Further Education Sector Conference

Motions have been allocated to a section of the NEC's report to Congress (UCU957). Paragraph headings refer to paragraphs within this report. CBC has added some new paragraph headings to facilitate the ordering of motions.

FESC voted for motions FE1-FE2 to be taken in open session

FE1 - FE England pay
FE2 - FE England pay campaign
FE3 - FE pay
FE4 - Pay, GTVO, job-security and branch solidarity
FE5 - Job titles: Equal pay for equal work
FE6 - Secure the future
FE7 - Launch a campaign to end incorporation
FE8 - Large classes in FE
FE9 - Gender pay gap in FE
FE10 - FE race pay gap
FE11 - Supporting branches to pursue national priorities through local collective agreements
FE12 - Casualisation and part-two claims
FE13 - Fighting casualisation in ACE
FE14 - Protecting and mitigating against redundancy work done by hourly-paid staff
FE15 - Gender and workload
FE16 - Workload and contact hours
FE17 - Winning for members in prison education
FE18 - Reasonable adjustments in prisons
FE19 - Developing UCU's work around the adult and community education sector
FE20 - Workplace racism
FE21 - GEO (government equalities office) LGBT report and action plan
FE22 - Enabling understanding and visibility of LGBT+ in FE
FE23 - No to compulsion in further education
FE24 - Composite: End compulsion in GCSE English and maths
FE25 - Learning not testing
FE26 - Learning walks and CPD
FE27 - Work experience
FE28 - OFSTED
FE29 - FE participation in UCU conferences

FE1  FE England pay - Further education committee

Conference approves the report on the FE England 2018/19 pay round and progress in the 2019/20 round as circulated in FE branch circular UCUBANFE/17.

CARRIED

FE2  (EP) FE England pay campaign - Further education committee

Conference notes that branches are succeeding in beating the anti-trade union ballot turnout laws.

Conference congratulates branches that have secured ground breaking pay and conditions deals off the back of ballots and action such as Capital City College Group, Hugh Baird College and New College Swindon.

The Tory trade union laws have backfired as members engage more with their union and picket lines swell. The community and media are behind our fight against the injustice of pay and funding in FE. Strike action in colleges is making a loud noise in the run up to the spending review in November.

Conference resolves to:

1. maintain support for branches continuing to pursue disputes over 2018/19 claims
2. provide maximum support to branches developing 2019/20 claims including local elements so branches can be balloted before the summer
3. hold a series of branch mobilisation briefing events before the ballots.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE2A.1  (EP) Further education committee

Add an additional point 4 to 'Conference resolves to:'

4. provide maximum support to branches where members suffer any detriment that we determine is a consequence of the increase in employer contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

   CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference notes that branches are succeeding in beating the anti-trade union ballot turnout laws.

Conference congratulates branches that have secured ground breaking pay and conditions deals off the back of ballots and action such as Capital City College Group, Hugh Baird College and New College Swindon.

The Tory trade union laws have backfired as members engage more with their union and picket lines swell. The community and media are behind our fight against the injustice of pay and funding in FE. Strike action in colleges is making a loud noise in the run up to the spending review in November.

Conference resolves to:

1. maintain support for branches continuing to pursue disputes over 2018/19 claims
2. provide maximum support to branches developing 2019/20 claims including local elements so branches can be balloted before the summer
3. hold a series of branch mobilisation briefing events before the ballots
4. provide maximum support to branches where members suffer any detriment that we determine is a consequence of the increase in employer contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme

FE3  (EP) FE pay Yorkshire and Humberside regional - FE committee

Pay in FE remains an issue. UCU members have endured a 25% real terms pay cut over the last 10 years. Many have not had any pay rise for 10 years; yet we are told 'austerity has ended'. The gap between school teachers and FE lectures is greater than ever.

UCU has mounted an excellent pay campaign achieving some notable successes. However, for many lectures in FE where college executives have refused to engage in negotiation and have hidden behind the lack of government funding, the issue of pay remains.

Conference calls on FEC to:

1. build on the successes of the pay campaign
2. continue to fully support those UCU branches where ballots for action remain and where no pay deals have been achieved
3. support and help build those branches where ballots for action were not won, with the aim of revisiting balloting on pay.

FE4  (EP) Pay, GTVO, job-security and branch solidarity - West Midlands regional FE committee

Conference notes:

1. the continued FE pay crisis
2. the role of this in the wider underfunding of FE which cuts away at working class access to education.

