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Your union

Supply teacher survey

The NUT is conducting a survey of its supply teacher members to get a picture of pay and working conditions, particularly for those who work through agencies.

We are also interested in discovering the impact of the ‘rarely cover’ rules, introduced in September 2009, on work availability.

Please share your experiences at www.nut.org.uk/supplyteachersurvey.

Loan star!

 Moneyway is the NUT’s preferred supplier of unsecured personal loans.

NUT members can borrow between £500 and £15,000, for almost any purpose*, and spread the repayments over 12 to 60 months.

Moneyway’s team will listen to your needs and give advice tailored to your circumstances. They will discuss options and make sure you can comfortably afford to repay any loan offered.

Call Moneyway on 08451 117124, 9am-7pm, Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm Saturdays.

* Terms and conditions apply. Typical 15.9 per cent APR.

Feel the Christmas spirit at Stoke Rochford

Christmas is magical at Stoke Rochford Hall, with roaring log fires, traditional decorations and superb seasonal cuisine.

Many festive events are taking place at the Lincolnshire mansion (the NUT’s national training centre) this term, including the popular pre-Christmas weekend from 26-28 November.

Friday Hot supper in the library, informal Christmas entertainment, hot toddies and mince pies to round off the evening.

Saturday Breakfast feast. Trip to historic Lincoln. Three-course dinner in the evening. Dance the night away to a live band.

Sunday Full English breakfast. Walk around Stoke Rochford and the surrounding countryside or a nearby market town. Sunday lunch optional.

You can enjoy the whole weekend, in en suite accommodation, at special rates for NUT members:

Double/twin room £345

Single room £180

Child under 12 (sharing with adult/s) £65

To book, please telephone Reservations on 01476 530337, quoting ’The Teacher’, to secure these special rates.

For more about the weekend, and other festive events at Stoke Rochford, visit www.stoke rochfordhall.co.uk/christmas_ celebrations.html.

Essential reading…

Looking beyond the school gate

Building links between schools and communities to raise achievement is the focus of the latest edition of the NUT’s professional journal, Education Review.

Entitled ‘Schools and Communities: Responding to New Challenges and Opportunities’, articles explore ways of building links to raise students’ aspirations and achievements.

Sara Bubb, Director of the Steve Sinnott Fellowship, describes how participants are enabling their schools to form beneficial external relationships.

Jackie Barnes of Globetown Learning Community and Peter Horsfall of Liverpool John Moores University describe the ‘It’s Your Life’ project, which is raising aspirations and attainment for disadvantaged and disaffected youngsters. Dr Gillian Evans writes on tackling underachievement by white working class boys and girls, and Dr Gabrielle Ivinson explores changes in the social perceptions of working class youth.

Education Review is read by teachers, educationalists and politicians, and is used for reference in higher education institutions. NUT members can subscribe for £10 for two issues a year – 37 per cent off the regular price. Email c.dignan@nut.org.uk or a.halls@ nut.org.uk for a subscription form.

Education, Education, Education

The NUT’s outgoing Assistant Secretary for Education, John Bangs, has published a book exploring the impact of New Labour and previous Conservative government education policies.

In Reinventing Schools, Reforming Teaching, John and co-authors, Professors Maurice Galton and John MacBeath of Cambridge University, ask:

• What lessons can we learn from the relationship between policy-makers and schools over the life of the last two governments?

• What happened to ‘Education, Education, Education’ as it travelled from political vision to classroom practice? 

 • What are the lasting legacies of 13 years of a reforming Labour government? 

 • And what are the key messages for the coalition Government?

The authors address these questions to the architects of educational reform, their critics and the prophets of better things to come. Essential reading for everyone in the world of education.

Reinventing Schools, Reforming Teaching: From political visions to classroom reality is published by Routledge. NUT members can save 20 per cent off the cover price of £24.99, with free p&p. Just order from www.routledge.com and enter the code NUT2010.