Conferece Diary: Monday 13th April

A busy conference day- opening with a debate on defending Pupil Referral Units- currently facing mass privatisation. Delegates spoke of the importance of these facilities to reintegration, and also spoke with alarm about the rapid rise in exclusions in recent years (from 1,500 to 13,500) and the disproportionate number of Afro-Caribbean students facing permanent exclusion (three times as likely) Conference also agreed to hold an event in the summer: a conference entitled Halting Mass Exclusions: The Role of PRUs in Mainstream Education.

The economic debate was, as always well argued, and it was pleasing that there was some healthy dissent. The motions on teachers salary reaffirmed current policy seeking a 10% increase (needed to counteract the effective pay cuts in recent years and raise salaries to levels of equivalent graduate professions) I was disappointed, however, that an amendment from Essex was not reached, that called for a wide ranging consultation with members to determine if our current Pay Policy was still “fit for purpose” especially as it does not reflect the situation with TLR and the end of safeguarding.

The Primary Education debate saw calls for a Primary Workforce Classroom Protocol, seeking to ensure that, while we welcome and value the work of teaching assistants, we oppose their use to cover classes for PPA etc. In the words of their union Unison: teachers teach, support staff support. The Early Years motion reaffirmed the importance of the foundation stage as a specialism, and the need to defend foundation teachers’ conditions, particularly with the advent of Children’s’ Centres- foundation stage is about teaching and not just childcare ! There was also a brilliant speech, earning a standing ovation, from a foundation teacher from Wakefield, talking about the absurd demands of assessment in that stage.

I got to make my first and only speech of Conference in the equalities debate, moving the motion from the LGBT Conference on LGBT Rights- particularly focusing on the need to mobilize against the BNP in the June elections. The NUT, rightly, is non-Party political, but the message needs to be clearly sent out: use your vote, and don’t vote for racist or fascist parties.

In the same section of debate, Conference also voted to set up a black teachers network- noting that it was 19 years ago that the Conference passed the Black Teachers Memorandum.

In the evening I was privileged to attend the Executive Dinner, where we are joined by the staff of the union, past Presidents and special guests such as former General Secretary Fred Jarvis. After dinner, the President thanked three retiring staff or exec members: Robert Wilkinson, who recently stood down from the national executive, Barry Fawcett, who served the union for 37 years- mostly in the Salaries and Superannuation department rising to national secretary, and Arthur Jarman, another 30-plus year servant, who was in charge of Membership and Communications. All three kept us entertained.... !

Conference Diary: Sunday 12th April

A “half day” session of conference, giving us Easter Sunday afternoon to explore the sights of Cardiff (and the pub…)

Conference started with debates in the Employment Conditions and Rights section. There was a reference back on the issue of the GTC registration fee, followed by the adoption of the work of the Teacher Mental Health Working Party. This endorsed seven recommendations, including the dissemination of good practice (especially the Crazy About Work study by former NUT President John Illingworth) and role of Ofsted, Support for Head Teachers, and setting out priorities for work in 2009 and beyond.

The debate on Workload was a well argued session. The main motion sought to reaffirm the union’s commitment to a Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom, and the defence of our supply teacher members. However, there were differing opinions as to whether the Union should engage in negotiation to set limits on how cover supervisors should be engaged in those schools that have followed that route. Some delegates argued that any such discussion would dilute our principled position of not accepting any use of staff other than qualified teachers for whole classes.

In the debate, the Executive amendment sought to set national limits of a maximum three days absence in secondary schools and one in primary that could be covered by a non-teacher. Speakers from all of the main organised groups in conference spoke for what we saw as the pragmatic position: at the moment schools are using Cover Supervisors widely and indiscriminately, and we need national guidance about how we can restrict this, and prevent the further encroachment into teachers’ duties. There was also concern about the implied attack on Unison and GMB colleagues who are already employed. Conference eventually voted by a clear majority to endorse the proposal for Union guidance on maximum limits on non-teaching cover, while reiterating our principle of only qualified teachers covering classes.

The session ended with a presentation of the latest Global Campaign for Education video.

