LGBT Teachers' Conference

I was proud to chair the union’s annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Teachers’ Conference on Saturday 10th October at Hamilton House. Around 50 delegates from across the country joined us.

The conference was opened by National President, Martin Reed, who paid tribute to the work of the Equalities conferences and the LGBT Committee: he recalled how far the union has come since LGB issues shot to the fore at the infamous Jersey Conference of 1983.

Award-winning journalist Johann Hari was the keynote speaker in the morning- talking about his research into LGBT students experiences at school, and also his international work. There was a lively question and answer session following this.

Delegates then attended a range of workshops including the Primary Curriculum, and Trans experiences.

After lunch, we were again entertained by the superb Rainbow Chorus from Brighton, who were introduced by General Secretary Christine Blower.

Jeff Evans from Oldham gave a superb presentation about the work his local association have undertaken, in conjunction with their local authority, on the prevalence of homophobia in schools. Jeff’s work has inspired a number of other local NUT associations to carry out similar studies, and use them to influence policy in their local schools.

David Watkins gave a short presentation on ADay In Hand project, which encourages same-sex hand holding as a visible demonstration of LGBT presence. Hundreds of people, LGBT and straight have participated, and posted their photos on the website. Conference praised the development of this project, which has grown in only six months.

Sue Sanders again reminded delegates about LGBT History Month, and encouraged local NUT associations and schools to get involved. More information can be found on the website. NUT Associations are also encouraged to affiliate to Schools Out

The final session of Conference was given over to debating our motion to NUT National Conference. The motion proposed by Jeff Evans was wide ranging and brought in a number of issues around tackling homophobia and developing training strategies within the Union.

Assistant Secretary for Education, John Bangs wrapped up the conference, with some reflections on current education policy. A good and productive conference was enjoyed by all participants: watch out in the next issue of The Teacher for pictures.

Executive Meeting: October 2009

The full Executive met on October 9th.

Christine Blower reported that the union had been on the road since we last met- with a highly visible and engaged presence at the TUC Congress and the three political party conferences.

Christine praised the quality of our delegation to the TUC (thank you !) and particularly the number of NUT delegates who spoke in the debates. She regretted that our motion on the economic crisis and protecting public services had been opposed by the General Council and subsequently lost: especially as Congress had passed similar motions to defend pensions earlier in the Congress.

Christine again identified our support for the One Goal campaign, run by the Global Campaign for Education, which we promoted at a joint fringe meeting at TUC alongside NASUWT, ATL, the EIS and UCU.

The Union was present at all three major political conferences (Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat) and we were pleased to collect hundreds of signatures on the End SATS petition. At all three conferences we hosted joint fringe meetings with our sister union the Univeristy and Colleges Union. Some points of agreement on policy were reached at all three conferences (Michael Gove for the Tories is supportive of the concept of a Qualified Teacher in front of every class, although the evidence from his favoured academy providers would seem to put that belief in jeapordy.) At the Labour Party conference we also took part in the lobby and demonstration on youth unemployment, where National President Martin Reed spoke.

Christine commented on the recent Women Chainmakers Festival, supported by the TUC and our Union, and at which she was one of the main speakers. She particularly commended the supporting book, which is a useful resource for schools, and can be ordered here. She confirmed that next year’s event will be a two day festival.

On the SATS campaign, Christine reported that, as demanded by the last Executive meeting, there were now two campaign newspapers available: one aimed at teachers and one for the general public. The meeting later formally approved the arrangements for a consultative ballot of members to take place later this term: this will help us gauge the strength of support from the membership for a boycott.

Christine also reminded us that we are building our opposition to the new OfSTED inspection framework- and we are particularly keen to hear your horror stories about inspections under the new regime- comic or tragic (these can be annonymised if needs be !)

Elsewhere in the meeting, the Executive discussed the response to the Sure Start Children’s Centre consultation (online shortly), the role that the SERTUC should or should not play on Boris Johnson’s academy project, and arrangements for Annual Conference (including the charges and arrangements for exhibitors, and whether the video tribute to nationally-known activists who have passed on should be retained- answer was yes !)

Members were encouraged to promote the Union’s conference and hotel facility at Stoke Rochford Hall- both as a venue for short breaks and also as a meeting/conference facility. There is a special package available for Associations or Divisions of the Union.

The final item of business was a general motion, seconded by me, on the issue of trade union support for the campaigns agaonst climate change- particularly The Wave being promoted by the Stop Climate Chaos coallition of groups and charities in December.

