Background

In January 2002, the NUT received funding from the Union Learning Fund (ULF) for a project to develop a network of learning representatives at divisional level throughout England. This project was innovative and ran for 15 months from January 2002 to March 2003. During the course of the project the NUT trained 50 learning representatives.

In April 2003, the NUT received further funding from the ULF for a consolidatory project to further develop the network of learning representatives. This second project ran for 16 months from April 2003 to July 2004. During the course of the project the NUT trained a further 42 learning representatives. Since 2004 the NUT has continued to train division level learning representatives as part of the National Training Programme. In total the NUT has trained over 160 teachers and there are now NUT learning representatives operating in over 60 per cent of local authorities in England and Wales.

In April 2004, the NUT received funding from the ULF for a project to develop a network of learning representatives based at school level. This third project ran from April 2004 to July 2006. The aim of the project was to recruit and train school-based learning representatives. This new role was piloted in eight local authorities, each with an established NUT divisional learning representative. The pilot areas wereBristol, Cornwall, Derbyshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Kent, Tameside and Walsall.

In August 2006, the NUT began a fourth ULF project to consolidate the school-based learning representatives’ project and further build the network of NUT learning representatives. This project ran from August 2006 to July 2008. The aim of the project was to recruit and train at least 50 more learning representatives. The NUT aimed to enlarge the learning representative network so that every NUT member has access to an accredited NUT learning representative.

In July 2008, the NUT began a fifth ULF project to support the development of regional networks of NUT learning representatives. The aim of the project was to build the support offered to NUT learning representatives at local and regional level and in particular to support the establishment of local learning representative forums in each region.

The NUT is the first trade union within the teaching profession to receive ULF funding to develop the learning representative role.

The NUT and the Union Learning Fund (ULF)

Between 1999 and 2006 the NUT received ULF funding for four projects and with this support the NUT organised training in basic, intermediate and multimedia ICT skills. The NUT first received funding from the ULF in 1999 to fund a small pilot project in North London. The NUT was able to build on the success of this initial project and develop it into a national project benefiting teachers throughout England. From April 2006 the ICT skills programme has been incorporated into mainstream union activity. To date the NUT has organised over 1,140 ICT skills courses for over 15,300 teachers at 175 different colleges from Ashburton in Northumberland to Redruth in Cornwall.

In total the NUT was awarded over £1,000,000 of funding from the ULF, in order to improve the ICT skills of teachers. Feedback from course evaluations continues to re-enforce the success of the training, with 93 per cent of course participants reporting that, as a consequence of the training, they now feel confident or very confident with ICT.

NUT Training & Professional Development

In addition to the ULF funded programme of training, the NUT has a national training programme for members and local officers. The NUT has also developed an innovative programme of continuing professional development (CPD). The NUTs CPD programme emphasises collaborative and sustained approaches to learning. It includes its flagship Teacher2Teacher and teacherstogetherprogrammes,one-day conferences, a thinking skills network and has also pioneered teaching and learning scholarships, bursaries, international visit grants and sabbaticals.

Background to NUT Learning Representatives Project

The NUT’s network of learning representatives builds on and is part of the TUC’s network of union learning representatives. The NUT is learning from and building upon the experience of other unions who have established a learning representative role.

Support systems and procedures are being established to provide continued national support to the network of NUT learning representatives. The introduction of the NUT learning representative role is being modeled on the introduction of the NUT’s equal opportunities officer post. The NUT’s equal opportunities officer post, over the last 20 years, has proved to be very successful and has strengthened the local organisation of the Union. The NUT learning representative role also will strengthen the Union.

The NUT is working in partnership with a range of organisations including:

  • unionlearn
  • FE colleges experienced in training union learning representatives

One-Day Conference – Launch Event

The NUT launched its Learning Representative project at a one-day Conference for Learning Representatives in May 2002. The ‘Launch for Learning’ Conference was held at NUT Headquarters in London. The Conference was attended by NUT members interested in becoming learning representatives.

