As Storm Éowyn battered the country on the 24th of January, EIS Council met to take forward the key business of the Institute. As an in-person meeting was not possible, the meeting took place virtually, with members joining via laptops, tablets and phones from across the country.

The first order of business was to suspend the scheduled order of business, to allow Council members to read up on the decision taken at the previous day’s special meeting of the EIS Salaries Committee.

Salaries Committee

Salaries convener Des Morris then reported on the special meeting, which had been constituted to agree the EIS pay claim for teachers and associated professionals for the year 2025-2026.

Mr Morris outlined the discussions which led to the Salaries Committee agreeing that the pay claim for the year should be a straight-percentage claim of 6% at all grades and scale points.

Council then gave its approval to this decision, confirming that the pay claim of 6% will go forward through the processes of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers.

Mr Morris then reported on the previous meeting of the Salaries Committee, highlighting the decision to impose a deadline, via the SNCT, for a firm proposal for the delivery of the Scottish Government commitment on class contact reduction.

Mr Morris told Council that the SNCT Teachers’ Panel had issued a statement on 16 December stating that, in the event that no proposal on the reduction of class contact time had been tabled by 12 noon on Monday 3rd February (following the meeting of COSLA leaders on 31 January), a formal dispute would be declared. It also stated that if any proposal made does not make clear the full reduction in class contact time is used to increase time for preparation and correction, a formal dispute would also be declared in such circumstances.

Andrew McNeil (Fife) asked a question on the continuing lack of pension statements from the SPPA. Mr Morris indicated that the current aspiration of the SPPA is for these to be available from March 2025, although further slippage remains a possibility. Vice-Convener Mick Dolan confirmed that the SPPA’s plan is to pilot statements in March, and to roll out across the country following this pilot.

Executive Committee

Vice President Adam Sutcliffe provided an update on the work of the Executive Committee, including an update on current member contributions to the EIS political fund, which supports the institute’s campaigning work.

Mr Sutcliffe highlighted that as the EIS is unaffiliated to any political party, that the political fund is not used to support any political party, but is utilised to fund EIS campaigning on key issues of importance to EIS members.

Executive then agreed to highlight the importance of the political fund through EIS communications channels, to encourage members to opt in to supporting the political fund through subscription payments.

The Vice-President also provided an update on the Stand Up for Quality Education campaign, including the successful ASN Parliamentary event held at Holyrood on 10th December, to promote the Joint ASN statement launched last summer.

It was felt that it provided an excellent springboard for the ASN element of the SU4QE campaign, and that it was very good to hear from a range of stakeholders and the Cabinet Secretary, who attended the whole event.

The Committee noted that the national member survey was currently open, and that all Local Associations had been asked to provide their SU4QE Action Plan to HQ – with the Committee deciding that the deadline should be pushed back a little.

Education Committee

Convener Susan Quinn told Council that the Committee had received a presentation from Education Scotland on the Curriculum Improvement Cycle and raised a range of concerns with them including the importance of teacher voice, allocation of time for staff to be involved in the process and the need to engage with Early Years and Primary colleagues to ensure cohesion with the Senior Phase and avoid qualifications leading the whole curriculum. The EIS has already written to the Cabinet Secretary, highlighting the relevant issues.

The committee had received updates on the transition work for the SQA, noting the work to rebrand. Discussion also focused on the need for the separation of the accreditation and regulation function from the awarding division with Qualifications Scotland.

Employment Relations

Convener Susan Slater updated Council on the work of the committee and, on Benevolence, reported that the Committee had considered 24 applications for assistance, 22 of which were approved, with a total of £65,000 distributed to members.

On legal affairs, the Committee considered 19 cases.

David Farmer (Fife) asked about donations to the Benevolent Fund from local associations, asking if these were normally annual payments and if they were regular amounts. Susan replied that 25 of the 32 EIS LAs had contributed last year, and that the amounts donated vary widely. There is no set amount for donations, as local associations operate in different financial circumstances.

Equality Committee

Convener Nicola Fisher updated Council on the work of the Committee, including the news that ten new Equality Reps have completed their Stage 2 training, bringing the total number of EIS Equality Reps to 60. Another 16 members are registered for Stage 1 training.

The Committee also received a report on proposals to amend the legislation on religious observance and religious education. Committee members raised concerns over the practical implementation of the proposals, including how to handle instances in which parents have conflicting wishes about withdrawal from their children, also noting the teacher workload implications.

Ms Fisher also reported that plans were underway for the EIS to host an LGBT History Month event in February at the Glasgow Women’s Library, focusing on the Institute’s Section 28/2A resources, which are being developed in collaboration with the TIE campaign.

Motions

Council members discussed, and approved, six motions at this meeting of Council. David Farmer (Fife) successfully called for the EIS to feature Part 2 Section 3 of the SNCT Handbook in forthcoming campaign publicity, as a means of informing and empowering members to engage fully with the workload aspect of the campaign.

“It is important to know about this, to help control workload, and make clear what expectations can be placed on individual teachers”, said Mr Farmer.

Scott Whitefield, (Scottish Borders), was successful in moving for a relaunch and reinvigoration of the EIS ‘Change the Tune’ campaign, holding the Scottish Government accountable for its commitments in the 2021 SNP Manifesto regarding instrumental music education.

“We have reached a critical point, sweeping budget cuts continue to take place across Scotland, with serious implications of instrumental music provision,” said Mr Whitefield.

James McIntyre, (East Dunbartonshire), successfully moved a motion calling on the EIS to lobby the Scottish Government to reinstate the provision of the flu vaccine for all Scottish teachers.

“Getting the flu vaccine benefit reinstated will bring a whole host of benefits – protecting staff, protecting education, protecting the NHS. We seem to be key workers, but only when it suits the government,” said Mr McIntyre

David Farmer, (Fife) successfully called on the EIS to investigate and report on the roll-out of one to one device programmes in Scottish local authorities. “We need to get a handle on where we are with this, across Scotland, to ensure that policies are meeting their educational purpose”, said Mr Farmer.

Tom Britton, (Edinburgh), was successful in a call for the EIS to investigate and report on how a Public Health approach to violent and aggressive behaviour in schools and Early Years settings might work to support Scottish teachers’ health, safety and wellbeing; the report to include a recommendation on the efficacy or otherwise of campaigning for such an approach as part of the Stand Up for Quality Education campaign.

Jennifer Gaffney, (South Lanarkshire) successfully moved for the EIS to affiliate to the charity Peace Education Scotland an educational charity established by Scottish CND.