Page 16


FEATURE


White paper fails the test

The NASUWT has deep concerns about the Coalition Government’s blueprint for the future of education, as set out in its White Paper, The Importance of Teaching

The NASUWT believes that the plans in the Schools White Paper ‘The Importance of Teaching’ amount to little more than an unwarranted attack on Teachers’ and headteachers’ professionalism and commitment, will lead to a repeat of the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention seen under the last Conservative Government and could contribute to the creation of another lost generation of young people. Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: “These plans are a transparent attempt to deflect attention from the Coalition Government’s policy of savage cuts to education, its elitist agenda and its free market ideology.

“The NASUWT and teachers are not afraid of change in the education system.

“Any change, however, must meet the tests of raising standards, fairness, equality and social justice, which are at the heart of successful state education. This White Paper totally fails to meet any of these tests.”


White Paper proposal:

Curriculum and qualifications

• Reform the National Curriculum to introduce a classical curriculum: maths, English, two sciences, a humanity and a language modern or ancient;
• Introduce a new reading test for pupils at age six;
• Review Key Stage 2 SATs;

The NASUWT’s view

“The Secretary of State has stated he wants to see schools offer a ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum but the proposals will force schools to focus learning on English, Maths, Science, a modern or ancient foreign language and a humanity.

This has massive implications for staffing and pupil choice with some subjects being relegated as less important and possibly not taught at all. This cannot be divorced from the fact that the Coalition Government has already stopped the funding to teacher training providers for humanities, the arts and social sciences.

This narrow focus also now increases the divide between academic and vocational courses and could lead to disaffection and disengagement among many young people.”


White Paper proposal:

Teaching & Leadership

• Only fund graduates with a 2:2 degree or above for initial teacher training.
• Move teacher training out of universities and into schools.
• Launch a ‘Troops to Teachers’ Scheme to recruit ex service personnel.
• Introduce an aptitude test as part of the selection process for teacher training courses.
• Create a new national network of Teaching Schools, based on the model of teaching hospitals, and give outstanding schools the role of leading the training and professional development of teachers and head teachers.
• Expand the Teachfirst programme and launch aTeachNow scheme to attract ‘high fliers’ from other professions into teaching.
• Focus on existing pay flexibilities and refer to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) for additional flexibilities.
• Revisit the regulations on performance management and remove the current duplication between performance management and the capability.

The NASUWT’s view

“Teaching is a highly skilled profession and the notion that anyone who has been successful in other professions or who has a high class of degree will have what it takes to teach is highly offensive and inaccurate.

Teaching draws on particular qualities, skills and dispositions. Being a multimillionaire businessman, ex-service personnel or attending a Russell Group university doesn't automatically make a good teacher.

While there is merit in ensuring that training is practice based, it is essential that there is a theoretical grounding to practice secured by the involvement of higher education institutions. The NASUWT is also concerned about the capacity of schools and teachers to manage the increased demands that the proposals will create.

The NASUWT is deeply concerned that schools will be asked to plug the gap in supporting children and young people following the significant reduction in funding for local authority children’s services.

The NASUWT remains deeply concerned about the Coalition Government’s intentions for the national pay and conditions framework and the statutory arrangements for performance management. The reference to a link between performance management and capability is totally flawed. There is no duplication, as performance management is not a capability procedure.

The Coalition Government has made clear its intention to give more power to individual headteachers to vary terms and conditions, to increase the monitoring of teachers and to fast track to the sack those deemed to be ‘underperforming.’”