EXECUTIVE NEWS No. 132
Teacher Trade Unionists from Iraq
The Executive gave a very warm welcome to teacher union representatives from Iraq who were on a TUC organised visit to the UK. The leader of the Iraqi delegation thanked the Executive for the support and solidarity shown by the NUT to the people of Iraq and to the teachers’ union, at a time when they were experiencing extreme difficulties. He said that they would spare no efforts as teachers in Iraq and as trade unionists to seek to ensure that there was national unity, with one country for all Iraqis. The teachers’ union would face head on without fear the issue of sectarianism and the violence that was gripping their country.
They were campaigning to make sure that there was a modern curriculum in schools, one that addressed human rights and democracy. They were concerned about women’s issues in Iraq and were campaigning for women’s rights, including within the union itself. They faced the challenge of building an independent and democratic union at the same time as campaigning for a government that respected human rights and rights to organise, free from fear and oppression. Teachers in Iraq were at the forefront of attacks because of their position as teachers and the knowledge they could give to society to secure its future health.
The General Secretary made the point that the NUT sent its solidarity greeting to colleagues in Iraq and pledged support as Conference had determined.
The Primary Education Review
The Executive agreed the NUT’s submission to the Primary Education Review. The key recommendations from the NUT were:
there should be an independent review of the Primary National Curriculum and its assessment arrangements, which should focus on giving teachers more freedom to introduce play based activities into their lessons;
school leaders must be qualified teachers and have both teaching and senior management experience in schools;
there should be an independent review of the 5-14 curriculum to put in place a framework for a common curriculum entitlement that would support pupils’ learning;
school performance tables and targets should be abolished;
equality issues should be mainstreamed;
QTS standards should give more emphasis to aspects of primary teachers’ day-to-day pastoral work and child development;
there should be legislation banning all advertising and marketing on school premises;
early years provision, designated as “education”, should be provided by a qualified teacher; and
a funding review group, to include representatives from teachers’ organisations and support staff unions, should establish a mechanism for schools and LA services based on activity led funding, costing the requirements placed on schools.
Statutory Guidance on Schools Causing Concern
The Executive agreed the NUT’s submission to the consultation on the statutory guidance. The response called for a requirement that local authority policies on intervention be published and be drawn up following consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Such policies should include early warning to schools of any concerns by the local authority. Governing bodies should be able to appeal against a warning notice with a longer deadline than the 15 days proposed.
Conference Motions and Amendments
The Executive agreed that it should be the body to decide on the constitutional legitimacy of material submitted for debate at Annual Conference.
Academies
The General Secretary drew attention to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). He highlighted omissions from the report, including the failure to address the admission policies of academies; their higher than average exclusions; and the lower percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals compared with other schools in the same area. The General Secretary referred to the Prime Minister’s goal to double the numbers of academies planned by 2010. He also referred to the NAO report identifying Excellence in the Cities as achieving better results than Academies despite the injection of much higher levels of resources in Academies.
The Executive agreed a motion on Academies and Marketisation to be promoted within TUC Regional Councils. The motion referred to the decision of Congress 2006 and called on affiliates: to support the TUC in pressing for achievement of the Chancellor’s targets for school investment; to participate actively in local anti Academy campaigns and to affiliate to the Anti Academy Alliance. The motion called for the Academies programme to be abandoned.
STRB Report
The General Secretary commented on the STRB’s re-emphasis in its latest report of dialogue with “all interested parties”. In responding the Secretary of State referred to taking forward areas of work with “partners”. There were key issues in the STRB report concerning part time teachers and the roles and responsibilities of teachers. On the definition by the Government of “partners” these discussions would not include the NUT, even though the NUT was without question an “interested party”. This issue of involvement would continue to be addressed by the NUT. It would be taken up with the TUC in relation to the motion agreed by Congress 2006 condemning “sweetheart deals”.