Conference celebrates:

1. continued progress in mobilising turnout under restrictions of anti-union legislation
2. the determination and persistence of members fighting for pay, including City of Wolverhampton smashing through their initial ballot turnout to achieve 78.2%
3. the successful use of the pay dispute as an industrial lever to secure employment for casualised staff at CCCG
4. the value of solidarity between branches with recent success and those working to mobilise members in delivering collective pay justice.

Conference resolves:

1. to strengthen the mechanisms for branch solidarity by devising a programme for activist sharing of GTVO strategies for pay and security of work regionally and nationally
2. to continue to ballot members where colleges fail to meet our pay demands.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE4A.1  North West regional FE committee

Add:

Conference requests:

3. for the regional office to support reps to clean their membership lists
4. the regional office to work with branch secretaries and branch membership officers by offering the follow up admin in helping to contact members to update their membership details.

CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference notes:

1. the continued FE pay crisis
2. the role of this in the wider underfunding of FE which cuts away at working class access to education.

Conference celebrates:

1. continued progress in mobilising turnout under restrictions of anti-union legislation
2. the determination and persistence of members fighting for pay, including City of Wolverhampton smashing through their initial ballot turnout to achieve 78.2%
3. the successful use of the pay dispute as an industrial lever to secure employment for casualised staff at CCCG
4. the value of solidarity between branches with recent success and those working to mobilise members in delivering collective pay justice.

Conference resolves:

1. to strengthen the mechanisms for branch solidarity by devising a programme for activist sharing of GTVO strategies for pay and security of work regionally and nationally
2. to continue to ballot members where colleges fail to meet our pay demands

Conference requests:

3. for the regional office to support reps to clean their membership lists
4. the regional office to work with branch secretaries and branch membership officers by offering the follow up admin in helping to contact members to update their membership details.

FE5  (EP) Job titles: Equal pay for equal work - Yorkshire and Humberside regional FE committee

Conference notes:

1. the abundance and variety of job titles in use within FE Colleges and the differences in remuneration attached to these titles
2. the practice of college management to use changed job titles to employ staff on inferior terms and conditions for example implementing artificial splits in the teaching role and classifying some teaching tasks/job roles as 'non teaching' in order to justify lower rates of pay
3. the detrimental effect this has on members and students.

Conference resolves:

1. to work towards a standardisation of job title, role and description
2. to start with a review of job titles, roles and remuneration of those teaching within the sector (information to come from colleges)
3. to publicise the review findings and use them to work towards standardisation by engaging members in a campaign for equal pay for equal work'.

CARRIED

FE6  (EP) Secure the future - Disabled members standing committee

Conference notes the recent cuts to funding in further education. It is also to be noted that these cuts are having a detrimental effect on the provision of statutory services to SEND learners. Learners, who are in most need of assistance are continually being left under resourced and with insufficient levels of support. The government is neglecting to recognise the need for consistency of approach in securing long term positive outcomes by ignoring the duty to appropriately fund pastoral services. Learners are being left to navigate a system which does not work for them, but against them which is resulting in exasperation of needs in many circumstances. This in turn leading to an increased pressuring on an already strained system.

Conference resolves to:

1. increase funding in FE
2. fight for rights of SEND learners
3. push to maintain provision of support services.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE6A.1  (EP) The Manchester College

Replace:

1. increase funding in FE

with:

1. continue to lobby the government to urgently increase funding in FE

CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference notes the recent cuts to funding in further education. It is also to be noted that these cuts are having a detrimental effect on the provision of statutory services to SEND learners. Learners, who are in most need of assistance are continually being left under resourced and with insufficient levels of support. The government is neglecting to recognise the need for consistency of approach in securing long term positive outcomes by ignoring the duty to appropriately fund pastoral services. Learners are being left to navigate a system which does not work for them, but against them which is resulting in exasperation of needs in many circumstances. This in turn leading to an increased pressuring on an already strained system.

Conference resolves to:

1. continue to lobby the government to urgently increase funding in FE
2. fight for rights of SEND learners
3. push to maintain provision of support services.

FE7  (EP) Launch a campaign to end incorporation - London regional FE committee

Notes

1. incorporation in 1993 severed the link with democratically elected local authorities introducing the market into the sector
2. Labour's radical manifesto pledge to create an NES unifying the sector with a pledge to create funding parity with schools, restore FE funding, end loans, and restore EMA.

