Scottish teachers have hit out at the timing of an online event billed as their chance to have “a dialogue” with the education secretary and the chief executive of Education Scotland.
It is scheduled to take place on Monday 15 March - the first day of the week which, controversially, is due to mark the return to school buildings of all pupils in Scotland.
Teachers have hit out at the “insanity” of scheduling the event - billed as being “about learning and teaching in 2021 and beyond” - with John Swinney and Education Scotland’s Gayle Gorman on the same day as the second phase of the return to school.
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This phase of the return will see all primary back in school buildings full time and all secondary pupils embarking on blended learning, with every students expected to spend some time in school each week.
One comment below the Education Scotland tweet promoting the event read: “So the day we’re all guaranteed to be completely exhausted, harassed and overworked more than normal you schedule this?! People might think you don’t want teachers to have dialogue with you”.
So the day we’re all guaranteed to be completely exhausted, harassed and overworked more than normal you schedule this?! People might think you don’t want teachers to have dialogue with you ?
- AJ (@aj_181) March 4, 2021
Another comment pointed out that many early learning and childcare staff would “still have children in front of them at that time” at the time of the event with Mr Swinney - who is also deputy first minister - and Ms Gorman.
Several teachers requested that the date be changed. One primary teacher said: “Please change this date ASAP. It’s completely unfair to host this on the first day back when school staff will have so much to deal with.”
Any chance the timing of this could be re-assessed please, given that most school staff will be heavily involved in teaching and planning on the first day back for many? Add to that, many ELC staff will still have children in front of them at that time.
- Lorna (@daftscotslass) March 4, 2021
Questions for the event must be submitted in advance. The Education Scotland web page for the event states: “During the sign-up process, participants will be asked to submit a question for consideration. These questions will then be collated, themed and presented for discussion by a representative at the live session. Throughout the session, there will be opportunities to ask supplementary questions using a chat function.”
Please change this date ASAP. It’s completely unfair to host this on the first day back when school staff will have so much to deal with.
- Nuzhat Uthmani (@NUthmani) March 4, 2021
Perhaps worth considering that’s the first day that our young people return p4-7 and our secondaries try to get their yp through their NQs as well as bringing in BGE pupils, providing remote learning and supervising young people of keyworkers and vulnerable young people ?
- EAC Education (@EacEducation) March 5, 2021
Tes Scotland approached Education Scotland to ask if there were any plans to reschedule the event.
An Education Scotland spokesperson, at around 2.15pm this afternoon, said: “The event with the deputy first minister on 15 March has had almost 600 bookings within 24 hours of opening for registration. Due to its popularity, we are looking into the possibility of providing an additional ‘Learning and Teaching in 2021 and Beyond’ event and details will be announced if a date and time is confirmed.”
Later in the afternoon a second event with Mr Swinney and Ms Gorman was announced for a week later, on Monday 22 March.
Due to popular demand and feedback from the profession, we can confirm an additional event has now been arranged for 22 March from 16.30 - 17.45! Registration details will follow next week. pic.twitter.com/O7SZE2wypY
- Education Scotland (@EducationScot) March 5, 2021
