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Upfront

Use your vote in May

 Throughout its 142-year history, the NUT has been independent and not affiliated to any political party. This independence is cherished and will continue.

For the last three years, the Union has invited members to contribute to a political fund. This is used solely to campaign against racist and fascist parties and helps the work of organisations such as HOPE not Hate, Love Music Hate Racism and Unite against Fascism.

There will be local government elections in Wales and some parts of England on 3 May. London will elect a new mayor and members of the Greater London Assembly.

The racist British National Party is defending 12 council seats, and we fear they may repeat their success in the last London Assembly elections when they polled more than the 5 per cent required to get someone elected on to the Assembly.

NUT General Secretary Christine Blower said: “We are encouraging all our members to get involved in organisations which fight against racism. Please make your mark in these important elections. Together we can stop the BNP and keep racism out of our communities.”

If you have not already registered to vote, visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk to do so.

To find out more about the work of key anti-racist groups visit www.hopenothate.org.uk www.lovemusichateracism.com www.uaf.org.uk

New KS2 writing skills test

In 2013 the Key Stage 2 SATs English writing test will be replaced by a new writing skills test. Interim arrangements have been put in place for the 2012 KS2 national curriculum assessments. All schools still have a statutory duty to administer a writing test.

The difference in the arrangements for 2012 is that schools may choose to mark the test internally, in which case they can administer it at any time between February and June.

If schools wish to have the test externally marked, they must hold it on Tuesday 15 May. A few schools will be required to administer a sample test. This must also be held on Tuesday 15 May.

Find further details… at the NUT website www.teachers.org.uk/taxonomy/term/1492 or the Department for Education site www.education.gov.uk/schools/ teachingandlearning/assessment/updates

Have a quick read

The NUT is supporting the annual Quick Reads campaign run by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.

Quick Reads are short books by bestselling writers and celebrities. They are available at libraries, bookshops and supermarkets priced just £1.99. Eight new books were launched in February, including The Cleverness of Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith and Get the Life You Really Want by James Caan.

You can order school packs from www.quickreads.org. uk/reading-breaks.