October 2009
Kevin Courtney elected Deputy General Secretary
Ballot to stop SATs goes ahead
Christine Blower comments on Michael Gove’s speech
Gordon Brown speech at the Labour Party Conference
8 OCTOBER 2009
EXCLUSIONS
Commenting on the latest DCSF statistical release on exclusions in England, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said; "It is always preferable for a child to be taught at school, so while no school wants to permanently exclude, sometimes it is essential in order to protect children and staff. The Government has continually enforced the message of the importance of reducing, to a minimum, exclusion in maintained schools. As a result of this pressure, schools have sometimes kept children on roll without the support that the school and the individual would need.
"The findings of the latest DCSF statistics on exclusions show that Academies are twice as likely to permanently exclude pupils as other schools. This is an indictment of the preferential treatment which Government gives Academies. While a high exclusion rate for maintained schools is something the Government disapproves of, Academies have been given carte blanche to do as they please.
“There is no indication that Academies take on twice as many ‘difficult’ children as maintained schools, so the fact that the Government allows Academies to get away with excluding twice as many pupils is astounding. We would be very concerned if exclusions from Academies were of children and young people who might depress the exam results at those institutions.
“There needs to be a level playing field for all schools. The Government needs to establish a consistent and supportive policy on exclusions for all schools, including Academies. This policy needs also to address the high level of exclusion of pupils with special education needs.”
For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4706 or 07879480061
18 September 2009
THOUSANDS SIGN NUT & NAHT PETITION TO END SATS
The NUT and NAHT’s national campaign calling on the Government to get rid of Key Stage 2 testing has gained a great deal of interest and support. People from all walks of life who have seen the damaging effect SATs have on the education of our children have joined our campaign. 10,000 people have now signed the NUT and NAHT’s petition calling on the Government to end SATs.*
Michael Rosen, former children’s laureate, has spoken in this month’s NUT Teacher magazine, giving his backing to our campaign. His message to Government is, “Abolish SATs - they're utterly useless and they drive children, teachers and parents nuts”.**
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union, said;
“SATs are bad for education, bad for children and bad for teachers. They encourage teaching to the test, a narrowing of the curriculum and the unfair and misleading system of league tables.
“Getting so many people signing our petition is a clear indication that we are not alone in our concern about the detrimental effects that SATs have on our education system. I urge Ed Balls to listen to the many voices that agree with us that we must see an end to SATs.”
Mick Brookes, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said:
“Our members were very clear about what they wanted - a positive change to the assessment arrangements in Year 6 that will result in schools being held to account for the broad sweep of achievements across the whole school.
“We are determined that this year top primary pupils will receive a broad and balanced curriculum, unhindered by the mind-numbing rehearsal of past SATs papers, and that league tables are either abolished or at the very least become an irrelevance.”
For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4707 or 07879480061
Editor’s
Note
* The petition can be found here: http://www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=4648
**The full interview with Michael Rosen is above
This section contains valuable resources such as guidance on induction, working time duties, eduction and the law, and cyberbullying in schools.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR TEACHER COVER SEPTEMBER 2009.doc
CHARGING FOR SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES.doc
Cyberbullying supporting school staff.pdf
Education the law and
you.pdf
Fixed-Term and
Temporary Contracts.pdf
GUIDANCE COMPULSORY RETIREMENTS FROM AGE 65.doc
Induction
for newly qualified teachers.pdf
Infectious diseases
in schools.pdf
PART TIME TEACHERS NUT calculator - worked example.xls
PART TIME TEACHERS NUT Guidance September 2008.doc
Rarely Cover
Implementation Process.pdf
The Threshold
Process in 200910.doc
WOMENS HEALTH and
SAFETY.doc
WORKING TIME &
DUTIES-NUT GUIDE.doc