I was pleased to join the LGBT Teachers reception in the evening, which saw attendance of national President Martin Reed, who praised the long contribution made to the cause by my predecessor Tim Lucas, and the work of the LGBT working party. The meeting was followed by a fringe meeting hosted by Oldham NUT which spoke of their projects to tackle homophobia in Oldham schools- including a speech from the Cabinet Member from Oldham council, outlining how the authority has engaged in this project.

Conference Diary: Saturday 11th April

BOYCOTT THE SATS: UNANIMOUS !

Conference took the historic decision to ballot, along with the National Association of Head Teachers, to boycott Key Stage 2 SATS. Following the government's decision to abolish the tests for Key Stage 3, delegates were determined to bring about the end of the damaging and divisive tests that have for so long blighted the teaching of a broad and balanced curriculum for our 11 year olds.

In a passionate debate, primary colleagues told of the stress and angst felt by children and the culture of "Teach to the Test" in schools. Former president John Illingworth recalled his first anti-SATs speech to conference in the early 1990's, while executive member Eddie Ritson spoke about the effect on his own daughter, who was also in the last year to take the KS3 tests. A unanimous vote for the motion was greeted by a jubilant standing ovation.

The motion will be debated in its identical form at the NAHT Conference in May.

Conference had kicked off, as traditional, with the speech from the incoming President: in this case Martin Reed.

In a thoughtful speech, Martin dwelt on the theme of education as a liberator, as a right and expectation for all children- drawing on his own experience as a miner's son from Wales.

Martin drew attention to the threat from both current government policy and the spectre of a Conservative government, with the agenda to complete privatisations and the destruction of local authority influences and the undermining of teachers national pay. He spoke about the campaign to end the SATS, and league tables.

The full text of Martin's speech is published as a pamphlet, and will be available from the Union. I shall take some copies to be available at local associations.

Conference debated support for local officers, and in a keenly fought debate, passed a motion seeking to increase the number of full time Regional Officers.

Our continuing opposition to Academies was restated, and there were further motions condemning SATs and the related League tables.

There were two "references back" to paragraphs in the Annual Report. The first was concerned about the Union's role in the National Governors' Association, with particular reference to the trend of governing bodies refusal to uphold appeals on behalf of members, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. In a surprise vote, Conference agreed to refer this back to the Executive.

The reference back on the issue of reserved places for LGBT and Disabled workers (in the name of the Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden Association) was also animated, with my predecessor Tim Lucas giving a measured and considered speech. However, Roger King and Mick Lerry of the executive both spelt out the difficulties in implementing LGBT/Disabled places for the next executive cycle, but acknowledged the lack of progress with regret, and re-iterated the union's commitment to achieving the places for the 2012 cycle. The reference back was defeated, although there was significant support from across conference delegates.

A highlight of the day was a speech from the Kevin Nolan, the Unite Convener at Visteon- a former Ford company, where workers had gone into occupation to save jobs that were to be lost (with just minutes notice !) Visteon staff had been guaranteed protected pay and pensions when they transferred from Fords a few years ago: promises that appear not to have been worth the paper on which they were written. A collection of over £1,000 was taken for the strike fund.

The day concluded with the private session of Conference to approve the accounts of the Union and to ask questions to the Treasurer. We also received the accounts and report from the board of Stoke Rochford Hall- now restored to its former glory after the fire, and working to rebuild the base of clients particularly from the trade union sector.

Conference Diary: Friday 10th April

Friday morning began with the Special Executive, to approve the membership offer for NQT (£1 for four terms) that will be officially launched at Conference. We also debated the Executive recommendation for certain motions- including whether attitude should change to the “Main” Motions if certain amendments were or were not carried.

Conference was opened by outgoing President Bill Greenshields, who then installed the new President Martin Reed (pictured) to chair the conference. John Holmes of the Executive proposed a vote of thanks for Bill's contributions over the year, noting his commitment to unity, solidarity and internationalism.

Bill responded in turn by paying tribute to the late Steve Sinnott, as a unifier and a campaigner: an untimely and sorely missed loss to the union and to Education. Bill recalled how proud he was to have led the Pay Campaign action in April: it was necessary and right, and allowed us to build alliances across the public sector unions, such as PCS and UCU. Bill was also proud that, during his presidency, we hosted our joint conference with NAHT on assessment, which looks as if it will form the basis of a joint boycott of the KS2 tests: "Finally we'll end this child abuse !"

