Executive Report: December 2009

The National Executive met on 10th December.

Christine Blower started by reflecting on the pre-budget statement- in particular the statement that he intended to ensure a public sector limit of 1% from 2010, and that there would be a “cap” on government contributions to public sector (ie. Teachers’) pensions.

There was a positive in comments made by the Chancellor about meeting targets on Child Poverty- which remains a strong campaigning priority for the Union.

The TUC Public Sector Liaison Group will produce a leaflet on the impact of the pensions announcement- it is likely that the TUC will have to launch a significant campaign around this.

The SATS campaign:

Christine was bemused by an article in the Guardian claiming that the NUT is facing “an embarrassing u-turn” based on the turnout figure in the indicative ballot of 25%. However, of course, the vote for the boycott (75%) is overwhelming- as indeed it was from the NAHT. This is the biggest test of teachers opinions on the SATS- and, on the first question around whether members wanted to see the tests ended, the Yes vote was 95%- similar to the answer to that question for NAHT again. 25% is a good return rate for, what was in effect a membership survey, and is the basis for building a higher turnout in a formal ballot for action.

Christine was disappointed that the story was leaked: she had been clear that there would be no announcement until the executive had met. It was interesting that the Guardian had made no mention of the NAHT figures (where turnout was higher) and that they had drawn the conclusions they had. Christine pointed out that the Labour government was elected on less than 25% of their possible electorate !

The Stop SATS petition is now well over 30,000, and the Licence to Teach postcard campaign continues to mount, with thousands of cards received. Stories for the OfSTED campaign also come in, please continue to share your horror stories.

Christine praised the Early Day Motion in Parliament about equal treatment of agency workers, with a particular focus on the impact upon supply colleagues- the proposed regulations from Government do not offer any protection when a break in service occurs.

A question was asked about action on OfSTED. Christine confirmed that a boycott or similar of OfSTED inspection would be a criminal offence. We will, however, promote detailed advice to members about the inspections, what is and is not acceptable, and the phone number for official complaints.

Christine noted that Michael Gove of the Conservative Party had spoken to us, and David Laws of the Lib Dems was prepared to do the same. We have asked the Labour Party three times to come and speak to the executive in the same vein, but had still had no response.

Motions for Annual Conference 2010 are now in, and associations and divisions are urged to vote in the priority ballot to decide which will be on the final agenda.

EEPD Committee: Accreditation of Academy Sponsors

The union discussed our formal response to the government’s consultation on Accreditation of School Providers and School Groups, and Academy Sponsor Selection. The Government’s document can be read at the DCSF site here. In the committee we discussed the need to emphasise our opposition to Academies in principle, and not to allow the debate to be distorted by the new focus on educational institutions and other groups as sponsors.

It was agreed to challenge the involvement of the Co-Operative Group in what is, in effect, the privatization of education. I noted (as an active co-operator) that the Co-Operative Group (the high street business) does not represent the whole of the co-operative movement, and many other co-operators view the current development of Academies and Trusts with horror !

The document was formally approved by the Full Executive, and will be published shortly- I will post a link to the full text as soon as it is available.

EEPD Committee: Early Years Funding Formula

There was a discussion around the implication of the delay of the Early Years funding formula. The Minister, Dawn Primarolo has claimed that this has been delayed because Local Authorities were not ready. It was agreed that we will issue detailed guidance to local associations and divisions as a matter of some urgency. I will post these here ass soon as they are received.

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EEPD: Race Advisory Report

The committee had met in October and had discussed a number of issues including the Anthony Walker Memorial Lecture, which was held on 23rd October in Liverpool, the arrangements for the NUT Black Teachers’ Conference which took place on 6-8th November at Stoke Rochford (further reports to come), Holocaust Memorial Day, and the implications of the Union’s policy document on White Working Class Pupil achievement. In particular, the committee had noted that many of the issues arising from this were relating from poor economic conditions, unemployment etc. and affected both genders across most ethnic groups.

The committee agreed to send a motion to the TUC Black Workers’ Committee, entitled Black Workers and Public Sector Spending, which called for equality impact assessments to be made of the cuts planned by current and future governments, and supporting networking of black workers seeking to resist cuts in their industries.

EEPD Gender Advisory Report

The Gender Advisory Committee had met in October, and the executive agreed to the recommendations from the committee to produce materials to celebrate International Women’s Day 2010, and also the principle that the NUT motion to next year’s Women’s TUC should focus on the potential impact of school-based activities on violence against women.

The full Executive elected Kendra Deacon, Julie Lyon-Taylor, Judy Moorhouse and Veronica Pepiatt as the Union’s delegates to TUC Women’s Conference, which will be held in Eastbourne (I will be available as “tour guide” to NUT colleagues at this event !) They will be joined by representatives elected by the regions.

EEPD Committee: Consultation on "National Commissioning Framework"

The Government, via the Learning and Schools Council and others, is seeking views on a National Commissioning Framework for three sectors:

• Young people 16-19,
• Those ages 19-25 for whom a learning difficulty assessment is in place; and
• Education and training for children and young people aged 10-18 in youth custody.

