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Parent power helps SEN pupils

Parents have successfully challenged the refusal of Mossbourne Academy in Hackney, London, to admit a number of children with special educational needs.

Mossbourne – often promoted by the Government as one of its flagship academies – had argued that it already had a higher than average number of pupils with special educational needs.

The Learning Trust, which manages education in Hackney, refused to name Mossbourne in the children’s statements of special educational needs, which set out the help they should receive – including the name of the school they should attend. But a tribunal ruled that Mossbourne should be named in the statements of three children, with a fourth case adjourned pending further information.

One of the cases involved an academically gifted 11-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. It was argued that looking after his needs would compromise other children’s education.

Pride in Manchester

NUT Regional Secretary for the North West Avis Gilmore is pictured (centre) against the NUT float on Saturday 25 August during the Manchester Pride parade, with the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Elaine Boyes (left) and her consort Lady Mayoress Linda Geoghegan.

The NUT has a presence at many Pride events around the country as part of our ongoing support for LBGT teachers and pupils and our commitment to equality issues.

Victory for Memory

Memory Juma, a young woman with severe learning difficulties who was threatened with deportation, has been granted discretionary leave to stay in the UK for three years. This is the result of a campaign by her family, teachers and the local community to stop her being sent back to Malawi.

Memory’s mother did not register her when she came to Britain as she was afraid her daughter would be taken away. Instead Memory became known to the Border Agency as a person over the age of 18 without legitimate immigration status.

A delighted Dominic Wall, Head Teacher at Southfield Special School where Memory is a pupil, explained: “Because of all the support from teacher colleagues and the Bradford NUT branch we have raised sufficient funds to instruct a specialist immigration lawyer to see Memory through any future hurdles when her three-year stay is up.”

Memory was in the winning team in her School Olympics in July.

Back to school for NUT

The NUT’s Northern regional office has a new home – in a former special school in Gateshead. Having outgrown their office in Chester-le-Street, the staff have moved to the converted school hall of the former Joicey Road Special School.

Ian Mearns MP, a member of the Commons Select Committee on Education, was among the guests. He is pictured above with NUT General Secretary Christine Blower at the opening of the new office in September.

Christine said: “The new site will better enable NUT staff to serve the needs of our members.”

• Updated contact details are on page 47.