Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) 2008 - Australian ...

timeframe and have fair and reasonableconditions and studentsshould have ready access to theirteachers. In this context, the workallocated to a teacher should, asfar as practicable, provide for anequitable distribution of workacross all teachers in the school.(3) Teaching and learning is a complexprocess. Numerous factors contributeto this process including:(a) face-to-face teaching;(b) preparation, correction, assessment,meetings, studentsupervision, reporting andorganisational duties;(c) class size, curriculum mix,range of ability and age ofstudents, resources availableand facilities;(d) school camps, concerts, excursionsand after school sport.(4) (a) It is recognised that the allocationof teacher work is managedby the principal, as theEmployer’s representative, atthe school level in accordancewith this agreement.(b) A teacher cannot be requiredto undertake face-to-faceteaching that exceeds:(i) 20 hours per week for asecondary school teacheror 18 hours 40 minutesper week if a teacher supervisessporting activitiesof students on a structuredbasis for a period of twohours per week.(ii) 22 hours 30 minutes perweek for a primary teacher.(iii) the pro-rata of subclauses(b)(i) to (ii) for a teacherin a P-12 school havingregard to the proportionof teaching performedin years P-6 and 7-12respectively.(c) the provisions of subclause(4)(b) operate to the exclusionof any other provisions regulatingface-to-face teaching.(5) Within the limits set out insubclause (4)(b), the actual faceto-faceteaching hours requiredof teachers in a school shall beagreed using the consultation provisionsof this agreement. Whereagreement is not reached the allocationof the face-to-face requirementsof a teacher should providethe opportunity for the teacher toperform all of her or his requiredduties within a reasonable timeframewithin the following limits:(a) In primary schools, the allocationof the face-to-facerequirements of a teachermust not exceed the limits setout in subclause (4)(b).(b) In secondary schools, theallocation of the face-to-facerequirements cannot exceedan index of 480 (calculatedby multiplying the teacher’sactual face-to-face hours perweek, inclusive of extras, bythe number of students ineach class) or limits set out insubclause (4)(b). Time allowancesshall be included in theindex (calculated by multiplyingthe actual time allowancehours per week by the averagenumber of students in all ofthe teacher’s classes).(c) Where the allocation of theface-to-face teaching hours ofa teacher is determined undersubclauses (a) or (b) the formulain subclause (7)(c) doesnot apply.(d) Notwithstanding subclauses(5) and (8), the work of teacherlibrarians, MARC/MACCteachers, visiting teachers,instrumental music teachersmay be varied at the schoollevel through the consultativeprocess with the agreement ofthe teacher(s) to meet the particularcircumstances of thatschool or network of schools.(6) (a) The primary focus of thegraduate teacher is onfurther developing skills andcompetencies needed tobecome an effective classroompractitioner. It is recognisedthat ongoing support and developmentof graduate teachersis critical for the teachersthemselves, the schools inwhich they teach, the communitiesin which they playa significant role, and for thestudents whose futures theyshape.(b) To this end, the work allocatedto a graduate teacherin their first 12 months ofteaching should recognisethe need for the graduateteacher to perform all of heror his required duties within areasonable timeframe and toparticipate in the necessaryinduction and developmentactivities designed to assistgraduate teachers in theirfirst 12 months. Accordingly,within the resources availableto the school, the scheduledduties of a graduate teachershould be reduced by at least5% over the school weekconsistent with the allocationof duties at the school leveldetermined in accordance withsubclauses (5) and (8). If ateacher is requested to act asmentor for a graduate teacherthe principal, as the Employer’srepresentative, should ensurethat this role can be undertakenhaving regard to the totalwork required of that teacherover the 38 hour week.(7) Unless otherwise agreed at theschool level in accordance withthe consultative provisions of thisagreement:(a) replacement or reorganisedclasses of equivalent timeperiod, which shall not countas an extra, may be assignedto a teacher who loses normalclasses for any reason. Suchclasses may only be assignedwithin the day normal classesare lost.In November and Decemberof each year as classes aredismissed, teachers may beallocated replacement classesup to 80% of their timetabledallotment.(b) Extras shall be consideredwithin the face-to-face teachingmaximum as determined insubclause (4)(b) above. Extrasshould be allocated in an60 61