Teachers call for more protection against ‘malicious’ allegations
Union to demand change to complaints procedures
Fed- up teachers will today demand an overhaul of Renfrewshire Council’s complaints procedures that allow parents to make ‘malicious’ accusations against staff.
Under current rules, parents can complain as many times as they like on the same issue, even if an investigation has cleared the teacher of wrongdoing.
Teachers union the Education Institute for Scotland ( EIS) wants Renfrewshire Council to provide greater protection to its staff from repeated allegations.
The EIS will table a motion at the Renfrewshire Council joint negotiating committee for teaching staff meeting today, calling for changes in the way complaints are treated by the council.
The EIS says that one teacher has been subjected to regular complaints, despite there being no evidence against them.
The motion notes: “As a result of an ongoing issue in relation to a teacher in Renfrewshire, two education managers have stated that parents are free to make as many complaints as they wish on the same issue, even after investigation has shown the complaints to be completely unfounded.
“This amounts to Renfrewshire refusing to recognise that a sequence of complaints from the same complainer on the same issue could be malicious and vexatious.”
The union will call on the council to recognise the problem of sustained and unfounded complaints and to offer under pressure teaching staff more support.
The motion goes on to call for: “Recognition from Renfrewshire Council that there is such a concept as a malicious and vexatious complaint and a commitment from Renfrewshire to protect its teachers from such complaints when after investigation they are found to be so.”
Meanwhile, the EIS will also call on Renfrewshire Council to maintain the number of additional support needs staff (ASN) in Renfrewshire schools.
A motion will state: “At a time when the number of pupils with additional support needs is rising, it is imperative that there is a concomitant ASN teaching and support provision which aids the class teacher and supports the child with ASN to achieve his/her full potential.
“The teachers’ side is seeking assurances that there will be no reduction in ASN staffing provision and that the level of support provided by Renfrewshire Council will be sufficient to meet the needs of every pupil with ASN.”