Page 28

NUT conference 2012

Continued from page 27

Fair deal for all

Delegates voted to continue to campaign against academies and Free Schools, and condemned the increasing involvement of big business in both.

Christine Blower, NUT General Secretary, said: “There can be no justification for the systematic dismantling of the English education system… Good local schools operating under the umbrella of the local authority is what we need to deliver a fair and accountable education for every child.”

For more on academies, including NUT research into the real costs, visit www.teachers.org.uk/academies

The NUT is mounting a legal challenge against free schools. Read more at www.teachers.org.uk/node/15481

National pay attack

Delegates condemned the Government’s proposal to introduce regional pay in place of national public sector pay. “This attack on national pay scales is just another element of their privatisation agenda,” said Executive member Helen Andrews, moving a motion on national pay and conditions.

A succession of speakers pointed out that the plans would create unnecessary bureaucracy, complexity and inequality.

Conference voted resoundingly that, should the Government press ahead with an attack on teachers’ national pay and conditions, the NUT will ballot for national strike action in conjunction with as many teacher unions as possible.

Sixth form support 

Executive member Helen Andrews moved a motion on government attacks on funding for sixth form colleges, sixth form students and national sixth form college employers’ attacks on teacher pay and conditions. “College managements, in implementing these cuts, are reducing the educational provision for students,” she said.

Delegates voted to continue and deepen the sixth form college pay and funding campaign, work to secure the restoration of pay comparability with school teachers and continue to support the NUT sixth form college representatives network.

Defending inclusion

A motion on inclusive education expressed concern over the SEN Green Paper, and its damaging impact on inclusive education and SEN provision. “Cuts are already decimating the teams of people available to schools to help these children,” said Gill Goodswen, Kirklees.

Delegates called on the Government to commit to inclusive education, as defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Croeso Wales!

This year there was a new conference agenda section on education matters in Wales. Wales members were congratulated on their successful campaign opposing primary school banding.

This had led to Welsh Government Minister Leighton Andrews announcing a two-year postponement, to allow greater discussion about the flaws of the system. Delegates voted to continue to oppose banding if it is resurrected by the Minister.

A further motion called on the Executive to campaign to rethink baseline assessment procedures in Wales.

Delegates attended a number of receptions including for young members, women, disabled, black, LGBT and retired teachers.

Delegates held a minute’s silence for Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old black teenager shot in Florida in February by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman has since been charged with second degree murder.