The transfer of the 24 tasks - how does it affect you?

As of the 1st September2003, teachers have a new contract which means they can no longer be required to undertake 24 administrative tasks.

The Tasks

The transfer of these tasks from teachers to Support Staff is intended to allow teachers to focus on their core teaching and learning function. The implications for GMB members depend on the extent to which teachers in your school routinely do these duties at the moment:

The ‘25th task’ – exam invigilation – will no longer be required of teachers from 2005.

GMB is aware that in many schools that process has been completed satisfactorily. However, there will be problems in some schools with GMB members starting the year uncertain as to how their duties will be affected, or unhappy that schools are attempting to force changes through, or aggrieved where tasks have already transferred but there has been no grading review.

GMB will take a robust position in supporting our members where schools are attempting to ‘dump’ the 24 tasks without due process. The teachers’ contracts have changed, but our advice to GMB members is that there can be no change to support staff members’ contracts or job duties unless our three simple GMB tests are met:

	No change without staff involvement, negotiation and agreement
	No change without appropriate increase to hours, pay, status, staffing
	No change without assessment and action on additional training needs

Dealing with the 24 tasks in your school: Advice to GMB members

DO insist that the Head gives you the opportunity to contribute to a proper review of the tasks – are they needed? Which are the appropriate staff? What IT systems would help?

DON’T automatically accept any changes to your job description or hours. The teachers’ contract has changed, not yours

DO consider your response to any proposals, take GMB advice, and if you wish to proceed, insist on a negotiated process leading to an agreed job description

DON’T accept extra workload unless you are relieved of an equivalent amount OR you agree sufficient additional paid hours

DO insist on a grading review where you are being asked to take on higher responsibilities or skills or where your grade has not kept up with changes to your existing role

DON’T agree to do the tasks if you are not satisfied with your pay and grading outcome

DO get agreement that any pay increase will be backdated to when you took on the new role

DO request additional training where you feel this is necessary for you to take on a revised role

DO insist that the school recruits more staff where there is too much work for the existing staff

DO
• talk to other staff
• take GMB advice

DON’T
• feel alone - GMB will advise and support you
• let the school pit teachers against support staff – all the Time for Standards signatories are signed up to the principles in GMB’s three tests

Further advice and details can be found in the Schools Workforce News Issue 8 bulletin (PDF 80 KB)

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