A number of guests addressed the first session of Conference: Ronnie Smith brought fraternal greetings from Scotland's largest teachers union the EIS, while Jane Hutt, Welsh Assembly member highlighted the new curriculum, and reminded us "there are no SATs in Wales !"

Anne Wass, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Union brought international greetings, and emphasised how pleased she was that Barak Obama is now President- "inspiring our hopes rather than playing to our fears !"

Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students also paid tribute to Steve Sinnott, and told us of the great pride he takes in the strong campaigning relationship between NUS and NUT. There is considerable common ground, as the NUS is constantly forced to campaign against the marketisation of Higher Education. Wes also urged us to take the fight to the fascist BNP ("modern day Nazis") in the forthcoming election period. Jessie Seal also addressed conference on behalf of the English Secondary Students Association.

Fiona Millar was unable to attend to receive the Fred and Anne Jarvis award for her services to education- especially in her work campaigning for a good local comprehensive school for every child, and against Academies. The award will be presented at the Union's National Education Conference in the summer.

The session ended with tributes to those who have been lost from the union family this past year, including: Steve Sinnott, Max Morris, Bill Anderson, Gordon Green and others. Martin Reed noted that, while they are gone, they are never lost, as they are part of the history that shapes the Union today.

More tomorrow...

(Pre) Conference Diary: Thursday 9th April

No formal business today- as Conference doesn’t begin until tomorrow afternoon (earlier for those of us on the Exec- as the first of several Special Exec. meetings start the ball rolling tomorrow.)

So- what can we expect this Conference weekend ? Predictions…

• The proposed NUT/NAHT joint motion on a boycott of Key Stage 2 SATS will certainly get overwhelming backing from our conference: it will then need to do the same at the NAHT gathering in May. If NAHT can deliver then we are in a pretty strong position to wave goodbye to the spectre of the divisive and damaging Y6 “teaching to test” culture.


• The economic climate means that Workload will replace pay as the big “industrial” issue of this conference. There are always motions from a particular “wing” of the union’s political spectrum that end with demands for “action up to and including strike action…” While our members are never a pushover, the ballot last year showed that members are reluctant to use the ultimate sanction of national action without all other avenues being first exhausted. Watch out for this theme to recur a number of times when Conference considers the issue of asking teachers to take formal action.


• Prepare for another mini punch-up on Faith Schools: Brent and Leicester again pushing conference to take an abolitionist view. Last year we made the front page of the Daily Express over a Faith Schools motion that didn’t actually get debated by Conference(it was out of time: but never have the Daily Express let the truth get in the way of a good story...see opposite !) The Executive amendment seeks to endorse the excellent work done by the Faith Schools working group in the union, recognising the reality of the structures we have, and seeks to work within them to promote equality and diversity. Expect this position to prevail…. Although who knows ?


• Finally, the Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden Association has a “reference back” on the executive report that questions why, more than 5 years after Conference agreed to initiate additional places on the executive to speak for black, disabled and lesbian, gay or bisexual teachers, the Black Teachers place is to go ahead, while the LGBT and disabled places are to remain in abeyance with the “aim” to introduce these for 2012. Should there be a hierarchy of equalities in our union ?? Watch out for a hearty debate !

On a personal note, a very pleasant Italian meal was followed by much networking (and, if I’m honest, good old social fun) at the NUT Staff function. Tut-tut, you may say, but remember what all work and no play did to Jack……

More tomorrow !

Support Park College NUT Members

NUT members at Park College took one-day strike action recently, in defence of their Sixth Form Teachers' Pay and Conditions. Park College was taken over by Sussex Downs College Corporation in 2003, and staff have been resisting attempts to undermine their pay and conditions, and to keep the identity and ethos of this popular and successful Sixth Form College in Eastbourne.

I am pictured opposite on the picket line with members including John Purcell, who started his career at the college in it's previous incarnation as the Eastbourne Grammar School as a Latin teacher: hence the unusual placard (translation provided !)

Please visit the Park College Campaign Site to read more about this important campaign. You can also join the Facebook group here.