Believes

1. incorporation has narrowed the curriculum to employability, made FE and adult ed one of the most casualised sectors, intensified competition, and led to soaring principals' pay and falling wages and conditions
2. incorporation has failed; we need an alternative.

Resolves to

1. launch a campaign to end incorporation including: a big conversation on the theme 'end incorporation' with public meetings in regions hosting debate with FE stakeholders, community groups, NUS, unions and employers.
2. call a march and national lobby of parliament in the autumn.

CARRIED

FE8  (EP) Large classes in FE - Kirklees College

Due to the funding situation in FE, management and other bodies such as the FE commissioners are constantly looking for efficiency savings. One method is to increase class sizes without increasing the resources available. Many departments are given targets in this area. This results in the cancelling of courses and groups, potential job losses, an increase in workload and a reduction in the quality of teaching and learning. This is another example of FE professionals being asked to do more with less.

Conference recognises that

1. smaller class sizes are part of the unique nature of FE that allows students to thrive who have not done so in school
2. larger classes with fewer resources are yet another example of lecturers facing increased workload for no more reward.

Conference calls on UCU to

1. investigate target setting in relation to class sizes.
2. oppose increases in class size for purely economic reasons.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE8A.1  (EP) The Manchester College

Add, under 'Conference recognises that': 3. larger classes are being used as a mechanism to make staff redundant

CARRIED

FE8A.2  Disabled members standing committee

Add at end of 'Conference recognises' point 1, 'disabled students in particular find FE to be a place where they can integrate and achieve'

Add to conference 'calls on UCU to':

3. campaign to ensure that class size increases do not disadvantage disabled staff or students. This includes that teachers adjustment needs should be considered and adequate increases in LSA staff made when students are added to a class

   CARRIED

Substantive motion

Due to the funding situation in FE, management and other bodies such as the FE commissioners are constantly looking for efficiency savings. One method is to increase class sizes without increasing the resources available. Many departments are given targets in this area. This results in the cancelling of courses and groups, potential job losses, an increase in workload and a reduction in the quality of teaching and learning. This is another example of FE professionals being asked to do more with less.

Conference recognises that

1. smaller class sizes are part of the unique nature of FE that allows students to thrive who have not done so in school disabled students in particular find FE to be a place where they can integrate and achieve
2. larger classes with fewer resources are yet another example of lecturers facing increased workload for no more reward
3. larger classes are being used as a mechanism to make staff redundant.

Conference calls on UCU to

1. investigate target setting in relation to class sizes.
2. oppose increases in class size for purely economic reasons
3. campaign to ensure that class size increases do not disadvantage disabled staff or students. This includes that teachers adjustment needs should be considered and adequate increases in LSA staff made when students are added to a class.

FE9  (EP) Gender pay gap in FE - Women members standing committee

Conference notes:

1. the gender pay gap in FE is at least 10%
2. for women lecturers this is a loss of around £1,000 per year
3. women make up more than 3/4ths of those in the lowest pay quartile and only half of those in the highest pay quartile
4. the AOC tool kit on gender pay.

Conference believes this takes place against a background of pay cuts of around 25% since 2008 and means many of our women members struggle to make ends meet and some use food banks.

Conference calls on FEC:

1. to develop an action plan to pressurise colleges to end the gender pay gap
2. to consider gender pay as part of the next pay round.

Conference congratulates all colleges striking over pay and recognises that the fight for equal pay is made stronger by this action.

CARRIED

FE10  (EP) FE race pay gap - Black members standing committee

Conference notes that research in the higher education sector show that pay penalties for ethnic minorities are significant in the sector with black men and black women earning the least on average. Equality and human Rights Commission research also points to the fact that ethnic minorities typically earn less within occupations than their white British counterparts.

Conference believes that the further education sector needs to be able to produce robust statistical analyses in relation to race equality in the workplace. This would include studies on recruitment, progression and pay. This would also necessarily cover intersectional perspectives.

Conference resolves to:

1. work with relevant stakeholder bodies to establish a data collection authority in FE along the lines of the Higher Education Statistics Agency
2. develop research proposals with the EHRC to investigate the state of workplace racism in FE.