EEPD Committee: "School Report" Card

The Government has proposed adapting a policy from New York, where all schools produce a "School Report Card" with a range of data about the school.

While any move that could speed up the end of divisive and damaging league tables should be welcomed, this is not it. Labour, Tory and Lib Dem spokesmen have committed their parties to retaining league tables, and the bureaucracy which goes with them. Earlier this year, when Ed Balls first announced the proposal, Christine Blower commented:-

"I am at a loss to understand what purpose the proposed School Report Card serves, or what problem it solves. It feels and looks like an unnecessary piece of bureaucracy, particularly for primary schools which still have to put up with an unchanged testing regime.
In addition, Ofsted is already in place. Perhaps if the report card replaced Ofsted, teachers might view it in a different light. I have yet to hear ministers proposing the abolition of their inspection regime.”

The committee received more detail of the proposal, and I have to admit there is very little in it that changes my mind, or suggests that Christine's initial reaction was wrong !

EEPD Committee: Licence to Teach

The controversial "Licence to Teach" proposals were discussed at some length at the Education committee.

The government is proposing a system of 5-year licences to practice for all teachers. They will then have to demonstrate that they have undertaken a certain amount of CPD and training in order to renew their licence.

The NASUWT have welcomed the proposal, stating that they believe it will raise the professional status of teachers.

I, and most of the NUT executive disagree. Teachers already have several tiers of regulation- not least the GTC, with which we all have to register and pay. Teachers' abilities are already over-scrutinised with Performance Management, punitive new OfSTED frameworks, and the worrying increase in the use (abuse?) of Competency Procedures.

I believe that the Licence to Teach is at best an unnecessary and bureaucratic additional level of regulation. At worst it could become a Bullies' Charter for unscrupulous Heads to attack colleagues: possibly giving them a swifter route to ending a teacher's career than the existing procedures. Far from enhancing teachers' professionalism (as NASUWT claim) it damages perception of the teaching profession as another drip-feed suggestion that teachers somehow aren't good enough and need another initiative to make us do our job properly.

There was a full and frank debate about the union's initial response to the proposals, which had focused on the need for an entitlement to funded CPD. I had worried at the time, like many executive colleagues, that this gave the impression that we were OK with the idea of Licencing, as long as it came with a CPD allowance. This is far from the case.

I believed that we should be seen to oppose the Licence to Teach unconditionally. This has been affirmed by the committee as the policy position of the Union, and materials have already been reprinted to strengthen this position. A postcard campaign has been launched and copies will be sent to all members in the November edition of The Teacher. Please complete your (freepost) card when you receive it !

General Election Strategy Committee

The first meeting of the General Election Strategy Committee started to formulate the union's response to the forthcoming election campaign.

NUT is, and always has been, party politically independent. We do not endorse or support any political party. However, it is important, especially during the campaign, that we press all candidates and parties over their education and public service commitments, and seek to promote the policies of the Union.

NUT is registered with the Electoral Commission as a "third party" which means that we can legitimately campaign during a General Election campaign- this means that local associations and divisions can undertake activity such as holding election hustings and lobbying candidates.

The Union's political fund was set up last year to enable us to campaign specifically against the BNP and other far-right parties. Any material produced by the union or by local associations which campaigns against BNP candidates will need to be paid for from political fund money only. More guidance will be available to associations and divisions when the Election is called.

Christine Blower reported to the committe about the success of the fringe meetings on public services held at all three major political party conferences, as well as an additional Anti-Academies Alliance meeting at the Labour Party. We had also hosted our popular fish and chip reception at all conferences, which gave us a chance to network with many delegates from across the country.

We have also launched our "pledge card" on education policy with our sister union UCU. This contains a number of broad based campaign objectives that will form the basis of our lobbying in the run up to the election. Copies of the card were distributed at the party conferences and the TUC.

Jazz at the NUT Fringe

The NUT fish and chip supper is a highlight for many delegates at the three main political party conferences. The Union always has a high profile presence at these three conferences, and the fish and chip reception is always well attended.

I was pleased to attend this NUT event at Labour Party conference in Brighton last week, alongside National Vice-President Gill Goodswen and General Secretary Christine Blower. Over 200 delegates and visitors joined us, including schools minister Vernon Coaker. The entertainment is always first-class, and provided via the Union's long standing relationship with Music for Youth.

This year, delegates at the Labour event were wowed by the trad jazz sounds of the Dixie Kings from Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford. No film was taken of their fantastic performance at this event, unfortunately, but the video below of an earlier gig will give you a taste of the superb entertainment they provided !