Page 9


Upfront


 


Keep the lights on at Gedling


Nottinghamshire County Council cabinet was lobbied by students, teachers and parents on 15 December as it met to discuss the closure of Gedling School.


Previously, over 500 parents, students and teachers had marched in a colourful 'Night of Lights' on 25 November to protest against the proposed closure.


Gedling is a 600-pupil school in what used to be a mining community. Nearby schools do not have the capacity to take on Gedling's students, and closure plans are seen as a political act.


The school's NUT Rep, Jane Crich, said "We need more time to discuss these issues as well as possible alternatives, rather than rushing into closure."


 


Black teachers go for gold


The NUT's annual black teachers' conference celebrates the Union's commitment to race equality for teachers, pupils and society.


About 130 delegates came to the 19th conference at Stoke Rochford Hall in November. The theme was 'going for gold', recognising black teachers' successes and the barriers they face.


Simon Woolley, co-founder of Operation Black Vote, spoke about the importance of leadership from black teachers and others, to address discrimination.


Head teacher Bibi Laher shared her experiences as a black person from South Africa who has successfully progressed in her teaching career in the UK. She spoke of barriers such as racism and xenophobia, and how she overcame them.


NUT General Secretary Christine Blower launched the latest NUT report on the barriers black teachers face - a survey documenting members' experiences.


Delegates also agreed a motion for the 2011 NUT annual conference on establishing an advisory committee to support African, African Caribbean and Asian heritage NUT members.


Read the survey report at www.teachers.org.uk/node/9757.


 


Congratulations Kit!


Kit Armstrong became the NUT Midlands Regional Secretary on 1 January 2011. Kit will already be familiar to many members in the Midlands – she has been a regional officer there for the past year.


 


GTCE update


Michael Gove has confirmed that the General Teaching Council for England should close on 31 March 2012. Until then teachers must still register and employers must ensure teachers are registered, and refer disciplinary cases to the council.


The Education Secretary has also confirmed that the GTCE will charge a registration fee for 2011-2012, set at the current rate of £36.50. There will be no GTCE fee for the financial year 2012-2013, even if delays in the parliamentary process put back the closure date.






Great grandma!


Around 40 women gathered at NUT HQ in December to hear Barbara Andrew, a member of the London NUT women's network, deliver a presentation entitled 'Grandma was a suffragette'. Barbara's fascinating talk about her grandmother, Thirza Cove, served as a reminder that our rights have often been hard won.


The network meets termly. For details, phone Anne Mallach on 020 8477 1234 or email a.mallach@nut.org.uk.






Attacking the education agenda


The Government's education agenda was fiercely challenged during a debate on education hosted by teaching unions in Devon at Tiverton High School in November.


Speakers included representatives from the Anti Academies Alliance and ATL as well as the NUT. They discussed the fight against academies and free schools, and argued that the education white paper (see page 26) will be the biggest attack on comprehensive state education since its introduction in the forties.


Devon NUT President Dave Clinch said: "Most agreed head teachers and a few governors do not have the moral right to remove a school from the local authority... These attacks have to be resisted."

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  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52