TUC Matters
The General Secretary reported on the success of the TUC’s campaign, much influenced by the NUT, in respect of the Sexual Orientation Regulations. He gave particular thanks to Lesley Auger, General Council member, and Tim Lucas, LGBT Committee member, for their efforts in the campaign. The recent TUC Report “Out At Work” was praised. The TUC had been attempting to organise a meeting of General Secretaries of education unions following the motion agreed by 2006 Congress on levels of education funding in the state sector compared to the private sector, which picked up on the Chancellor’s commitment. The meeting was being held up by one organisation being unavailable until the end of May.
The General Secretary reported that there was a need to press the TUC for a co-ordinated campaign on pay across the public sector, to include reference to the trigger mechanism for reviewing teachers’ pay.
There were a range of other campaigns being taken forward and supported by the NUT, including equal treatment for agency workers on which there was a Private Member’s Bill to be debated in Parliament on 2 March.
A further campaign related to the Trade Union Freedom Bill, also the subject of a Private Member’s Bill. A rally was being held prior to the debate, at which Christine Blower, NUT Deputy General Secretary, would speak.
The campaign on a Trade Union Freedom Bill would address the restrictions against industrial action over individual Academy proposals.
Further activities were planned on 3 March as part of the NHS Together campaign and these would be circulated to associations and divisions.
Developments in Wales
The General Secretary reported that the forthcoming elections in Wales had impacted on the level of activity by the Wales Assembly Government and by the Minister. The NUT would be distributing a Manifesto for Education in Wales, consistent with the Union’s policy objectives in Bringing Down the Barriers. The Manifesto would be launched at a meeting that would be addressed by the spokespersons of the main political parties in Wales, with the exception of Plaid Cymru.
TLR Action
The Executive received an up-date on TLR action. There had been 310 indicative ballots; 109 formal ballots; 93 disputes had been resolved and 17 were on-going; and there had been 2,690 strike days. There were no current plans for further days of action. Acas was involved in one dispute and another was the subject of further negotiations.
The Executive gave a very warm welcome to teacher union representatives from Iraq who were on a TUC organised visit to the UK. The leader of the Iraqi delegation thanked the Executive for the support and solidarity shown by the NUT to the people of Iraq and to the teachers’ union, at a time when they were experiencing extreme difficulties. He said that they would spare no efforts as teachers in Iraq and as trade unionists to seek to ensure that there was national unity, with one country for all Iraqis. The teachers’ union would face head on without fear the issue of sectarianism and the violence that was gripping their country.
They were campaigning to make sure that there was a modern curriculum in schools, one that addressed human rights and democracy. They were concerned about women’s issues in Iraq and were campaigning for women’s rights, including within the union itself. They faced the challenge of building an independent and democratic union at the same time as campaigning for a government that respected human rights and rights to organise, free from fear and oppression. Teachers in Iraq were at the forefront of attacks because of their position as teachers and the knowledge they could give to society to secure its future health.
The General Secretary made the point that the NUT sent its solidarity greeting to colleagues in Iraq and pledged support as Conference had determined.
The Primary Education Review
The Executive agreed the NUT’s submission to the Primary Education Review. The key recommendations from the NUT were:
there should be an independent review of the Primary National Curriculum and its assessment arrangements, which should focus on giving teachers more freedom to introduce play based activities into their lessons;
school leaders must be qualified teachers and have both teaching and senior management experience in schools;
there should be an independent review of the 5-14 curriculum to put in place a framework for a common curriculum entitlement that would support pupils’ learning;
school performance tables and targets should be abolished;
equality issues should be mainstreamed;
QTS standards should give more emphasis to aspects of primary teachers’ day-to-day pastoral work and child development;
there should be legislation banning all advertising and marketing on school premises;
early years provision, designated as “education”, should be provided by a qualified teacher; and
a funding review group, to include representatives from teachers’ organisations and support staff unions, should establish a mechanism for schools and LA services based on activity led funding, costing the requirements placed on schools.
