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Upfront

Marathon efforts

NUT Executive members Simon Jones and Amanda Martin donned their running shoes on 28 October to raise funds for the Steve Sinnott Foundation, the charity set up in memory of the late NUT General Secretary to help achieve education for all the world’s children.

Simon ran the Preston Guild Marathon while Amanda did the ten-mile Great South Run round Portsmouth’s historic dockyard. Together they have raised over £1,400. To add to their total, visit www.justgiving.com/simon-jones36 or www.justgiving.com/Amanda-Martin2012.

If you’re interested in running to raise funds for the charity, visit www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk and click on the ‘Run for it’ link.

Are we getting there?

Nearly 100 delegates gathered at Stoke Rochford Hall in Lincolnshire in November to debate issues facing black teachers and the impact of Government policies. Zita Holbourne, of Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts, asked, “Equality – are we there yet?” Denis Fernando from One Society Many Cultures urged unity against Islamophobia and praised the NUT’s role in fighting the far right.

See www.teachers.org.uk/black-teachers-conference

Thanks, Margaret

 Former NUT Executive member and secretary of Newcastle NUT Margaret Carter (pictured centre) was awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace in December. Margaret worked in Newcastle as a teacher and head teacher before serving for 26 years as a Labour councillor for the city, and as Lord Mayor in 2003-2004.

Welcome, Graham

Welcome to Graham White, new member of the NUT Executive. Graham was elected for Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Peterborough after Kendra Deacon, the previous member, took up a full-time NUT post.

Children in care in school

 A new resource about young people’s lives in care was launched at the House of Lords in October, as part of National Care Leavers’ Week.

NUT secretary for Bath and Radstock, Dave Biddleston, was among those who put the pack together. He explained that the needs of children in care can go unnoticed and said he hoped the resource would enable the viewpoints of such children to be better understood, and “hopefully improve their school and life experiences”.

The pack, In Care, In School, includes ten fi lms based on real-life experiences. For details visit www.incareinschool.com

Keep up to date with education and the NUT – follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/NUTonline for all the latest news and views. And stay informed at www.teachers.org.uk