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

and (iii), where a teacherhas not been granted timein-lieuthat has accruedunder subclause (a) by 1December in a year, thatteacher may vary his or herattendance time on anyschool day prior to the endof that school year equivalentto the time owed.(ii) Variation of a teacher’s attendanceunder subclause(i) is subject to the teacherproviding the principal, asthe Employer’s representative,with not less thanthree working days notice.(iii) Where the number ofteachers seeking to varytheir attendance time onthe same day would otherwiseresult in the dismissalof students on that day,the principal, as the Employer’srepresentative, isresponsible for determiningthe timing of the absencesto avoid the dismissal ofstudents.(4) Within the daily hours of attendance,teachers are entitled to alunch period of not less than thirtyminutes free from assigned duties.Part-Time Employment(5) An employee employed part-timeis employed to work an agreednumber of regular hours less than76 hours a fortnight.(6) The time fraction of an employeeemployed part-time shall be fixedand constant over a normal fortnightlyperiod.(7) An employee employed parttime and the principal, as theEmployer’s representative, shallconsult regarding the days andtimes of attendance, includingany arrangements regardingattendance at parent-teachermeetings on days other than normaldays of attendance.(8) With the exception of arrangementsagreed under subclause (7):(a) a teacher who works 0.4 to0.6 time fraction cannot berequired to attend for dutyon more than three days perweek;(b) a teacher who works 0.7 to0.8 time fraction cannot berequired to attend for duty onmore than four days per week.(9) With the exception of an employeeemployed on a casual basis, allprovisions of this agreement, otherthan reimbursement of expenses,shall apply on a pro rata basis toemployees employed part time.Release to attend interview(10) (a) An employee is entitled tobe released from duty for theperiod required to attend aninterview for an advertisedposition in a Victorian governmentschool.(b) The principal of the schoolthat has the vacancy and theemployee will take all reasonablesteps to ensure the timingof any release under subclause(a) occurs at a time that avoidsor minimises the need to providea replacement employeeduring the period of release.(c) Any release under subclause(a) shall be regarded as au-thorised duty for the purposesof clause 25(1) (reimbursementof expenses).Class size23 (1) The principal, as the Employer’srepresentative, shall use theconsultation provisions of thisagreement when considering theclass sizes in a school.(2) It is recognised that there arevaried forms of teaching arrangements(including practicalclasses, team teaching and lecturetutorials) and different structuraloptions, (including P-12 arrangements,senior school arrangementsand senior campuses) that optimisestudent learning opportunities.In addition, the organisationof teaching should provide andmaintain, so far as is practicable, aworking environment that is safeand without risks to health.(3) In this context, and within thefixed resources provided toschools and the physical facilitiesschedule, class size should beplanned on the minimum possiblesubject to clause 11(6). Providedthat class sizes should be plannedgenerally on the following basis:(a) P to 6 - an average of 26provided that the averageclass size of 21 at P-2 ismaintained;(b) 7 to 12 – groups of up to 25students.Practical class sizes(4) (a) Schools are required to provideand maintain, so far as ispracticable, a working environmentthat is safe and withoutrisks to health.(b) Schools should plan for theminimum practical classsizes possible given availableresources. Practical class sizesshould be determined havingregard to the nature of theactivities, the nature of theequipment used, the maturityand competence of the studentsand the capabilities ofthe teacher to provide expertsupervision.(c) A practical class includes asubject or course where theuse of equipment and/or materialof a potentially dangerousnature is involved and/ora class in which studentsare undertaking manual orother tasks requiring greaterindividual supervision of theclassroom activity.ESL classes(5) Schools should plan for theminimum ESL class sizes possiblegiven available resources, theeducational needs of the studentsand the total teaching program.Leave24 For the purposes of this clause:• “certificate in lieu” means a certificateissued by a person registered topractice as a dentist, physiotherapist,chiropractor, osteopath, optometrist;psychologist or other health professionalapproved by the Employer;• “immediate family” includes spouseor a former spouse of the employeeand child or an adult child (includingan adopted child, a step child or anex-nuptial child), parent, grandparent,64 65