THE ROLE OF THE

NUT LEARNING REPRESENTATIVE

Background

At the annual unionlearn conference, ‘Year 3: Moving Learning On’, held in June 2009, it was announced that some 24,000 union learning representatives (ULRs) had been trained to assist their members to access learning and skills in the workplace. This exceeded the target of recruiting 22,000 ULRs by 2010. Learning representatives operate in over 60 trade unions.

TUC and government research has shown that learning representatives carry out a broad range of activities, which include:

  • offering learning information and advice to union members;
  • identifying union members’ learning needs;
  • negotiating learning agreements with employers;
  • securing equal opportunities in learning; and
  • assisting members in accessing funding for learning.

The learning representative role within the NUT

The principal role of the NUT learning representative is to promote learning among NUTmembers. Below is a comprehensive list of aspects of the role.

It is not suggested that the learning representative should carry out every task on this list. The learning representative needs to work according to local priorities and to set boundaries for his/her role.

As a local representative, you cannot do everything. If you carry out only a few of the tasks listed below, then NUT members will benefit.

The role of a local learning representative within the NUT could include:

  • the provision of information and advice on outside sources of training and funding for training such as Learndirect, the University for Industry;
  • acting as the broker in the provision of training at local colleges of further education;
  • the organisation and delivery of training courses within the local division of the Union;
  • the promotion of the NUT’s national training programme;
  • the promotion of the NUT’s professional development programme;
  • the promotion of the Union Learning Fund;
  • the promotion of the ICT Skills for Teachers courses; and
  • the promotion of regionally and locally based NUT training.

Working at division level

NUT learning representatives have been operating at divisional level since 2002. The NUT division is the local negotiating and representative unit and is coterminous with alocal authority.

The Union Learning Representative (ULR) role is an established local lay position in the Union. There are accredited NUT learning representatives operating in over 60percent of divisions across England and Wales.

In 2004, the National Executive agreed to the addition of the role of learning representative to the Union’s Model Rules for Single Association and Multi-Association Divisions. This amendment to the Model Rules was adopted at Annual Conference 2005. Divisions are being advised to add the role of learning representative to the list of officers in the rules of the division. The division can decide to have a job-share to cover the learning representative position. Alternatively, the division may decide to have more than one learning representative, though the National Union recommends that only up to three learning representatives are appointed.

Once added to the division’s rules, as with all other local lay positions in the Union, the NUT learning representative role would thereafter be subject to annual election.

Working at school level

The school-based NUT learning representative role was piloted in eight areas across England during 2005-2006. The pilot stage has been completed and school-based learning representatives are now being recruited nationally. School-based learning representatives represent NUTmembers in their own school or ina local cluster of schools.

Getting started

The NUT is working to develop a national network of learning representatives. You are not alone!

The Union has worked with unionlearn (previously TUC Learning Services), The College of North East London (CONEL) and DunstableCollege to develop a bespoke accredited training course for NUT learning representatives. NUT learning representatives are required to attend a five day residential training course.

The NUT has also developed a second level learning representatives’ course for established NUT learning representatives.

Networking

The NUT supports and encourages networking between NUT learning representatives. The NUT organises an annual national forum and is currently establishing local learning representative forums in each region and in Wales.

Working in partnership

The NUT has received support from the Union Learning Fund, which is administered by unionlearn, to develop the NUT learning representative role and support the growing network of local representatives.

The NUT works in partnership with a range of organisations on the learning representative’s project. The project partners are:

  • unionlearn (Southern and Eastern Region)
  • unionlearn (Midlands Region)
  • The College of NorthEast London (CONEL)
  • DunstableCollege
  • Campaign for Learning
  • Financial Services Authority
  • Teachers Assurance

There are currently NUT learning representatives operating in over 60 per cent of localauthorities in England and Wales.

ROLE – NUT LRNG REP_RB126 November 2009

Created: 19 July 2002/CA

Revised: 15 June 2009/CA