S

I
N
S
I
D
E
J
O
B
S
ecEd
The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Issue 223 • September 17 2009 Price £1.00
www.sec-ed.com
I
I
ns
s
i
i
de

t
t
hi
i
s
s


i
i
s
s
s
s
ue
Careers guidance
Teachers back union
revolution
campaign to ban BNP
by Charles Gubert
Careers information, advice
and guidance is changing. We
Hundreds of teachers have already
discuss the approaches that
signed up to a campaign to ban
England’s local authorities
members of the British National
have taken to date, and focus Party (BNP) from serving on school
on the new government
governing bodies.
strategy in this area
The campaign was launched
Pages 14 and 15
by the NASUWT last Thursday
(September 10), and includes a
petition that will be sent to the
Department for Children, Schools
and Families. It comes four years
after the union began campaigning
to ban BNP members from becom-
ing teachers.
The new campaign carries the
threat of legal action against local
Roddis
authorities and school governing
Teen pregnancy
bodies, and the union says it may /
Nigel
seek a judicial review under the
Reducing teenage pregnancy
provisions of the Race Relations Ban the BNP: Teachers are rallying behind a campaign to get BNP members banned
Reuters
Act regarding the role of any BNP from all school roles, but some governors feel it could be difficult to implement
rates is a huge challenge
councillor serving as a governor.
Photo:
for anyone working with
The union’s general secretary,
children. We look at how one Chris Keates, branded the party Paula Roe, an English teach- He told us: “The NASUWT is members were barred from work- Ms Keates has also written to
scheme in Rochdale is helping
“vile”, and warned of the danger er at Redhill School in the West rightly concerned about the rise ing with children, they would the heads of children’s services at
to tackle the issue
it poses. Midlands, said: “I would not want of the BNP. However, the way to then be ineligible from becoming all local authorities reminding them
Page 12
The NASUWT also joined other BNP councillors on a school gov- approach this is to expose the think- governors, under the current rules of their obligations under the Race
unions on Monday (September erning body. I would be worried ing behind the issue, or in the case regarding membership of govern- Relations Act.
SecEd digital
14) at the Trades Union Congress and disturbed, and their views of the BNP, the lack of thinking.” ing bodies.” One council in the firing line
conference in Liverpool for a would not be welcome in the school However, in an interview with He added that although one of the campaign is Stoke-on-Trent,
silent vigil against racism and community.” SecEd, Mike Billington, a gover- governor may be vocal on a sin- which has six BNP members, all
and SecEd
fascism. She added: “The BNP’s views nor at South Dartmoor Community gle issue, it was unlikely that they appointed by the council, serving
Ms Keates said: “The BNP is would not be good for schools. College in Devon, said it was a dif- could change things on their own on school governing boards.
cynically using and abusing the What will happen when it comes ficult issue to tackle. since the results of discussions were A Stoke-on-Trent City Council
on Twitter
local and national democratic proc- down to issues like women teach- He told us: “You are not cur- determined by consensus. spokesman said: “We note the
ess in an attempt to promote and ers, looking at the curriculum, hir- rently able to ask someone wanting John Fairhurst, headteacher at NASUWT’s campaign and will
Thousands of teachers are
legitimise its vile agenda.” ing staff and equal opportunities? to be governor what their political Shenfield High School in Essex, an monitor its outcome.
She said it was “deeply dis- Governors have to serve schools views are and I see no reason why area targeted by the BNP, added: “All city councillors are required
reading SecEddigital, a virtual
turbing” that BNP councillors had in the best way and the BNP’s we should. How do you find out if a “People elected to the governing to sign up to the members code of
edition of SecEd, which is
been elected in a number of local policies are racist, fascist and governor is a member of the BNP? body should not be pursuing a per- conduct under which they under-
emailed out every week. authorities, and expressed concern offensive.” This campaign against BNP gover- sonal agenda – still less a party take to do nothing in their official
You can sign up for free by
that they could potentially end up Phil Revell, chief executive of nors is going to be very difficult. political one. capacity which will cause the coun-
emailing editor@sec-ed.co.uk.
on governing bodies. the National Governors’ Association “I don’t understand why the “If this problem arose in my cil to breach the equality laws.”
SecEd news and features are
SecEd spoke to a number of (NGA), highlighted that schools NASUWT is conducting two cam- school, I would hope and expect Ms Keates added: “The veil of
teachers, who echoed the union’s have a legal duty to promote equal- paigns, one against BNP mem- my governors to quickly put in their respectability the BNP seeks by
now also available on Twitter.
concerns. Many thought it would ity and community cohesion, and a bers becoming teachers and one place anyone on the board using fielding candidates in national
You can follow us at www.
be demoralising and divisive in BNP member on a school govern- against governors. They should their meetings as a party politi- and local elections should not be
twitter.com/SecEd_Education
schools, and upsetting for ethnic ing body might not be effective in focus more on trying to ban BNP cal platform – whatever party that allowed to distract people from the
0909037 NASUWT Advert:Layout 1 11/09/2009 09:56 Page 1
minority parents. pursuing those responsibilities. members from teaching. If BNP might be.” danger this organisation poses.”
NASUWT
The Teachers’ Union
The largest teachers’ union in the UK
OPPOSE
GTCE CODE
SIGN
THE
OF CONDUCT AND PRACTICE
PETITION
ONLINE AT www.nasuwt.org.uk
UK news
n
Independent thinking
n
Moral support
n
Managing ICT
n
NQT diary
n
Leadership page
n
At the chalkface
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20