NEWS
Fee increase of £3.50
Teachers
to be better
approved by minister
trained to
spot signs
of abuse
by Chris Parr
GTCE, which would have seen the static for the last four years but, in Chris Keates, general secretary Teachers are to be better trained
fee rise to £39, and is in line with common with many organisations, of the NASUWT union, said she felt to spot signs that girls in their
inflation over the last four years. cost pressures have increased. the GTCE spent too much money class may be victims of abuse
An increase in the annual registration Last year, a request to increase the “Those pressures have now on “expensive pet projects”. or violence, ministers have
fee charged by the General Teaching fee was turned down outright by reached the point where we need to She added: “We welcome the announced.
Council for England (GTCE) has Mr Balls. secure sufficient income so that we fact that the secretary of state has The government has accepted
been approved by Ed Balls, the Keith Bartley, chief executive can continue our work on behalf of turned down the excessive 18 per all of the recommendations made
secretary of state for children, of the GTCE, said that the increase the public in upholding professional cent fee increase claimed by the by the Violence Against Women
schools and families. was required in order to cope with standards for teaching.” Council, and has only approved an and Girls Advisory Group
The fee, which is payable by all “cost pressures”. The majority of teachers receive increase in line with inflation. (VAWG), which has called for
teachers in England’s maintained He said: “Over 95 per cent of an annual salary allowance of £33, “The fact is, however, whether better teacher training, and wants
sector, will rise from £33 to £36.50 our income comes from the reg- which largely offsets the fee, how- the fee increase is three pence or the issue of violence against girls
from April 1. It is the first increase istration fee, but we use small ever many feel that the increase £3.50, the vast majority of teach- made part of the national cur-
for four years. amounts of grant from elsewhere to would not be required if savings ers resent paying anything to a riculum.
The rise falls short of the 18 help keep the fee as low as possible. were found elsewhere within the body they feel serves no useful Speaking on International
per cent increase requested by the Efficiency savings have kept the fee GTCE. Fee rise: Keith Bartley purpose.” Women’s Day, which took place
on Monday (March 8), children’s
minister Delyth Morgan said:
Development scheme gets funding boost
“Teachers are uniquely placed to
spot the early signs that a young
girl could be suffering from vio-
lence.
“We are determined to
improve the training, guidance
and support they receive so that
schools can lead the way in
putting an end to violence against
women and girls.”
The recommendations made
by the VAWG, all of which have
been accepted by the govern-
ment, include:
• Developing guidance for all
schools to help them respond to
violence against women and
girls.
• Producing clear advice for
teachers on how to deal with
suspected cases, and on
referring young girls at risk to
support services.
• Ensuring all young people are
taught about gender equality
and violence against women
and girls in PSHE classes.
Martin Ward, deputy general
secretary of the Association of
School and College Leaders,
said: “School and college leaders
Spreading the word: take this significant problem very
Students get involved seriously and already play their
during last year’s Global part through the ethos and values
Student Forum, which was of each institution, and through
themed on child mortality the values of mutual respect and
equal opportunities that they
A scheme which sees year 12 has already inspired more than programme, with two regional “Best of all, most of these stu- Grantham Girls’ School, have pro- teach and embody.
students introducing global 3,500 students at an annual event in events already planned for October, dents will be reached by students duced a three-minute film that will “It is welcome that schools
development issues to their peers London, who in turn have reached and five more in the pipeline for themselves who care passionately inform their peers about child mor- and colleges are challenged to
is being rolled out to hundreds of more than 75,000 pupils. 2011, including events in Scotland, about the issues they are address- tality, which was the theme of last be sure that they fully address
UK schools after receiving funding Participating students return to Northern Ireland or Wales. ing. And the impact will be all the year’s Forum. this important issue, for exam-
from UKaid and the Department for their schools with a package of edu- Mr Pollard said: “The best way to more profound because of it.” The Global Student Forum 2010 ple through PSHE, but are to
International Development. cational resources enabling them to reach young people is through young The scheme runs a Media will be held on June 29 in London. retain the freedom and auton-
The Global Student Forum, lead lessons, assemblies, workshops people themselves. Over the next Partnership Challenge, presented The theme is “Education Beats omy to do so in creative ways
founded in 2005 by social entre- and other activities on themes rang- three years we aim to reach 250,000 by Channel 4 News presenter Jon Poverty”. appropriate to their particular
preneurs Nick and Carol Pollard ing from AIDS to child soldiers. students through an unfolding Snow. Last year’s winners, 10 For more information, visit students.”
