries and that this required discussion by the Joint Secretaries. Sederunt L Baillie left the meeting prior to the consideration of the following item of business. 4 School Holidays Session 2026/27 There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the proposed calendar of holidays for Session 2026/27, as appended to the report and the Joint Secretary (Management Side) explained that the Council were working to re-align dates to those of other local authorities over the next three years. It was agreed that the calendar of holidays, detailed at Appendix 1, be presented to the next meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on 21 August 2025 and that otherwise the content of the report and verbal updates be noted. DECIDED: (a) That the calendar of holidays, detailed at Appendix 1, be presented to the next meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on 21 August 2025; and (b) That otherwise the content of the report and verbal updates be noted. 5 Staffing Exercise Update There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the annual staffing exercise undertaken to ensure sufficient staffing resource would be in place for the commencement of the new school session in August 2025. The current position in relation to the staffing exercise for the commencement of the August 2025 session and proposed fixed term recruitment process and allocation were noted. DECIDED: That the current position in relation to the staffing exercise for the commencement of the August 2025 school session and proposed fixed term recruitment process and allocation be noted. Sederunt R Cree entered the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business. 6 Council Mandatory Training Update There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the Council’s mandatory training modules which were required to be completed by all educational staff. The report requested that the Cyber Security, Introduction to Data Protection and Display Screen Equipment modules be prioritised and outlined the other
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modules which also required completion The Teachers’ Side expressed concern that the time required to complete this training would be additional to that set out in Working Time Agreements. It was agreed that both sides would work together to explore options to facilitate access to modules and completion for teaching staff but that modules such as Cyber Security and Data Protection remained a priority to protect the Council. DECIDED: (a) That it be agreed that both sides would work together to explore options to facilitate access to modules and completion for teaching staff, but that modules such as Cyber Security and Data Protection remained a priority to protect the Council; and (b) That otherwise the content of the report and verbal updates be noted. 7 Review of Job Sizing Processes: Update There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the job sizing process related to promoted teaching posts in Renfrewshire, the revised draft document with revisions was appended to the report. It was advised that this work was in preparation for primary schools in August 2026 and secondary schools by August 2027. It was noted that this document was not yet finalised and that it was intended both sides would further engage to agree a revised process and job sizing document which would be brought to a future meeting of the JNC. DECIDED: That it be noted that it was intended both sides would further engage to agree a revised process and job sizing document which would be brought to a future meeting of the JNC. 8 Removal of Teacher Exchange Scheme There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the removal of the Teacher Exchange Scheme. The report recommended approval that the scheme be withdrawn due to lack of interest amongst eligible teaching staff. DECIDED: That the withdrawal of the Teacher Exchange Scheme be approved. 9 Flexible Working - Amended Guidance There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the Council’s Flexible Working Policy and inconsistencies with the application of the Policy. The report advised that guidance would be prepared over the summer period to assist Head Teachers and Heads of Centres to manage flexible working requests. DECIDED: (a) That it be noted that guidance would be prepared over the summer period to assist Head Teachers and Heads of Centres to manage flexible working requests. (b) That it be noted that requests from 14 August 2025 could be made on a temporary basis for a maximum of 12 months with no requirement for exceptional circumstances
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and would be considered in line with the needs of the service and operational viability. The temporary arrangement would not be extended beyond 12 months and a decision should be made as to whether the employee would revert to their substantive hours/work pattern or request to make the amended hours/work pattern a permanent arrangement, subject to the needs of the service and operational viability. (c) That it be noted that any requests already submitted for commencement in August 2025 could be reconsidered as temporary should employees wish to amend a permanent request and would be considered in line with the needs of the service and operational viability. 10 Gaelic Medium Education Provision in Renfrewshire There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the establishment of a strategic planning group to consider plans to further develop Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in Renfrewshire which was required due to the increasing demand by parents. The report outlined the short, medium and long-term plans and financial implications thereof and staffing/training issues were discussed. DECIDED: That the content of the report and verbal updates be noted. 11 Learning Estate The Joint Secretary (Management Side) delivered a presentation relative to work being undertaken across the learning estate; this included updates on Paisley Grammar School, the Park Mains School extension and Thistle Primary School (Dargavel) and outlined business case framework stages and projected timelines for these projects in addition to other school estate updates. DECIDED: That the content of the presentation and verbal updates be noted. 12 Teachers in Early Years Settings There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to the removal of GTCS-registered teachers from Renfrewshire nurseries following a remodel of the staffing provision within Early Years settings. The Teachers’ Side expressed concern as to the impact of this decision and requested that their objection to the removal of GTCS-registered teachers from Renfrewshire nurseries be noted. The Joint Secretary (Management Side) noted the objection from the Teachers’ Side and reiterated the work being undertaken to better utilise resources by maximising the skills of staff across the estate with the creation of the Early Intervention Team and that this removal of GTCS-registered teachers had been the result of an operational decision following extensive feedback. DECIDED: That the objection of the Teachers’ Side to the removal of GTCS-registered teachers from Renfrewshire nurseries be noted.
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13 Preliminary/Practice Exam Diet There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to preliminary/practice exams (prelims) and the emerging practice of “second” prelims being delivered across schools which did not appear in the agreed school calendar. Y Ward, Education Manager, advised that some schools were now delivering an assessment blocks model rather than practice exams and that it should be one assessment method in use only, not additional practice exams. The Education Manager advised that the assessment blocks model was being discussed with the SQA. DECIDED: That the report and verbal updates be noted. 14 Abuse of Staff There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to the abuse of staff delivering extra-curricular activities. E Henry, Head of Education, requested that she be provided with further information by the Teachers’ Side relative to the incidents referred to, this was agreed. In addition, it was agreed that any abuse of teaching staff would not be tolerated. DECIDED: (a) That the report and verbal updates be noted; and (b) That E Henry be provided with further information relative to the incidents referred to; and (c) That it be agreed that the abuse of teaching staff would not be tolerated. Valedictory Councillor Rodden thanked K Fella, JP Tonner and the other outgoing members, on behalf of the Committee, for their valuable contribution to the work of the JNC. 15 Date of Next Meeting DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff was scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on 2 September 2025.