The Union will be debating its response to this consultation at the next meeting, given the February deadline. However, you can read the full consultation document here, and I would welcome any comments.

EEPD Committee: NUT Leadership Convention

The committee considered the report from the National Leadership Convention, which took place on 15th October, with a number of Head Teacher, Deputy Head and other Leadership Group NUT members.

Delegates widely welcomed the Rose Review into the Primary Curriculum, and one delegate noted that the new primary curriculum for 2011 would be “less prescriptive and more creative.” 12% welcomed the introduction of APP, although we recognize that the implementation of this is going to produce a wide difference of opinion ! There was general support for the ending of SATS.

Unsurprisingly, the new OfSTED framework came in for the highest level of criticism, with a delegate noting that “shifting the goalposts again would make it harder to be seen to be doing well.” The handling of safeguarding issues was a concern, and another delegate noted that there was a “renewed focus on attainment rather than achievement.”

Half of the delegates present opposed the proposal by government to introduce the so-called “School Report Card”.

The evaluation showed that the participants welcomed the wide range of support offered by the NUT, including the high-quality CPD programme, but felt that more support could be focused to newly appointed head teachers. More information on current updated affecting Leadership group, including how to manage competence proceedings fairly, was also suggested.

EEPD Committee: Cambridge Primary Review

Discussion reflected disappointment and anger at the Government’s dismissal of the conclusions of the review.

Media response was a disappointment- especially as they had seized on the idea of “not starting school till six”, which is not what the review recommends.

Christine Hood recounted a story of Finnish visiting teachers in her area being shocked to see rubber devices to support foundation age children in holding a pencil: their response was "if they can’t hold a pencil at their current developmental stage, don’t make them !"

Goronwy Jones, who is a primary head teacher in Wales noted that the Welsh foundation stage runs to 7 years old, and builds around the concept of children learning through play. It was well funded at the moment, including 5 days additional training for teachers; a really exciting project, which he felt could develop as a world leader.

John Bangs warned against using the terms “formal” and “informal” education- this is distorted and twisted to suggest a choice between children sitting in rows and standing up for visitors, or “diddling about in the sandpit” We need to look at how children learn.

You can read the summary of the Cambridge Report online here

O+M Committee: Spring Term Training

The national training programme is, as always, comprehensive and exciting for the Spring Term.

As well as the usual Representatives courses- both School Reps and Health and Safety Reps (both essential, and attracting paid time off from work) and also the Teachers as Governors, Stress and Wellbeing and Student/NQT courses.



The popular Love Music Hate Racism course, combining DJ skills with practical anti-racism campaigning will run again on January 29th-31st, targeted at Young Teacher members.


You can find more information about these courses and book online by clicking here.

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O+M Committee: Badge Yourself !

The union will be launching new badges with the “oblong” logo- for school reps, health and safety reps and learning reps. These will be on sale on Hearth in the new year: I hope that Associations will consider a bulk purchase of these, and distributing these to their known reps: let’s make our representatives proud and visible !

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Absence Management in East Sussex

I have been asked, on behalf of the recognised teacher trade unions, to make contributions to a review of the County's Attendance Management Policy.

The East Sussex NUT does not endorse the provisions of the existing policy, which we believe is inflexible, unnecessarily punitive and, in extreme circumstances, exists as a tool to sack teachers who are sick, regardless of their long-term prognosis ! We also believe that the inflexible short-term absence provisions (such as the automatic meetings where a member has been absent on three occasions in six months, regardless of circumstances) are bureaucratic and stressful, and often vaguely insulting to our members’ professionalism and head teachers’ judgement

I do not anticipate that East Sussex will greatly modify the existing scope of the policy, nor do I think that as a result of the review that we or the other trade unions will want to formally endorse the policy. However, I welcome the opportunity to argue for revisions and modifications that may improve the policy, and perhaps even inject some compassion and common sense (here’s hoping…)

If you are not familiar with the East Sussex Attendance Management Policy in its current form, you can read it online by clicking here.

I would welcome comments from NUT members in East Sussex about what the union's priorities should be in seeking revisions to the policy. I would also be interested to hear from any colleagues from other authorities if they have secured improvements or changes to their local authority policy.

NUT Training Success in East Sussex

I was involved in running two training events in East Sussex last month- demonstrating how the Union has a role in providing high-quality and teacher focused CPD.

On 14th November, we hosted a Supply Teachers Training Morning, with renowned behaviour management specialist Paul Howard. 15 supply colleagues took part in two sessions with Paul, and also discussed what a Supply Teachers' Charter for the local area might look like. We hope to develop this over the coming weeks.

On 28th November we held a training on LGBT History Month and Tackling Homophobia in Schools. I was joined by Elly Barnes of Stoke Newington School, in presenting a range of ideas, both about how we can celebrate diversity in schools, and ways of tackling the ongoing problems of homophobia.