as part of Make Poverty History, The aim now is to roll-out the national and regional programme. 6th-formers from Kesteven and www.globalstudentforum.org
Education leaders met with wall of silence
Asbestos training ‘basic’
Government guarantees that all new died from the asbestos-related can-
headteachers will receive training on cer mesothelioma, welcomed the
Pupils greeted council officials recent edition of SecEd (Sixth forms was a very intimidating atmosphere if the opportunities we provide asbestos management do not go far training for new heads, but said they
with an icy silence during a school face axe, SecEd 239, Thursday, and I don’t think they expected it them with are withdrawn.” enough according to campaigners. represented “only a basic first step”.
visit as they launched a campaign February 11), would sound the at all.” However, a spokesman for Diana Johnson, parliamentary He continued: “Of considerable
against plans to scrap 6th form death knell for 6th form education The WAG says it wants to ensure Merthyr council said maintain- under-secretary of state for children, concern is that Ms Johnson does
provision in the South Wales in what is called the Heads of the that residents can access further ing the status quo was “not an schools and families, said that all new not consider that classroom teachers
Valleys. Valleys area. education on their doorstep and get option”. heads and school business managers need to be trained in asbestos aware-
Education leaders were Merthyr council’s education the right skills to meet the needs of “The evidence is that schools would receive training on asbestos- ness. This shows a fundamental lack
greeted with an uncomfortable decision-makers had arrived at local businesses. The money would without 6th forms in Wales do not management, but stopped short of of understanding of the necessity for
silence as scores of pupils left the school expecting open debate pay for a new University Heads of achieve any worse results than making the same guarantee for exist- all staff in schools to be aware of the
lessons to line corridors clutch- and consultation on the proposed the Valleys Institute (UHOVI), a those with 6th forms, and many ing staff and classroom teachers. location and dangers of asbestos and
ing banners. closure of the borough’s four 6th partnership between the University achieve significantly better,” he She added: “It is not the role the measures to be taken to prevent
The protest at Cyfarthfa forms. of Glamorgan and the University of said. of classroom teachers to moni- either themselves or the children
High School in Merthyr Tydfil But the pupils’ silence sent them Wales, Newport. “In some instances, the tor, manage or to be account- disturbing or damaging it.
highlighted opposition to a a clear message about their thoughts But the controversial move removal of a 6th form can enable able for the presence of asbestos “There are many teachers and
£110 million Welsh Assembly on the proposal. would signal the end of 6th form schools to direct more resources in schools. Responsibility for this support staff who have died, and are
government (WAG) plan to cre- Cyfarthfa campaign organiser education at Cyfarthfa, Pen y Dre, and energy towards young people resides with local authorities and/or presently dying of mesothelioma,
ate a new “virtual university” Geraint Lewis, 19, said students Afon Taf and Bishop Hedley RC aged 11 to 16.” governing bodies in ensuring that who would not have been exposed
and expand further education were “totally against” the plans. High Schools. Merthyr students are prepar- schools are safe for pupils and staff. to asbestos in their schools had
colleges in the Merthyr Tydfil “When they arrived and started Cyfarthfa headteacher, Alan ing another protest for April 28, Consequently, initial teacher train- they been taught about the dangers
and Blaenau Gwent areas. asking us how we were, not a sin- Pritchard, said: “We believe it will when consultation is due before ing does not address this topic.” of asbestos, where it was in their
The proposal, reported in a gle student murmured,” he said. “It be detrimental to pupils at Cyfarthfa county councillors. Michael Lees, a campaigner schools, and what measures they
whose wife – a former teacher – should take to avoid disturbing it.”
4 SecEd • March 11 2010
04 news.indd 4 9/3/10 10:16:42
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