Annual report 2002 - batod

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The Educational Management Committee and its two subcommittees, ‘GCSE’ and ‘Curriculum Issues’,have yet again had a busy year working on major projects and many and varied minor ones.The committee met for a working weekend in January 2001. This was an urgent meeting called to discussthe amendments to the proposed Threshold Section of the new Code of Practice.However, the DfEE seriously affected the committee’s plans by deciding at only two days notice that theywere to scrap that whole section of the Code as there had been so many complaints about it from differentpressure groups from all areas of SEN. The committee was therefore left with space on the agenda - butfound no difficulty in filling it!Over the year the committee worked on a variety of projects:• The committee has continued to try and regularise with QCA the issue of who is to be used to modify, orbe involved with, the writing of the SATs. The committee continues to press the point that all ToDs usedfor modification of examination papers or statutory tests should have attended a BATOD training course,and have been seen to reach the standards required.• A very successful course was run this autumn, through a partnership between BATOD and NASEN,which resulted in many more Teachers of the Deaf being trained in language modification techniques forboth SATs and end of Key Stage 4 exams - and this will greatly help to raise standards. Other similarcourses are at the planning stage, and it is hoped that all regions will have the opportunity in the futureto attend a course that is near to them• A letter was sent to Tim Boswell MP (Conservative spokesperson on SEN issues) about the problemswhich had occurred with funding for children SEN in GM schools and how they may relate to newsystems of funding being proposed by the Conservative party under its ‘free schools’ policy. Theparticular problems of low incidence need were mentioned and examples quoted. A meeting took placelater in the year between BATOD and Mr Boswell to emphasise these points.• The DEMAQS project was discussed and it was decided that some of the procedures used, andquestions asked, of deaf children, their parents and their teachers should be investigated.• A future magazine issue concentrating on the work of the peripatetic Teacher of the Deaf was plannedand contributors suggested. This has now been very successfully produced.• The NDCS Deaf Friendly Schools Initiative was discussed and it was thought important the Teachers ofthe Deaf should be involved as they were working in their schools on a long term basis whereas NDCSspeakers would only be visiting once or twice.• We completed the response to the consultation on the Code of Practice relating to the DisabilityDiscrimination Act. (We had already previously contributed, and in detail, to the Government’s proposedCode of Practice for SEN which was to replace the current one.)The code described, with examples, the new duties (from 2002) not to discriminate against disabled pupilsand prospective pupils in the provision of education and related services in schools, and in respect ofadmissions and exclusions.We warmly welcomed the document as a whole, and in principle, whilst making specific points in relation tocertain aspects of the draft code. Throughout the document we noted a lack of specific reference to LEAadvisory and support services. We emphasised that these services are key partners in ensuring thatchildren with a disability do not suffer unjustified discrimination.This Code of Practice will have a profound effect on schools and their responsibilities towards children witha disability when it comes into force next year.The Disability Rights Commission will be issuing practical guidance in addition to the final Code of Practiceand both should be published together. The EM committee will be looking at the final document withinterest.Although the BATOD GCSE sub-committee has continued to work with exam boards on the modificationof examination language, the committee’s main focus this year has been on organising training workshops.These were planned together with two representatives from NATED.The first training weekend took place in Doncaster on 17 and 18 November, and was a great success.Thirty-six people attended. Many more wanted to participate, so further sessions are planned for 2002, inthe South and in Scotland.email: secretary@BATOD.org.uk BATOD Annual report 2001 BATODWebsite: www.BATOD.org.uk 21 The Haystacks, High WycombeAnswerphone / fax 01494 464190 page 7 Bucks HP13 6PY
Another piece of good news is that OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations) has asked formodification training for its Principal Examiners. This is a step in the right direction. It is to be hoped thatthe other exam boards can be persuaded to do likewise.However, it is not good news at all that Jenny Baxter is to resign from the committee in March 2002. Herfellow committee members are distraught but very understanding. Jenny has given unstinting service formany years, and her contribution cannot be over-estimated. All concerned thank Jenny for this hugecontribution.The Membership, Administration & Publicity Committee continues to work hard on behalf of themembership of BATOD with working weekends, evening meetings and conference calls to produce theinformation required. This year has been a very busy one working with the Professional DevelopmentCommittee on the planning of the 25 th Anniversary Celebrations of BATOD. This included the special Marchedition of the Magazine covering the developments in deaf education since BATOD’s inception.The Eichholz Prize in its new form of an annually commissioned article for the Magazine, was awarded forthe first time to Bill Chippendale at BATOD’s 25 th Anniversary celebrations in Cardiff, for his ‘History ofBATOD’ article. Fiona Atkins is now continuing this work as, in consultation with Birmingham University andthe regions, she is checking and updating the archives.Producing training and information leaflets takes up a large proportion of MAP’s time and this year is noexception with the production of:PowerPoint Presentation about BATOD: this is now available and is designed for exhibitions and CourseProviders’ presentations. NEC members were trained in the use of this PowerPoint pack.Information Leaflets: designed to provide ready responses to the various queries BATOD receives and tobe resources for Teachers of the Deaf. They will be also available to new members and Course Providers.They are circulated through the Magazine, in mailings and at exhibitions. New membership and recruitmentleaflets have been introduced detailing NEC work and including a BATOD poster. A resources CD is inpreparation to provide materials for ToDs. The website continues to flourish with a definite upsurge in visitsin the later part of the year.Teaching Deaf Children: BATOD, NDCS and RNID have been involved in the revision of this booklet,which provides information for those wishing to train as Teachers of the Deaf. All current course providersare listed in this booklet with contact details and other information. This joint effort is a concrete exampleof collaborative working with a range of organisation in the field.Recruitment stands & presentation are another part of MAP’s work with new exhibition boards created forevents such as the NDCS Technology Exhibition, the BATOD Anniversary and Events in Cardiff, the Headsof Schools and Services conference and the RNID Breaking the Sound Barrier event. Staffed by AnnUnderwood and the ‘shift-workers’ team from the Committee and Regions, more events would be attendedif time and funding permitted.An oak BATOD President’s presentation box has been prepared to house BATOD medals, old and new,together with records dating back many years. This will be passed on to each incoming President duringthe inauguration ceremony.Ann Underwood deals with all publications and continues the fight to get the Magazine out on time keepingthe BATOD membership up to date five times each year with focus issues on topics relevant to Teachers ofthe Deaf. This year the focused issues have covered audiology, the history of BATOD, mental health anddeafness, the work of the peripatetic teacher and pre-school matters. The new publication dates to meetthe ‘teacher job advertisement’ deadlines are February, April, June, October and December. The SpecialHistory issue ‘Celebrating 25 years of BATOD’ is selling well from the Forest Book Shop and providesinformative background to the education of deaf people.The Journal and the Survey keep the membership informed of recent research. The DfES commissionedthe Survey to report on specific issues for England. With almost 100% returns from England, MargaretEatough continues to wade through the piles of statistics to remain up to date with any deafness-relatedtrends throughout England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The BATOD Steering Group is nowinvestigating fine-tuning the survey to meet members’ needs and there will be a year’s gap before the nextsurvey to allow the association to look more closely at the detail and to evaluate the current data.email: secretary@BATOD.org.uk BATOD Annual report 2001 BATODWebsite: www.BATOD.org.uk 21 The Haystacks, High WycombeAnswerphone / fax 01494 464190 page 8 Bucks HP13 6PY
Page 1 and 2: The British Association of Teachers
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Page 10 and 11: With ever increasing costs and work
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Page 16 and 17: Elections to the National Executive
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Annual report 2002 - batod

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