CARRIED

FE10A.1  (EP) Further education committee

Replace:

Conference resolves to:

1. work with relevant stakeholder bodies to establish a data collection authority in FE along the lines of the Higher Education Statistics Agency

with:

Conference resolves to:

1. continue working with the Department for Education and relevant stakeholder bodies to develop a comprehensive & reliable data collection process for FE in England
2. work with relevant stakeholders in Wales & Northern Ireland to implement a similar data collection process for FE in Wales and Northern Ireland

WITHDRAWN

FE11  (EP) Supporting branches to pursue national priorities through local collective agreements - Further education committee

Conference notes that branches have secured collective agreements on the unions' national priorities of reducing casualisation, closing the gender pay gap and reducing workloads. These collective agreements deliver real improvements for our members.

Conference reiterates national priority status of these issues and calls on FEC to:

1. accelerate work to support and empower our branches to pursue local claims in relation to casualisation, the gender pay gap and workloads
2. ensure that bargaining guidance and campaign packs are worked into appropriate training resources
3. ensure the delivery of branch briefings and training events tailored to these priority issues
4. ensure that agreements and success stories are shared and publicised throughout the union.

CARRIED

FE12  (EP) Casualisation and part-two claims - Anti-casualisation committee

Conference congratulates the branches who have:

1. established principles for fighting for fair treatment of casualised staff
2. won fractionalised contracts for their long-term casualised staff
3. promoted these successes.

Conference notes, however, that

1. the issue of casualisation continues to not always be prioritised
2. often being unconnected to the main structure of the college or prison, casualised staff are mistreated and sacrificed with impunity
3. too great a proportion of casualised staff have protected characteristics
4. due to their precarious circumstances, casualised staff suffer continually from stress.

Conference requires relevant UCU bodies to:

1. encourage all branches to identify all types of casualisation amongst represented UCU staff groups, including lecturing and non-lecturing roles and those employed by subsidiary companies
2. supply branches with and encourage the use of model part-two claims, which address all possible issues of casualisation, to be used in their bargaining and negotiations.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE12A.1  Anti-casualisation committee

In 'Conference requires', insert new number ii, then renumber ii as iii:

2. compile and keep up-to-date a database of agreements made in some branches, detailed enough for use in negotiations

Add a new number iv:

4. provide training for reps to help them:

• identify members suffering from stress or mental health problems
• help members record extra hours worked and claim pay for them
• negotiate with managers and HR for sick pay
• identify hidden charges, such as having to pay for a DBS check, and help members claim them back.

CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference congratulates the branches who have:

1. established principles for fighting for fair treatment of casualised staff
2. won fractionalised contracts for their long-term casualised staff
3. promoted these successes.

Conference notes, however, that

1. the issue of casualisation continues to not always be prioritised
2. often being unconnected to the main structure of the college or prison, casualised staff are mistreated and sacrificed with impunity
3. too great a proportion of casualised staff have protected characteristics
4. due to their precarious circumstances, casualised staff suffer continually from stress.

Conference requires relevant UCU bodies to:

1. encourage all branches to identify all types of casualisation amongst represented UCU staff groups, including lecturing and non-lecturing roles and those employed by subsidiary companies
2. compile and keep up-to-date a database of agreements made in some branches, detailed enough for use in negotiations
3. supply branches with and encourage the use of model part-two claims, which address all possible issues of casualisation, to be used in their bargaining and negotiations
4. provide training for reps to help them:

• identify members suffering from stress or mental health problems
• help members record extra hours worked and claim pay for them
• negotiate with managers and HR for sick pay
• identify hidden charges, such as having to pay for a DBS check, and help members claim them back.

FE13  (EP) Fighting casualisation in ACE - Hackney ACE

Conference notes:

1. work done by UCU and the ACC to promote the fight against casual contracts in ACE, including the ACC motion to Congress 2016 demanding more resources for, research into and support for ACE branches
2. the information gathered by a recent FOI, which showed the overwhelming use of casual contracts in ACE. The responses confirmed that 70% of tutors in the sector are on casual contracts, with 36% of them on zero hours contracts.
3. the case of Hackney Learning Trust, where the UCU branch successfully moved all teaching staff from hourly paid to fractional contracts.

Conference resolves to:

1. encourage more work to be done to support ACE branches to improve their contracts
2. promote the struggles of the ACE sector within regional and national structures.

Conference demands relevant UCU bodies and officers prioritise identifying and supporting ACE branches who want to fight the use of casual contracts.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE13A.1  (EP) Anti-casualisation committee

To 'Conference notes:', add number 4:

4. where branches, regions and UCU officers have prioritised the work needed to improve contracts in an institution, they have often been successful. These successes can be mirrored in ACE, if members in the ACE sector are supported and experiences are shared across the FE sector.

