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NEWS • VIEWS • INFORMATION • ADVICE
CONSULTATION CONFERENCES
The latest round of NASUWT’s highly acclaimed annual consultation conferences raised issues about what the cuts mean for teachers
YOUNG teachers
More than half of all newly qualified secondary school teachers in England are unable to find permanent posts, according to an NASUWT survey. The situation in primary schools is little better, 300 delegates at the Union’s Young Teachers’ Consultation Conference heard.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, told delegates that the NASUWT had been ‘extremely active’ in response to the concerns of young teachers, working to protect teachers’ pensions from attacks by the Coalition Government and undertaking its highly successful Standing up for Standards campaign, which is giving teachers the power to take action on the key issues of workload, working conditions, job loss, pay and pensions.
“We have continued to press for a change of course on the Government’s economic policy, pressing for a strategy for growth that is going to address the appalling waste we have of young talent,” she said.
“Our recent survey in England showed that 43% of newly qualified primary teachers were unable to find permanent posts.
“If you look at the picture in secondary schools, it was 63% of new teachers unable to find permanent posts.
“We know of course the situation is being repeated across Wales, and in Northern Ireland this is going to be a significant problem for a number of years.
“The figures on the face of it for Scotland appear much lower but that is because in Scotland there is a guaranteed placement for first-year probationers. We have been campaigning right across the UK for other governments to introduce that.”
Ms Keates condemned the ‘constant denigration’ of the teaching profession by the Coalition Government, a message reinforced by Ex-President John Rimmer who chaired the event. He stressed that the role of teachers should be celebrated, saying: “We are the most important profession in the country and the future of our society depends on education. We should celebrate what we have achieved.”
Delegates heard useful advice from TUC National Organiser Carl Roper on how government cuts were affecting young people, before attending a series of workshops. The workshops offered advice on career rights and the Standing up for Standards campaign, using the internet for global change, managing your finances, work/life balance and voice care.
Workshops at the Conference
• Your rights to a professional career and advice on the industrial action
• Using the Internet for global change
• Managing your finances and pensions update
• Work/life balance
• Using your voice
Visit
www.nasuwt.org.uk/YoungTeachers
LGBT teachers
All schools must become safe spaces for students and teachers regardless of their sexuality, the NASUWT has asserted.
Delegates at the NASUWT’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Teachers Consultation Conference heard that Union research into prejudice-related bullying found an increase in homophobic abuse in the workplace, yet just 15% of incidents were reported to management.
The Conference was chaired by NASUWT Ex-President Chris Lines.
Discrimination must not be allowed to go unchallenged, Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, told delegates, arguing that the fight has gained extra impetus as a result of the Coalition Government’s reforms and cuts. Health and support services for LGBT people are being scaled back or scrapped by local authorities due to spending cuts and government guidance for schools on tackling prejudice-related bullying has been slashed under the guise of ‘reducing bureaucracy’.
Despite these challenges, Jo Bardsley from Preston Manor School in London, argued that tackling homophobia is a key part of schools’ duty of care to students, saying: “It is important that we deal with this to ensure that all schools are places where everyone can feel accepted, whatever their sexuality.” Mark Jennett, a trainer and consultant on sexualities, offered guidance to members on coming out in the workplace.
Urging delegates to be confident and find some supportive allies among their colleagues, Mr Jennett said: “It is a very scary thing to come out, but I believe it is important in terms of being a role model, not just to students but also for other staff members.
“Remember, you have the right to come out if you wish and, most importantly, you have the right not to be discriminated against for doing so.”
Gavin Boyd, Education Policy Officer from the Rainbow Project, highlighted the lack of support for schools in Northern Ireland to challenge homophobia.
Workshops at the Conference
• Confidence building and coming out in the workplace
• Positive working with faith schools and communities
• LGBT equality and the changing policy context
• Your rights to a career and ‘Standing up for Standards’
Visit
www.nasuwt.org.uk/LGBT
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