1. School Working Time Arrangement Committee
Headteacher
Union Representative(s) from LNCT recognised unions (EIS, SSTA, NASUWT & VOICE)
Elected teachers (according to size of school)

2. SWTAC Agrees Time for Staff/section meetings Forward planning
Report writing + Record Keeping
Parental consultation meetings
Extra preparation and correction
Formal assessment
Supervised pupil activities
Professional review & development
Curriculum development
ASL consultation time
Career-long professional learning
5 HOURS PER WEEK (pro rata for Part-time)*

3. Context of School Agreements
All school agreements and calendars MUST accord fully with the SNCT HANDBOOK sections 3.6 – 3.13 (see APPENDIX 1)
They MUST also accord fully with the LNCT Framework Agreement
They must also inform (and be informed by) the School Improvement Plan & the Education Authority’s Improvement Plan
They are reviewed termly by the SWTAC with any changes notified to the LNCT Monitoring Group for their approval

4. Process -1
The committee meets during April/May to consider a draft agreement & calendar produced by the Headteacher
All meetings of the SWTAC are minuted with the minutes circulated to all teaching staff
Draft agreement & calendar circulated for comments and amendments (1week) before final meeting of SWTA Committee
Voting starts at end of dedicated staff meeting but held open for 2 days for absentees & part-timers.

5. Process - 2
Voting by secret ballot (unnumbered) using the standard LNCT Ballot papers
Totals signed off by HT and rep of majority union on Form A
The completed Form A must be forwarded to the LNCT by 1st June
The agreement is not contractual until it is approved by the LNCT Monitoring Group

6. Process 3
Failure to agree / on request from a T.U. rep the Formal Dispute Procedure is actioned
This means the disputed agreement and/or calendar cannot be voted on
The matter is referred to the LNCT Joint Secretaries
A further stage is referral to the Joint Chairs of the SNCT

7. LNCT Monitoring Groups
Their role is to check and approve all school agreements and calendars
They can (a) approve these (b) request further clarification if unsure that they match the Framework Agreement or SNCT Handbook or [c] refer them back for amendment by the SWTAC
If they are still unsatisfactory the Monitoring Group will refer the matter to the LNCT Joint Secretaries

8. Nursery Agreements
Minimum of 90 hours for Planning, Parents’ Meetings and Reporting
Weekly allocation in Parents’ Meetings / reporting column
Follow the Guidelines for Nursery Agreement for deciding what Nursery Teachers’ responsibilities are and what are Management responsibilities

9. Primary Agreements
Minimum of 90 hours for Planning, Parents’ Meetings and Reporting
Follow the Guidelines for Primary Agreement with respect to all other areas

10. Partnership Schools
These have the option to submit joint or separate agreements
In joint agreements a representative from each school will sign Form A(as well as the HT)
Collegiate working – travel time between schools and payment of travel expenses must be borne in mind

11. Secondary Agreements A model agreement is provided
All headings must be covered in your agreement however, allocation of hours and the calendar may be varied to suit local requirements with these provisos:
Term 3 (Christmas – Easter) must have special attention paid to avoid unnecessary workload
Reporting pressures can be significantly eased by opening the SEEMIS window early
Schools may opt to use Form B as a planning template should they so wish

12. All- through Schools
These must submit separate agreements for Nursery, Primary and Secondary sections

13. Notes on Parental Engagement/Consultations
A maximum of 30 hours for this category
A maximum of 5 hours for planned informal meetings with individual parents
Maximum of 5 contractual formal meetings per year for staff
A 30 minute break before the start of a formal parents’ meeting end on to the school day

14. Notes on Parental Engagement/Consultations - 2
Time allowance : actual time spent at the meeting + 50% for prep + actual travel time (if a return to school is entailed)
A proposed change to the pattern of meetings must be agreed by the teaching staff and prior consultation with parents must take place
There is no requirement for teachers to attend parents’ meetings at which they have no appointments / no classes in that year group
Exception to 35 hour week for parents’ meeting

15. Part-time teachers All contractual hours are pro-rata
Contractual school meetings etc can only be on days when the teacher is employed
Exception is parents’ meetings (though these are pro rata)

16. Faculty/Departmental Meetings (Secondary)
These may be during the pupil day or at an agreed time (taking family and travel commitments into account)
Those taking part should agree (a) the timing (b) the pattern and [c] the duration of the meetings

17. Forward Planning
In Primary (and Nursery) the approach detailed in this LNCT Agreement must be followed: Guidance On Planning In Primary Schools 2013
In Secondary the approach detailed in this LNCT Agreement must be followed: Guidance On Planning In Secondary Schools 2014
Both can be found by going to ; clicking on LNCT Agreements and then applying the Dumfries & Galloway filter

18. Off- site time
Schools must agree a workable system that allows staff to sign out when not required for class cover or meetings but also ensures that there is adequate cover for staff absence at all times
Evacuation procedures need to take account of off-site arrangements

19. Flexibility/Supervised Pupil Activities
Flexibility may be used by teachers for unplanned activities that require extra time. It should be used for SWTAC meetings and can be used for union meetings
An allowance for VOLUNTARY supervised pupil activities should also come under this category e.g. study groups, trips, shows/ concerts, residential stays, sports, clubs etc.