Conference delegates came from each of the nine NUT regions in England. The Conference was also attended by members of the NUT’s National Executive and staff from the NUT’s regional offices. Keynote speakers included Doug McAvoy, the then NUT General Secretary and John Healey, MP, the then Minister for Adult Skills.

NUT Learning Representative Role

Learning representatives within the NUT undertake a wide range of activities including:

  • providing information, advice and guidance on training;
  • organising the provision of training at local colleges of further education
  • assisting in the organisation and delivery of training courses within the local divisions of the union
  • promoting the whole range of NUT training including the national training programme, professional development programme and the ICT skills courses.

At division level the NUT learning representatives co-ordinate activity across the local authority and are the principal NUT contact with the local authority. They also may act as the NUT link to the local learning & skills council.

The school-based NUT learning representative represents NUT members in their own school or in a local cluster of schools.

School-based NUT learning representatives are the first point of contact for NUT members seeking advice on learning opportunities. Their principal role is to promote learning among members. School-based NUT learning representatives work closely with divisional NUT learning representatives.

By assisting NUT members in accessing appropriate learning opportunities, NUT learning representatives are supporting teachers’ personal and professional development. This will bring benefits to the teachers themselves, increasing their professional development and promotional prospects. It will also benefit their schools and local authorities.

NUT learning representatives receive accredited training on a bespoke residential learning representatives’ course. The NUT organises a coursefor new learning representatives and a second level learning representatives’ courses for established accredited NUT learning representatives.

Facilities Time Arrangements for NUT Learning Representatives

Statutory rights for Union Learning Representatives are included in the Employment Act 2002. A revised ‘Code of Practice on Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities’ has been developed by ACAS, TUC, and the CBI and has been approved by Parliament. Full statutory rights for learning representatives commenced at the end of April 2003.

Union Learning Representatives are entitled to:

  • reasonable paid time off for training
  • reasonable paid time off to carry out their duties
  • protection from discrimination

The legislation also entitles union members to unpaid time off to consult their union learning representative.

The success of the NUT’s project will depend upon the NUT learning representatives having agreed additional facilities time arrangements with their local authorities. Facilities time will be necessary in order for the NUT learning representatives to undertake their initial training and to carry out their duties.

NUT divisions will need to negotiate facilities time arrangements for their learning representatives with their local authority. In 2002, in response to a request from the then NUT General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, Ivan Lewis, MP, the then Minister for Adult Skills wrote to all local authorities advising them that they should allocate facilities time to union learning representatives, which is additional to current agreements in place with the local unions. The NUT has also issued advice to divisions on negotiating local agreements.

TUFSE Guide: Promoting the Role of Teacher ULRS – A Guide for the Employers of Teachers

With support from the Trade Union Fund South East (TUFSE) and working with fellow teaching unions ATL and NASUWT, the NUT has produced a guide to increase local authorities’ understanding of and support for the learning representative role. It will be an important tool for all NUT divisions and NUT learning representatives.

Inspired by the Government’s publication ‘Union Learning Representatives: An Employer’s Guide’ the TUFSE guide is specifically about teacher ULRs, their role and the learning needs of teachers themselves.

Encouraging good communications and proper consultation between local authorities and teachers on issues relating to learning and skills for teachers, the guide also highlights the advantages of joint working and advocates a whole school approach to lifelong learning.

The guide was launched at NUT Annual Conference 2005 and has been disseminated nationally to local authorities, LSCs and MPs.

Learning Representatives: Model Rules Change

The Union Learning Representative (ULR) role has become an established local lay position in the Union. In 2004, the National Executive agreed to the addition of the role of learning representative to the Union’s Model Rules for Single Association and Multi-Association Divisions. This amendment to the Model Rules was adopted at Annual Conference 2005.

All divisions have been advised to add the role of learning representative to the list of officers in the rules of the division. The division can decide to have a job-share to cover the learning representative position. Alternatively, the division may decide to have more than one learning representative, though the NUT recommends that only up to three learning representatives are appointed at division level.

Once added to the division’s rules, as with all other local lay positions in the Union, the NUT learning representative role would thereafter be subject to annual election.

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