In 'Conference resolves to', at the end of b, delete the full stop and add:

and encourage pairing of FE branches who have had successes in improving contracts with ACE members, through anti-casualisation branch officers.

CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference notes:

1. work done by UCU and the ACC to promote the fight against casual contracts in ACE, including the ACC motion to Congress 2016 demanding more resources for, research into and support for ACE branches
2. the information gathered by a recent FOI, which showed the overwhelming use of casual contracts in ACE. The responses confirmed that 70% of tutors in the sector are on casual contracts, with 36% of them on zero hours contracts.
3. the case of Hackney Learning Trust, where the UCU branch successfully moved all teaching staff from hourly paid to fractional contracts
4. where branches, regions and UCU officers have prioritised the work needed to improve contracts in an institution, they have often been successful. These successes can be mirrored in ACE, if members in the ACE sector are supported and experiences are shared across the FE sector.

Conference resolves to:

1. encourage more work to be done to support ACE branches to improve their contracts
2. promote the struggles of the ACE sector within regional and national structures and encourage pairing of FE branches who have had successes in improving contracts with ACE members, through anti-casualisation branch officers.

Conference demands relevant UCU bodies and officers prioritise identifying and supporting ACE branches who want to fight the use of casual contracts.

FE14  (EP) Protecting and mitigating against redundancy work done by hourly-paid staff - Anti-casualisation committee

Conference notes that hourly-paid staff in colleges and ACE are often used to cover sudden vacancies or long-term sickness.

Conference believes:

1. where a decision is made to create a post out of work being done by hourly-paid staff, they should be given priority to apply and gain that permanent work before advertising externally
2. there may be issues around this to do with employment and equal opportunities law, but there is a duty on employers to mitigate against redundancies.

Conference requests relevant UCU bodies to:

1. explore what the employment law is in this regard and make advice available to branches, so that they can negotiate and establish principles to prioritise current hourly-paid staff for available vacancies
2. make necessary amendments where employment law could be a barrier to this campaign.

CARRIED

FE15  (EP) Gender and workload - Women members standing committee

Conference recognises:

1. that excessive workload in FE has a gendered impact- it impacts doubly on women who also face a gender pay gap and are more likely to have caring responsibility
2. the dramatic increase in workload has arisen because of the rounds of redundancies and other 'efficiencies' that follow the Tories' austerity cuts.

Conference believes:

1. an average working week of around 51 hours cannot be sustained without damage to physical health and mental wellbeing
2. the dual burden of work and caring responsibility increases impact on women's health and also increases the possibility of women being attacked on the grounds of capability or absence at a higher rate than men
3. the workload campaign needs to be spread into every branch as an organising tool.

Conference instructs FEC to develop a plan for regional and branch workload campaigns involving action including lobbies and protests.

CARRIED

FE16  (EP) Workload and contact hours - Croydon College

Conference notes the continuing redefinition of contact hours to exclude all contact time other than for teaching group lessons. Assessment, verification, one to one pastoral tutorials, increasing administration and attendance tasks, parents evenings, recruitment events exceed the remaining non-contact times. This conference resolves to campaign for:

1. a reduction in contact hours
2. contact hours to include parents' evenings, one to one tutorials, taster day activities, recruitment interviews should be counted as contact time.

CARRIED

FE17  (EP) Winning for members in prison education - Further education committee

Conference notes that:

1. prison educators pay has not kept pace with mainstream FE
2. those working for a private provider cannot currently access TPS
3. violence and drugs are rife in prisons, and the working environment is often unfit for purpose
4. the Prison Education Framework means more prison educators are working for a private provider
5. our members can be excluded from a prison and lose their job at the whim of a governor.

Conference therefore calls on FEC to:

1. support branches to secure a rep and health and safety rep in every prison
2. support branches to reach agreement on proper pay and reward structures
3. campaign with other prison unions to ensure our members feel safe at work
4. seek lifelong access for prison educators to TPS
5. campaign to ensure that prison educators have parity of access to natural justice when faced with exclusion.

CARRIED

FE18  Reasonable adjustments in prisons - Disabled members standing committee

Conference is concerned to learn that our disabled members in prisons struggle to get any reasonable adjustments that are necessary to make work possible without risk, injury, pain and suffering.

Conference also notes continuing reports of long delays in getting necessary equipment and adjustments in FE.

Due to ongoing discrimination casualised workers can find it particularly difficult to declare their disability, and to request the reasonable adjustments to which they are legally entitled.