Statutory Guidance on Schools Causing Concern
The Executive agreed the NUT’s submission to the consultation on the statutory guidance. The response called for a requirement that local authority policies on intervention be published and be drawn up following consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Such policies should include early warning to schools of any concerns by the local authority. Governing bodies should be able to appeal against a warning notice with a longer deadline than the 15 days proposed.
Conference Motions and Amendments
The Executive agreed that it should be the body to decide on the constitutional legitimacy of material submitted for debate at Annual Conference.
Academies
The General Secretary drew attention to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). He highlighted omissions from the report, including the failure to address the admission policies of academies; their higher than average exclusions; and the lower percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals compared with other schools in the same area. The General Secretary referred to the Prime Minister’s goal to double the numbers of academies planned by 2010. He also referred to the NAO report identifying Excellence in the Cities as achieving better results than Academies despite the injection of much higher levels of resources in Academies.
The Executive agreed a motion on Academies and Marketisation to be promoted within TUC Regional Councils. The motion referred to the decision of Congress 2006 and called on affiliates: to support the TUC in pressing for achievement of the Chancellor’s targets for school investment; to participate actively in local anti Academy campaigns and to affiliate to the Anti Academy Alliance. The motion called for the Academies programme to be abandoned.
STRB Report
The General Secretary commented on the STRB’s re-emphasis in its latest report of dialogue with “all interested parties”. In responding the Secretary of State referred to taking forward areas of work with “partners”. There were key issues in the STRB report concerning part time teachers and the roles and responsibilities of teachers. On the definition by the Government of “partners” these discussions would not include the NUT, even though the NUT was without question an “interested party”. This issue of involvement would continue to be addressed by the NUT. It would be taken up with the TUC in relation to the motion agreed by Congress 2006 condemning “sweetheart deals”.
TUC Matters
The General Secretary reported on the success of the TUC’s campaign, much influenced by the NUT, in respect of the Sexual Orientation Regulations. He gave particular thanks to Lesley Auger, General Council member, and Tim Lucas, LGBT Committee member, for their efforts in the campaign. The recent TUC Report “Out At Work” was praised. The TUC had been attempting to organise a meeting of General Secretaries of education unions following the motion agreed by 2006 Congress on levels of education funding in the state sector compared to the private sector, which picked up on the Chancellor’s commitment. The meeting was being held up by one organisation being unavailable until the end of May.
The General Secretary reported that there was a need to press the TUC for a co-ordinated campaign on pay across the public sector, to include reference to the trigger mechanism for reviewing teachers’ pay.
There were a range of other campaigns being taken forward and supported by the NUT, including equal treatment for agency workers on which there was a Private Member’s Bill to be debated in Parliament on 2 March.
A further campaign related to the Trade Union Freedom Bill, also the subject of a Private Member’s Bill. A rally was being held prior to the debate, at which Christine Blower, NUT Deputy General Secretary, would speak.
The campaign on a Trade Union Freedom Bill would address the restrictions against industrial action over individual Academy proposals.
Further activities were planned on 3 March as part of the NHS Together campaign and these would be circulated to associations and divisions.
Developments in Wales
The General Secretary reported that the forthcoming elections in Wales had impacted on the level of activity by the Wales Assembly Government and by the Minister. The NUT would be distributing a Manifesto for Education in Wales, consistent with the Union’s policy objectives in Bringing Down the Barriers. The Manifesto would be launched at a meeting that would be addressed by the spokespersons of the main political parties in Wales, with the exception of Plaid Cymru.
TLR Action
The Executive received an up-date on TLR action. There had been 310 indicative ballots; 109 formal ballots; 93 disputes had been resolved and 17 were on-going; and there had been 2,690 strike days. There were no current plans for further days of action. Acas was involved in one dispute and another was the subject of further negotiations.
Labels: NUT policy
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