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UPFRONT

Thousands say no to Licence to Practise

NUT members have demonstrated their opposition to the government’s proposed Licence to Practise by sending the union thousands of cards objecting to the plans.

The November edition of The Teacher contained a statement that members could sign and return to show their opposition to government plans requiring teachers to be re-licensed every five years from September 2010. Within a fortnight, and despite the postal strike, 11,000 had been returned to us. Hundreds more were arriving daily as we went to press.

The NUT believes the proposed licence (previously referred to as a ’licence to teach’) is unnecessary and potentially burdensome. Teachers already face a raft of accountability measures, from performance management to Ofsted inspections. The government should trust teachers’ professionalism.

If you haven’t sent your postcard back, it’s not too late to do so. You can also can sign online at www.teachers.org.uk/notolicencetopractise.

Further details of the proposals were expected as we went to press. Check the NUT website at www.teachers.org.uk and the next edition of The Teacher for the latest information, and news of the next steps in the campaign.


Abolish SATs – the campaign strengthens

The NUT’s joint campaign with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) to have SATs abolished continues to gather momentum. In the month since the last edition of The Teacher was published, the number of signatures on the two unions’ petition demanding assessment reform has doubled from 13,000 to almost 26,000.

As this magazine goes to press, the NUT’s indicative ballot to determine members’ support for a boycott of the 2010 SATs will be drawing to a close (ballot papers must be returned by 30 November). The NAHT’s survey of members on the same issue ends three days earlier. Decisions regarding next steps in the campaign will be taken in December. Check the NUT website – www.teachers.org.uk – and the next edition of The Teacher for more information.

In the meantime, why not take a look at our new five-minute videos – one for teachers and one for parents – featuring teachers, headteachers, governors and parents discussing their positive experiences since SATs were abolished in Wales? View them by going to www.teachers.org.uk and clicking on the ‘NUTv’ button.

During the ballot period, local NUT divisions and associations have continued to hold ‘SATs Saturday’ events and information evenings to raise awareness of the campaign among teachers, parents and the general public. Here’s a small selection…

NUT members and children were out in force in Cambridge city centre on Saturday 7 November, collecting signatures for the union’s anti-SATs petition. They received many supportive comments from parents and children with first-hand experience of the tests.

Over 50 Redbridge teachers and supporters heard author, poet and former children’s laureate Michael Rosen give a talk on ‘101 things to do instead of SATs’ at an event organised by Redbridge Teachers’ Association at Ilford Central Library on 20 October.

Michael explained how SATs distort teaching and learning and take the enjoyment out of reading. “We have spent 3,000 years developing storytelling as a way of wrapping up wisdom and knowledge into an accessible form, and the last ten years destroying it,” he said.

Lancashire NUT division held a SATs Saturday in Preston. They were accompanied by colleagues from the NAHT and well supported by union members and the general public. Specially printed T-shirts, helium balloons and a megaphone helped get the anti-SATs message across.

October 19 saw NUT members in Bradford take to the city’s streets for a fifth time to seek public support for the campaign against SATs and league tables. Bradford NUT has since presented written comments from teachers, parents and pupils, collected by members on the stall, to local MP Ann Cryer.
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