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Motions

ACADEMIES AND FREE SCHOOLS

The NASUWT’s campaign against academies and free schools was endorsed by Conference.

Conference heard how the Coalition Government has railroaded the Academies Act through Parliament and has been engaging in underhand tactics to encourage schools to convert.

“It is clear that academies and free schools will be able to set their own pay and conditions and all the evidence is that pay is driven down and workload driven upwards in such schools,” warned Sandra Cheek [right] of the Portsdown Association.

DIGNITY AT WORK

Conference heard about the damaging and destructive impact of workplace bullying on teachers, as delegates called for the introduction of legislation to promote dignity at work.

The culture of fear, combined with the lack of effective procedures to report bullying in many schools is driving an unacceptable epidemic of harassment and intimidation, delegates heard.

Susan Edwards [left] from the Denbighshire Association, argued that an independent system to hear discrimination cases should be established.

EQUALITY IMPACT OF CUTS

The stark impact of the Coalition’s programme of cuts on the most vulnerable in society was set out for Conference.

Women will be disproportionately affected by the two-year pay freeze, along with cuts to public services and the benefits system, National Executive Member Kathy Duggan [right] told Conference.

“It is said that the mark of a civilised society is how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. We all need to act now to prevent a return to the dark ages,” Madeline Cooper [left] from the Birmingham Association added.

ESTYN

The revised Estyn inspection system is not fit for purpose, Conference heard. Tim Cox [right], National Executive Member, described how the new Estyn framework and guidance is driving up teacher workload and eroding the authority of the teacher in the classroom.

“We need to hold Estyn to account,” he concluded. “Teachers are the agents of change, not Estyn. The framework and guidance must change and we must fight to ensure this.”

FACILITY TIME

Conference unanimously rejected attacks by the Coalition Government and employers on trade union facility time.

Senior Vice-President Paula Roe [right] called on delegates to support the NASUWT in promoting the value and benefit to the economy of facility time, a service which saves taxpayers an estimated £926 million a year.

“We need to promote and raise awareness of the positive role we play in delivering real gains in the workplace, not just for members but for the schools and colleges we work in,” she said.

GENERAL TEACHING COUNCIL

Conference welcomed the abolition of the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) but warned any replacement system must be independent and democratic. The Secretary of State Michael Gove has taken the remit of regulating the teaching profession under his control, a move which could have undesirable consequences, Colin Surrey [left], from the Hertfordshire Association, told delegates.

Delegates were reminded that the GTC is still operational in Wales and Conference reiterated its call for its abolition, with the same caveat that any replacement system should be independent and fair to teachers.

INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING

The Coalition’s attempts to undermine the quality of initial teacher training (ITT) will seriously damage the quality and standing of the teaching profession, delegates agreed.

Michael Gove’s plans to move to a more school-based system of ITT and the announcement that teachers in academies and free schools will no longer have to have qualified teacher status were condemned by Conference. National Executive Member Karen Hopwood [right] told Conference: “This is not about raising standards, it is about teaching on the cheap.”

LEADERSHIP PAY

Conference has committed the NASUWT to pressing for a fair and transparent pay system for all school staff, to tackle the growing problem of inflated leadership salaries. Delegates heard that the Government’s drive towards greater freedom and flexibility for schools to set their own pay levels is driving disproportionate increases in leadership salaries.

Greater scrutiny of and transparency in leadership salaries is necessary to clamp down on heads, such as one recently found to have earned £1 million in four years, delegates were told.

LESSON OBSERVATIONS

Conference has endorsed a call for a limit on the number of lesson observations after hearing that teachers are being ‘monitored to destruction’. Despite the existence of the three-hour annual limit on observations in England and Wales, speakers argued that many schools are flouting the legislation or mounting additional observations in the form of ‘learning walks’ or ‘drop-ins’.

This excessive monitoring is causing distress and anger among teachers, undermining their confidence and status as a professional, Elizabeth Brown [right] from the Denbighshire Association told delegates.

MANAGING TEACHERS’ MENTAL HEALTH

A call for improved training and support for teachers to support their mental health and wellbeing has been endorsed by Conference.

Delegates spoke of the devastating toll being taken on the health, careers and relationships of teachers due to the increasing burden of work-related stress.

National Executive Member Graham Cluer [left] highlighted the fact that one in three teachers will have to take time off during their careers due to stress. Despite this, the issue frequently goes ignored, he told delegates, often as a result of the relentless pressure from the accountability regime, new government initiatives and league tables.

EDUCATION REFORM IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Conference heard that children and young people’s futures are being used as a ‘political football’ by politicians in Northern Ireland.

Delegates endorsed a call for an end to the current political impasse which is stifling progress in reforming the education system to better meet the needs of pupils and teachers. The continuing failure to establish the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) is wasting millions of pounds and condemning children to learn in outdated and dilapidated school buildings. The stalemate is also putting teachers’ jobs at risk and worsening working conditions, National (Continued on page 5...)