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The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Issue 210 • April 23 2009 Price £1.00
www.sec-ed.com
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Carole Hagedorn is dying.
Sign up to
SecEd
Last year, after 34 years as a
digital
for free
teacher, she was diagnosed
With the launch of
SecEddigital, thousands of
with mesothelioma, the
teachers are now reading
the newspaper electronically
every Thursday. You can sign
cancer caused by exposure to
up by sending us your email
address. It is completely free
and we will not pass on your
asbestos. Ten months on and
details to third parties. Just
email editor@sec-ed.co.uk
she is still campaigning for the
removal of the deadly material
from all schools. Carole says
Celebrating great
this will save countless lives,
international links
This week sees the launch
even if, for her, it is too late.
Hakansson
Mark
of SecEd’s new fortnightly
Photo:
page dedicated to promoting
international links, which is
“It is unbelievable that so many “Everyone goes to school, and lutely essential for the vast majority schools to carefully monitor asbes-
by Chris Parr
teachers know so little about mes- children are thought to be more of secondary school staff.” tos, which we and the Health and
being produced in association
othelioma, and the risks are exacer- susceptible to the effects of asbestos In January, the Department for Safety Executive continually assess,
with the British Council. To
Most people who have had bated by the government not putting exposure than adults. The govern- Children, Schools and Families and it is unacceptable for local
celebrate, this edition has an mesothelioma as long as Carole resources into ensuring school staff ment could wipe out a huge propor- (DCSF) sent a questionnaire to authorities and school employers
array of articles focusing on
Hagedorn have died. Remarkably, are well trained. Building contrac- tion of this cancer if it set about every local authority in England not to fully comply with the statu-
international issues, with the
10 months after diagnosis, she tors are frequently finding more removing the material from schools. asking for information on how they tory guidance issued.”
new section on page 19
is still able to campaign for the asbestos in schools than they It is staggering that they have so far manage asbestos. However, both However, Chris Keates, general
complete removal of asbestos from expected, because schools simply failed to commit to this.” Ms Hagedorn and Mr Lees are secretary of the NASUWT, said that
school buildings. don’t realise how widespread the Michael Lees, a campaigner sceptical about its value. some schools and colleges were not
SEN best practice Speaking to SecEd at the National problem is,” she said. whose wife – a teacher – died from Ms Hagedorn told us: “Some taking the asbestos problem seri-
Association of Schoolmasters Union In Kent, a recent audit revealed mesothelioma after being exposed of the questions basically ask if ously, and that many local authori-
SecEd’s latest
Special
of Women Teachers’ (NASUWT) that 554 of 599 schools contained to asbestos at her school, is also the authority is complying with ties were failing to comply with
supplement,
educatio
nal annual conference last week, she the substance, while in Greater calling for better training for teach- legal requirements. If the questions their statutory responsibilities.
n
published
eeds
told us: “I consider myself very Manchester the figure is 903 out of ers and heads. are answered negatively, then the “There is no safe level of expo-
SEN: A developing agenda
free with this
lucky to be well enough to speak 1,043 schools. He told SecEd: “The lack of authority is basically admitting to sure to asbestos and a long-term
edition, offers
about my illness, as many who have Ms Hagedorn is also critical compulsory asbestos training for breaking the law, which they are strategy for the complete removal
had it as long as I have are either of how mesothelioma deaths are schools is an integral flaw in cur- never going to do. The survey sim- of asbestos from all buildings used
a wealth of
dead, or too sick to campaign.” recorded, claiming that the figures rent government policy. So many ply won’t have the desired results.” for educational purposes must be
advice and
Mesothelioma takes between do not accurately reflect the number headteachers are not even aware of Mr Lees added: “The only way the goal,” she said.
guidance on Se
cEd
three and 18 months to claim the of people exposed at school, either the risks, and if the school building to get an accurate and honest pic- Last Thursday (April 16), Ms
01 copy 3.indd 1
31/3/09 16:09:57
SEN. It has
sufferer’s life, and is incurable. as students or as part of their work. manager isn’t doing a good job, ture of the situation in schools is to Hagedorn received a standing ova-
been produced in association
Ms Hagedorn, 58, is calling for “The latency period for the cancer then the potential for widespread visit them.” tion after speaking to delegates at
with the NASUWT union and
better asbestos management train- can be anything between 10 and 50 exposure is huge. A DCSF spokesman denied that the union’s annual conference sup-
ing for secondary school staff, and years, so even though initial expo- “Any school built before 2000 the questions were phrased in a way porting a motion calling for the
can be downloaded free at
feels that the number of teachers at sure will frequently happen when at could contain asbestos, and those that would skew results. complete removal of asbestos from
www.sec-ed.co.uk
risk is being hugely underestimated school, the current occupation is what built before the early 90s almost cer- He added: “By law, tough, schools by 2012. The motion was
by government. gets recorded on the death certificate. tainly do, so proper training is abso- robust processes must be in place in passed.
Wednesday 10th June, Radisson Edwardian, Manchester
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Platforms Conference 2009
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