Conference believes that UCU must develop a strategy to support members in getting reasonable adjustments in a timely way.

Conference instructs FEC to:

1. work with the DMSC to develop a campaign to enforce the right to reasonable adjustments, which includes advice to branches on how to best support individuals
2. provide improved legal advice to individuals
3. plan and implement a parliamentary lobbying campaign
4. plan and implement a campaign lobbying employers, particularly prison employers.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE18A.1  Further education committee

First sentence, before 'disabled members', delete 'our'. After 'in prisons', insert 'can'.

Conference instructs point 4, delete all and replace with 'develop a campaign and claim for branches to use with employers, particularly in the prison sector.'

CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference is concerned to learn that disabled members in prisons can struggle to get any reasonable adjustments that are necessary to make work possible without risk, injury, pain and suffering.

Conference also notes continuing reports of long delays in getting necessary equipment and adjustments in FE.

Due to ongoing discrimination casualised workers can find it particularly difficult to declare their disability, and to request the reasonable adjustments to which they are legally entitled.

Conference believes that UCU must develop a strategy to support members in getting reasonable adjustments in a timely way.

Conference instructs FEC to:

1. work with the DMSC to develop a campaign to enforce the right to reasonable adjustments, which includes advice to branches on how to best support individuals
2. provide improved legal advice to individuals
3. plan and implement a parliamentary lobbying campaign
4. develop a campaign and claim for branches to use with employers, particularly in the prison sector.

FE19  Developing UCU's work around the adult and community education sector - Hackney ACE

Conference notes that:

1. adult and community education is an important sector of UCU. Although its branches are small, teachers in this sector deliver high quality education to people who are unable to access formal education in FE and HE. They are often employed on insecure contracts and the future of the sector is often under threat, depending on the political will of local authorities to provide ACE
2. that despite work done by UCU to increase participation of ACE, engagement from members in this sector remain low.

Conference demands that:

1. the information collecting by the members' survey and recent FOI is used to the fullest to develop activity around ACE
2. proper time and thought is put into future ACE national meetings and that they occur earlier in the academic year
3. a member of staff is always allocated to developing ACE
4. the long promised ACE recruitment video is made.

CARRIED

FE20  Workplace racism - Black members standing committee

Conference notes that the scourge of workplace racism is on the rise in the workplace. A report by the TUC in 2018 found that:

1. nearly 100 per cent of BME people reported that their experiences of racism at work has a significant negative impact on both their work and personal lives, such as feeling less confident at work and isolated from colleagues
2. making a complaint even in cases that are dealt with appropriately risks resulting in being further isolated from colleagues and can result in repercussions such as being subjected to disciplinary procedure, counter-complaint or branded a 'trouble maker'.

Conference further notes that the experience of workers in the FE sector mirrors these findings as evidenced by the 'witness' research UCU has undertaken.

Conference resolves to establish a mechanism for recording or logging instances of race discrimination using the End Everyday Racism project as a model.

CARRIED

FE21  GEO (government equalities office) LGBT report and action plan - impact for FE - LGBT+ members standing committee

Conference welcomes the government's statement, in the National LGBT survey (2018), 'ensuring that LGBT teachers and people working in education are free to be themselves'.

Support for being out as LGBT+ is particularly important in FE where many of the students begin to explore their identities. This applies in workplaces involved in apprenticeships where climates can be negative for LGBT+ people. This is often ignored e.g. not including LGBT+ in a survey of apprenticeship take-up.

Government identified that 83% of incidents in education went unreported. Under-reporting has to be addressed including prevention of bullying and harassment.

Conference calls for equality officers or active representatives to be offered specific LGBT+ training so that they can offer support to members and liaise with HR teams, senior management and workplaces.

Conference also calls for FEC to work with the LGBT+ MSC in lobbying for more cross-sectoral work to be done for LGBT+ equality.

CARRIED

FE22  Enabling understanding and visibility of LGBT+ in FE - LGBT+ members standing committee

Conference notes

1. by 2019-20 FE young person funding will be similar to in 2006-7
2. adult education is badly affected by cuts including ESOL
3. EDI is carried out by Coaching Tutors largely untrained in LGBT+ identities
4. college-wide EDI training is often delivered in an online package with all the protected characteristics lumped together.

Conference believes that lack of face-to-face and well-planned training results in lack of understanding.

Conference recognises that in FE

1. adults find a second chance and space to reinvent themselves outside of the home or workplace
2. trans students are able to talk for the first time in public about their experiences.

