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Your letters

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pupil leisure space, and house head’s office. Upstairs were the teaching areas. Each block housed around 150 students from first years to sixth form. The house head was a full-time pastoral post. The atmosphere in each house was pleasant and relaxed. When it rained there was plenty of pupil space for relaxation.

I offer this experience to start a debate on what a good school should look like.

John Morton

 by email

Age concern

Has anybody else noticed age discrimination in NQT employment? As a mature NQT (qualified 2006), 45 years old, I find myself continually passed over for jobs in favour of newly qualified teachers in their early/ mid twenties.

The coalition Government has implied that an NQT should be around 25 and have gone to an independent school! Can we have a mature/career-changer section in the magazine to cover the usually forgotten discrimination associated with age?

David Elisha

 Romford

That’s the way!

Primary teachers whose pupils are following the national curriculum topics ‘seaside puppets’ or ‘Victorian street entertainment’ might wish to have a Punch and Judy ‘professor’ in the classroom to bring the topics alive. If so, go to the Punch and Judy Fellowship website www. thepjf.com, click on ‘Book a Punch & Judy Show’, then ‘Select Your County’ to find a professor.

Q D Greatrex

 Birmingham

Disability history month

From 22 November to 22 December we are asking all schools to focus on UK disabled people and their struggle for human rights and inclusion by holding assemblies and events for parents and by considering disability equality in the curriculum. There are loads of resources and ideas to help you at www.worldofinclusion. com/qcda.htm.

This is the first year the Disabled Peoples’ Movement is pushing for this focus, which we hope will become an annual event. At this time of massive cut-backs, which will fall disproportionately on poor and disabled people, and attacks on inclusive education, it is important for pupils to learn about the struggle we have waged for equality and inclusion and celebrate it.

Register your support with richardrieser@worldofinclusion. com. Let us know what you will do and we will put it on our website, which is currently in preparation.

Richard Rieser

Disability History Month coordinator

Please write

The editor welcomes your letters but reserves the right to edit them. Write to ‘Your letters’, The Teacher, NUT, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD or email teacher@nut.org.uk. Letters for the November/ December issue should reach us no later than 11 October.

Please note we cannot print letters sent in without name and postal address (or NUT membership number), although we can withhold details from publication if you wish.

Moved or changed your job? Please update your membership details

Ring 0845 300 1666, visit www.teachers.org.uk, go to ‘Your union’ and click ‘Update membership’, or write to Records and Subscription Services, NUT, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD.

Please let the union know if you:

 • change your home or school address

 • change your employment contract (to permanent, fixed-term, supply, full-time or part-time teacher)

• are about to change to reduced subscription membership (maternity leave, retired/left profession membership)

• are appointed to a new post such as deputy head, head teacher, or Emtag teacher.

Need help or advice?

If you’ve got a problem at work, or want to know more about NUT services, contact:

 • your school representative, or

 • your local association (use the ‘NUT contact directory’ map at www.teachers.org.uk) or

• your regional office, or NUT Cymru in Wales (see below).

NUT regional and Wales offices

 1 NORTHERN Auckland House, High Chare, Chester-le-Street DH3 3PX T: 0191 389 0999 E: northern@nut.org.uk

2 NORTH WEST 25 Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4QR T: 01204 521 434 E: north.west@nut.org.uk

3 YORKSHIRE/MIDLAND 7 Chequer Road, Doncaster DN1 2AA T: 01302 342 448 E: yorkshire.midland@nut.org.uk

4 MIDLANDS Jarvis House, 96 Stone Road, Stafford ST16 2RS T: 01785 244 129 E: midlands@nut.org.uk

5 EASTERN Elm House, Kennett Park, Moulton Road, Kentford, Nr Newmarket CB8 8GF T: 01638 555 300. E: eastern@nut.org.uk

6 SOUTH EAST Britton House, College Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath RH17 6TT T: 01444 894 500 E: south.east@nut.org.uk

7 SOUTH WEST 1 Lower Ave, Heavitree, Exeter EX1 2PR T: 01392 258 028 E: south.west@nut.org.uk

8 LONDON (Hammersmith) Ravenscourt Ho, 322A King Street, London W6 0RR

(Ilford) 103 Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG1 4PU T: 020 8477 1234 E: london@nut.org.uk

WALES Ty Sinnott, 18 Neptune Court Vanguard Way Cardiff CF24 5PJ T: 029 2049 1818 E: cymru.wales@nut.org.uk