July 2023

At the beginning of June, two UCAC representatives attended a DARPL, Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning, Conference in Cardiff and shared the main messages of the Conference with members of UCAC’s Equality Committee, which convened before the end of the Summer Term.   The delegates of the DARPL conference were deeply affected by the harrowing experiences of racism endured by some of the speakers.  These experiences were shared within the context of the Welsh Government’s vision of an anti-racist Wales by 2030. 

The Conference speakers emphasised the importance of anti-racism, in order to combat racism.   Within the new Curriculum for Wales, the teaching of Black, Asian and minority ethnic history is statutory.  It is well worth remembering that there are resources which refer specifically to Wales and Welsh-medium resources.

It was noted that school leaders have an important role to play to foster and establish an anti-racist ethos.  Further guidance can be found in the following document:

Creating an Anti-Racist Culture in Schools - A Practical Guide for School Leaders in Wales - DARPL

The Welsh Government has also produced a list of race and ethnicity terms, which members of the Equality Committee felt was a valuable resource:

https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-05/welsh-language-race-and-ethnicity-terminology.pdf

8 June 2023 

UCAC representatives attended a seminal conference organised by DARPL (Diversity and Anti-Racism Professional Learning) in Cardiff on 8 June.  It was very encouraging to see so many present at the conference and attendees were offered a full programme of enlightening presentations by notable speakers from Wales and beyond.  All speakers spoke with passion and conviction, many sharing their own personal experiences of racism.  They shared with the audience how these negative experiences had led to their subsequent determination to do their utmost to combat racism.  It was difficult and uncomfortable to listen to accounts of what the speakers and their families had experienced,  but their message was both timely and important and underlined the fundamental fact that we all have a part to play in order to fulfil the Welsh Government’s vision of an anti-racist Wales by 2030. 

5-6 May 2023

UCAC’s annual conference 2023 was held at the Coldra Court Hotel near Newport on 5-6 May 2023.  The conference provided an opportunity to discuss matters pertaining to education, in formal meetings as well as informally.

The proposals which came to the delegates’ attention were a reflection of the matters which are currently at the forefront of education in Wales - matters relating to working conditions, the Curriculum for Wales, the Welsh Education Bill.  These matters will undoubtedly be a topic of further discussion within the union during the forthcoming months.

Our speakers’ themes this year were the latest digital developments and the Curriculum for Wales.   Meredudd Jones spoke with enthusiasm of the work he has accomplished in the field of Information Technology and how he fostered pupils’ and staff’s confidence in digital matters during the pandemic and subsequently.  Alan Thomas-Williams spoke with the same passion about the Curriculum for Wales and shared his experience of working with a cluster of schools in the process of planning and delivering the Curriculum for Wales.  Following both presentations, delegates were given the opportunity to ask further questions. 

 03 February 2023

Ioan Rhys Jones, UCAC’s General Secretary was amongst the speakers at the Wales TUC Protect the Right to Strike Rally in Cardiff on 1 February.  The rally was held in Cardiff in response to the steps which are being taken by the Government in Westminster to introduce anti-union legislation which would limit the rights of individuals to strike.  The prospective legislation would mean that employees could be forced to work, despite having voted in favour of striking in a democratic ballot.  Ioan said, “It is important that we protect workers’ freedom and safeguard their right to voice their opinion and to take action to protect their pay and working conditions.  UCAC is proud take a stand in order to protect its members rights.”  

21 November 2022  

The School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document is now available on the Welsh Government’s website.  

Please find below links to a written statement from the Minister for Education and Welsh Language accepting all the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body’s recommendations for 2022/23 and to the revised School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2022.   

https://gov.wales/written-statement-teachers-pay-award-2022 

https://gov.wales/school-teachers-pay-and-conditions-wales-document-2022 

If you are working part-time and in receipt of a TLR, remember that it is important to check with your Headteacher whether you are eligible to receive the TLR in full.