Minute JNC 250325
Renfrewshire Council · 10 June 2025
Back to Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff — 10 June 2025 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff Date Time Venue Tuesday, 25 March 2025 14:00 Corporate Meeting Room 2, Renfrewshire House, Present Representing Renfrewshire Council Management Councillor E Rodden; Councillor J Paterson; G McLaughlin, Head of Education (Strategy and Improvement), E Henry, Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion and Wellbeing), K Henry and D Rigmand, both Head Teachers, A Hall and Y Ward, both Education Managers (all Education & Children’s Services); and R Cree, Head of People & Organisational Development, S Fanning, Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety) and L Stewart, Operational People Partner (all Finance and Resources). Representing Renfrewshire Council Teaching Staff K Fella, (Joint Secretary), M Russell, J P Tonner, C Niven, B Kelly (all EIS); R Kane (SSTA); L McDermott (NASUWT) and D Thompson, Adviser to Teachers’ Side. In attendance D Cunningham, Committee Services & Licensing Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources). Apologies S Bell, Education Manager (Education & Children’s Services); Y Murray and D Tollan (both EIS). Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
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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 Mr J P Tonner would chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. DECIDED: That Mr J P Tonner chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. Order of Business It was advised that Item 6 of the Agenda had been withdrawn and would be considered at a future meeting of the Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. 1 Minute of Previous Meeting There was submitted the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 11 February 2025. DECIDED: That the Minute be approved. 2 Matters Arising There were no matters raised in connection with the previous Minute. DECIDED: That it be noted that there were no matters raised. 3 Action Log The action log for the JNC was submitted. The Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion and Wellbeing) updated the Committee that work remained ongoing to address the issue of access to Standard Circulars. The Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) requested that the Management Side prioritise the long-standing items which remained on the action log to enable them to be actioned and removed. This was agreed. DECIDED: (a) That it be agreed that the Management Side would prioritise the long-standing items on the action log to enable these to be actioned and removed; and (b) That otherwise the action log and verbal updates be noted.
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4 Teacher Booker Supply Booking System There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to a new supply cover electronic booking system (Teacher Booker) being introduced within Renfrewshire schools. The report outlined the key changes from the current system and provided the planned timeline to the ‘Go Live” launch date of 22 April 2025 for all schools. DECIDED: That the report be noted. 5 Review of Job Sizing Processes There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Management Side) relative to the revision of job sizing processes for teaching promoted posts. The report outlined the requirement to have a mechanism in place for a whole scale review of pay grades for promoted teaching staff in all sectors and included a draft which encompassed the proposed changes to be reviewed biennially. A Hall, Education Manager, advised that a revised draft version would be brought to a future meeting of the JNC following further collaboration with HR and Teaching colleagues. DECIDED: (a) That it be noted that it was intended to revise the practice of job sizing of promoted teaching posts within Renfrewshire; and (b) That it be agreed that a revised draft version would be brought to a future meeting of the JNC following further collaboration with HR and Teaching colleagues. 6 Violence and Aggression Policy There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers' Side) relative to the procedure for the recording of violence and aggression incidents on Business World (BW) to be implemented in the absence of Head Teachers to mitigate any delay in the application of the required protocols. The Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion and Wellbeing) and the Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety) advised that overall the BW system was working well, that Education Managers regularly discussed incidents and that the progress of incidents could be viewed in the workflow stream. They advised that BW discussions would remain ongoing with the Teachers’ Side outwith the meeting to progress any issues. The Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion and Wellbeing) advised that the ILearn module was finished and ready to be launched imminently and that she would discuss/preview this with the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) prior to it’s launch. The Teachers’ Side requested that data in respect of violent and aggressive incidents be shared with Members of the JNC. The Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety) agreed that this data would be provided to the JNC at every second meeting. DECIDED: (a) That both sides would continue to discuss and progress BW issues outwith the meeting;
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(b) That the Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion and Wellbeing) would preview the launch of the Violence and Aggression ILearn module with the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side); and (c) That violence and aggression incident data be provided to the JNC at every second meeting. 7 Artificial Intelligence There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers' Side) relative to the risk of the inappropriate use of Artificial Intelligence(AI) particularly in respect of the completion of homework and more significantly certificated assignments. The Teachers’ Side expressed concern that Teachers may be considered at fault for any such instances and that AI has become so advanced that it may be very difficult to detect plagiarism. The Head of Education (Strategy and Improvement) acknowledged the concerns expressed by the Teachers’ Side and advised that blame would not be attributed to teachers for instances of plagiarism. Y Ward, Education Manager, explained that software such as ‘Turn it in’ had previously been used to assist with the detection of plagiarism but that this was no longer free to use and advised that the SQA would continue to provide guidance on this matter. Councillor Paterson suggested that pupils may not understand why AI could not be utilised in these ways and may view AI as an acceptable tool to assist them. K Henry, Head Teacher, advised that pupils are reminded of the SQA’s stance regarding plagiarism at the start of new school years. DECIDED: (a) That the concerns expressed by the Teachers’ Side be acknowledged; and (b) That the SQA guidance “Authenticating learners’ work – good practice advice for centre staff” be promoted to Renfrewshire Secondary schools. 8 EAL and Sensory Support Service Staffing There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers' Side) relative to reduced staffing quotas in the English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Sensory Support Services. Concern was expressed that these Services would be unable to provide adequate support to children, staff and parents. The Teachers’ Side expressed concern that the resources available were insufficient to accommodate the increasing number of refugee and asylum seeker pupils being admitted into Renfrewshire’s education establishments. The Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion and Wellbeing) updated the JNC that Scottish Government funding for EAL provision had ceased and that these Services continued to be looked at in terms of efficiencies across the whole Service.
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DECIDED: That it be agreed that discussion would take place between the Management and Teachers’ Sides relative to the staffing compliments for the EAL and Sensory Support Services. 9 Early Years Welcome Pack There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers' Side) relative to the launch of a new publication ‘Mochara Goes to Nursery’ to help welcome children new to Scotland. DECIDED: That it be agreed that the publication ‘Mochara Goes to Nursery’ be promoted as a resource for Renfrewshire nursery and early years staff and the literacy team. 10 Date of Next Meeting It was noted that the proposed date of 29 April 2025 for the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee was not suitable and that the Clerk would discuss this matter further with the Joint Secretaries to agree an alternative date. DECIDED: That the Clerk would discuss this matter further with the Joint Secretaries to agree an alternative meeting date.