Conference calls for FEC to

1. produce an LGBT+ package that supports participants asking questions by providing interactive time
2. with regions and LGBT+ MSC provide LGBT+ workshops across UCU
3. campaign for classroom materials that reflect and celebrate LGBT+ identities.

CARRIED

FE23  (EP) No to compulsion in further education - City and Islington College Camden Road

Conference notes:

1. that in 2013 law was passed making it illegal for those between the ages of 16-18 to not be in work, education or training.
2. the dramatic rise of mental health issues among students.

Believes:

1. that young people need to be inspired to learn and not forced
2. that compulsion leads to young people becoming even more alienated from the liberating influence of education
3. that compulsion is having a dramatic impact on workload. The increase in systems to monitor and track student attendance is consuming lecturers time.
4. that these systems are increasingly being used to discipline lecturers who are unable to keep up with these demands.

Resolves:

1. UCU to campaign for the repealing of the 2013 Act making it compulsory for 16 - 18 year olds to be in work education and training
2. to campaign against increase in attendance monitoring by lecturers.

CARRIED

FE24  Composite: End compulsion in GCSE English and maths - Lambeth College, London regional FE committee

Conference notes:

1. the imposition of compulsory English and maths GCSEs is a condition of funding for 16-18 year-olds
2. despite widespread criticism the government has failed to drop its policy of compulsion
3. students can be tied into a cycle of re-sits for three years
4. overworked teaching and support staff are pressurised to chase up student absentees at the expense of other essential duties
5. that forcing students to keep re-sitting GCSEs is demoralising for students and staff and undermines equality.

Conference believes:

1. compulsory enrolment for all 16-18 year olds who have not gained GCSE grade 4 in English and maths is punitive
2. the return to exam based learning for GCSE English and maths is creating stress for lecturers and students whilst failing to raise to standards
3. English and maths skills play an important role in enabling individuals to participate fully in society
4. in the importance of giving students every opportunity to develop these skills
5. that providing this opportunity is an issue of equality.

Conference resolves to:

1. lobby government and campaign publicly to end English and maths compulsion for post-16 learners
2. lobby and campaign for the development of course-based study and assessment in these subjects
3. commission research into alternative, inclusive strategies for delivering English and maths.

CARRIED

FE25  (EP) Learning not testing - Croydon College

FE conference notes the increasing evidence of rising levels of stress and mental health issues of young people in education. Conference believes that the policies of successive Tory governments to roll back progressive education initiatives, and move away from course work to testing is a contributory factor. Conference resolves to promote and develop policy that is built around the concepts of social inclusion and learning not testing.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE25A.1  Disabled members standing committee

Add new paragraph:

In relation to disabled students we express concern about practices that see students with ECHP funding entitlement simply as economic assets, that neglect adjustment needs of students and staff and urge UCU to work with DPOs and NUS to develop and lobby for a truly inclusive policy so that disabled students, including those with learning disability, can participate on an equal basis in FE.

CARRIED

Substantive motion

FE conference notes the increasing evidence of rising levels of stress and mental health issues of young people in education. Conference believes that the policies of successive Tory governments to roll back progressive education initiatives, and move away from course work to testing is a contributory factor. Conference resolves to promote and develop policy that is built around the concepts of social inclusion and learning not testing.

In relation to disabled students we express concern about practices that see students with ECHP funding entitlement simply as economic assets, that neglect adjustment needs of students and staff and urge UCU to work with DPOs and NUS to develop and lobby for a truly inclusive policy so that disabled students, including those with learning disability, can participate on an equal basis in FE.

FE26  Learning walks and CPD - New City College Redbridge

Conference notes that:

1. learning walks have replaced graded observations in many colleges. There is no evidence that observations improve teaching and learning
2. almost two-thirds of FE teachers do not spend any time at all on CPD. More collegial forms of CPD are supported by a substantial body of academic and practical research.

Conference believes:

1. the abandonment of graded observations by Ofsted opened up the possibility of a new approach to teaching and learning development
2. college managements have missed this opportunity and adopted assessment policies which fail to improve teaching and learning.

Conference resolves that:

1. ROCC produces a summary of good existing practice (e.g. teacher learning communities)
2. FEC develops a campaign, including industrial action where appropriate, to assist branches to negotiate better CPD policies, and considers the inclusion of demands for a national evidence-based universal CPD entitlement as part of claims for improved pay and conditions.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE26A.1  South East regional committee

In 'Conference resolves that', add new ii after i and renumber accordingly:

2. ROCC to reissue the appropriate documents circulated for the works/reports produced by Matt O'Leary in 2013 and 2014 concerning lesson observation.

CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference notes that:

1. learning walks have replaced graded observations in many colleges. There is no evidence that observations improve teaching and learning
2. almost two-thirds of FE teachers do not spend any time at all on CPD. More collegial forms of CPD are supported by a substantial body of academic and practical research.

Conference believes:

1. the abandonment of graded observations by Ofsted opened up the possibility of a new approach to teaching and learning development
2. college managements have missed this opportunity and adopted assessment policies which fail to improve teaching and learning.

Conference resolves that:

1. ROCC produces a summary of good existing practice (e.g. teacher learning communities)
2. ROCC to reissue the appropriate documents circulated for the works/reports produced by Matt O'Leary in 2013 and 2014 concerning lesson observation
3. FEC develops a campaign, including industrial action where appropriate, to assist branches to negotiate better CPD policies, and considers the inclusion of demands for a national evidence-based universal CPD entitlement as part of claims for improved pay and conditions.

FE27  Work experience - City of Oxford College Activate Learning

Conference notes the following problems:

1. the organisation and monitoring of work experience for 16-19 year old students has become a major task in FE involving tutors, in particular, who are often asked to undertake this role on top of their normal tutorial activities
2. work experience is being pushed by college management, mainly for funding reasons, with little consideration of the actual benefits for the students involved
3. the timing of the work experience weeks is proving problematic especially when students are also facing external exams
4. finding suitable work experience placements is proving difficult for some students given the large numbers seeking work experience at any one time.
5. many FE students already undertake substantial paid work in order to support themselves.

Conference calls upon UCU to undertake a review of the use of work experience in FE colleges nationally and report back to the next FE sector conference.

CARRIED

FE28  (EP) OFSTED - City of Oxford College Activate Learning

Conference notes the consultation about new OFSTED inspection framework being rolled out for FE in 2019 with 'wherever possible' the promise of reduced workload for teaching staff, greater emphasis on the substance of education and less emphasis on the collection of data.

However it seems:

1. the 'outstanding' grade will stay, and that the overall effectiveness judgement will remain a feature of the framework
2. also the four point grading scale will remain as will an overall judgement about a provider
3. in addition, OFSTED will still be using performance data and accountability measures.

Conference is not convinced that the planned changes make OFSTED any more 'fit for purpose' from an educational perspective.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

FE28A.1  (EP) Composite Yorkshire and Humberside regional FE committee, New City College Redbridge, Chesterfield College

Add at end of the final paragraph: 'Conference reiterates UCU's policy to call for the abolition of OFSTED, which is not "fit for purpose". Conference resolves to lobby the Labour Party and other political bodies to implement abolition, and to include the abolition of OFSTED in their next election manifestos.'

CARRIED

Substantive motion

Conference notes the consultation about new OFSTED inspection framework being rolled out for FE in 2019 with 'wherever possible' the promise of reduced workload for teaching staff, greater emphasis on the substance of education and less emphasis on the collection of data.

However it seems:

1. the 'outstanding' grade will stay, and that the overall effectiveness judgement will remain a feature of the framework
2. also the four point grading scale will remain as will an overall judgement about a provider
3. in addition, OFSTED will still be using performance data and accountability measures.

Conference is not convinced that the planned changes make OFSTED any more 'fit for purpose' from an educational perspective.

Conference reiterates UCU's policy to call for the abolition of OFSTED, which is not "fit for purpose". Conference resolves to lobby the Labour Party and other political bodies to implement abolition, and to include the abolition of OFSTED in their next election manifestos.

FE29  FE participation in UCU conferences/events - Further education committee

Conference notes:

1. UCU Congress/sector conference and Cradle to the Grave conference are held during work or holiday
2. the Cradle to Grave conference has no speakers from FE.

Conference believes:

1. it is much harder for FE members to get time off work to attend UCU conferences/events than colleagues working in HE
2. whilst not all colleges have half terms at the same time a significant amount do
3. holding UCU conferences/events at these times prohibits FE members fully participating in UCU democratic decision-making bodies
4. failure to invite keynote speakers from the FE sector to conferences like Cradle to the Grave misses an opportunities to use the vast intellectual and creative ability of the sector.

Conference calls on the NEC to, when producing the UCU calendar for conferences/events (outside of annual congress), ensure that they are not held on a working day or within holiday periods.