Latest News

Ed Balls' Letter About Testing and Assessment - press release

Web Editor 1 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:17:38 +0000

Commenting on Ed Balls' letter to primary school head teachers, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

Assessment Reform : End SATs

Web Editor 4 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:01:00 +0000

"It's official. Both the Union and our colleagues in the NAHT are balloting heads, deputies and assistant heads with a view to boycotting the KS2 SATs this year.

This is a trade dispute concerning leadership group members' conditions of service. Action taken would, of course, not be strike action. Schools would be open and children taught. The ballot will open on 15 March and close at midday on 16 April. Both the NUT and the NAHT encourage those balloted to vote 'YES'.

This boycott is separate from but runs parallel to our general educational campaign against SATs. We have powerful public support for this campaign - including from politicians, parents, academics and authors. Below is information for leadership group members on the trade dispute and industrial action ballot and for classroom teachers and parents on how they can get involved in our educational campaign."

Joint Education Services Circular No. 169

Web Editor 1 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:33:43 +0000

This JESC gives information on the application of local authorities’ car user schemes to Soulbury officers.

Joint Education Services Circular No. 173

Web Editor 1 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:29:49 +0000

This JESC sets out advice on the contractual and statutory entitlements of trainee educational psychologists and their continuity of employment

New Ofsted Inspection Results - press release

Web Editor 1 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:17:21 +0000

Commenting on the results Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers the largest teachers union said;

Contact your MP and candidates in the general election

Web Editor 1 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:31:09 +0000

Contact your MP and candidates in the general election

It's important that members of Parliament and candidates in the forthcoming general election are fully aware of what is wrong with SATs and also know of the NUT's positive alternative proposals.

Please help the campaign today by:

Sending a n email to your MP using our quick and easy to use electronic lobbying facility.
Emailing your local candidates at the forthcoming general election. The attached list has the names and email addresses of all the candidates that have been selected to date. Model text for an email is provided here. If you are unsure of the parliamentary constituency in which you reside you can find out here.
read more

Email your MP - End SATs

Web Editor 1 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:21:42 +0000

Pension Implications of One to One Tuition Programme

Web Editor 1 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:44:51 +0000

The Union has identified potentially significant pension implications for members who are near retirement or who have previously obtained ill health retirement pensions. This document gives advice on pensions implications of participation in the One to One tuition programme for these and other members.

Football and Freedom - Exploring South Africa’s History, Culture and Context

Web Editor 1 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:07:00 +0000

Contents of this pack

Click on the links below to take you to the relevant sections of this pack. Please ensure you read the brief introduction before you look at the background and activities.

Both Word and PDF versions of each chapter are provided so that you can easily copy and amend the activity instructions and materials, should you wish to do so.

Acknowledgements	This pack was put together with the help of several organisations and people with a passion for South Africa, football, learning and teaching.
Foreword	A foreword from Christine Blower, General Secretary, National Union of Teachers and Tony Dykes, Director, Action for Southern Africa.
Introduction	An introduction about how to use this pack. Please read this before using any of these activities within the pack.
Chapter 1 Background information	This chapter includes key facts and information about South Africa, as well as a list of key dates for 2010. This chapter also includes a link to a timeline of South Africa and South African football.
Chapter 2 Getting to know South Africa	In this chapter pupils undertake research, play games, carry out a series of simple tasks and plan a footballer’s diet to build their knowledge and understanding of South African culture and history.
Chapter 3 Fan culture	In this chapter pupils learn about the similarities and differences between the UK and South African cultures as they explore football fan culture through language, art, music and writing.
Chapter 4 Life in the new South Africa	In this chapter research, design and role play activities based on present day South Africa enable pupils to learn about human rights, equality and global concepts both within the South African context and more broadly.
Chapter 5 World Cup venues	In this chapter pupils learn about football stadiums, calculate travel distances to matches and look at carbon footprints as they go on a journey to discover South Africa.
Chapter 6 Linking to a school in South Africa	A guide on how to organise a successful school link with a school in South Africa is provided to promote pupils’ ongoing learning about South Africa and the global dimension.
Other helpful resources on South Africa	Other helpful resources on South Africa.
Evaluation of materials form	We would like to know how helpful you found these materials. Please complete the evaluation form and email it back to us at international@nut.org.uk
Timeline of South African history and football	This comprehensive timeline juxtaposes events in football in South Africa with the social and political history of South Africa. It relates to activity one in Chapter 2 and background information in Chapter 1. The timeline also includes links to other classroom activities (see the timeline links in italics).

Tackling stress

Web Editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:31:00 +0000

This document seeks to provide support for NUT divisions and associations in their work related to teacher stress by providing:

Government statistics on children’s progress - press release

Web Editor 1 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:21:29 +0000

Commenting on the data looking at the progress of children between the age of 7 and 11 in English and Maths Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

Academies programme to be expanded under Tory proposals - press release

Web Editor 1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:09:10 +0000

Commenting on the education proposals by Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove, Christine Blower General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers union said;

Liberal Democrats Education Proposals - press release

Web Editor 1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:06:13 +0000

Commenting on Nick Clegg's speech on education Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers union said;

ICTraining: Summer Term 2010

Web Editor 1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:58:06 +0000

Online applications and course availability for intermediate, multimedia and interactive whiteboard courses taking place during the summer term throughout England and Wales.

Courses run for six weeks (unless stated otherwise) as twilight sessions and are FREE to qualified teachers.

Course Venue	Course Duration	Vacancies
Intermediate ICT Skills Courses
Castleford Community Learning Centre	April - May	Click to apply
Darlington College	April - May	Click to apply
Felinfoel Education Centre, Llanelli	April - May	Click to apply
Oak Grove College, Worthing	April - May	Click to apply
Redbridge Institute of Adult Education	April - May	Click to apply
Riverside College, Widnes	April - May	Click to apply
South Essex College, Southend	April - May	Click to apply
Trinity High School & Sixth Form College, Redditch	April - May	Click to apply
Multimedia ICT Skills Courses
Blackburn College	April - July	Click to apply
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Reading	April - May	Click to apply
Cardiff Construction Training Centre	April - May	Click to apply
Filton College, Bristol	April - May	Click to apply
Parkside Federation, Cambridge	April - May	Click to apply
Sandwell College	April - May	Click to apply
Stonebridge Centre, Brent	April - May	Click to apply
Interactive Whiteboard Courses
Bromley College	April - May	Click to apply
Derby College	April - May	Click to apply
Durham Clayport Library	April - May	Click to apply
Merseyside Trade Union Education Centre, Liverpool	April - May	Click to apply
New College Swindon	April - May	Click to apply

Please take part in our short survey, to help us build ICT courses to suit your needs.

If you are interested in attending an ICT Skills for Teachers course, click on the following link to add your name to our database. This will help us to plan a course at a venue near you.

NUT News - Ofsted - Special Edition - Spring 2010

Web Editor 1 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Facing an Ofsted inspection?

The NUT has been successful in gaining assurances from Ofsted on the new framework, particularly on the key issues of attainment and achievement and safeguarding.

Safeguarding

On safeguarding, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert has confirmed that "safeguarding grades of satisfactory or good do not limit the overall effectiveness to those grades… a school judged to be satisfactory in its safeguarding arrangements may still be judged to be outstanding…".

Some members had told us that, despite their school having met the statutory requirements for safeguarding, it had been downgraded to ‘inadequate’. Ofsted are clear that such a judgement should not be made in those circumstances.

Attainment and achievement

On attainment, Christine Gilbert has said: "A school may be judged to be outstanding if attainment is average, or even low, provided that learning and progress are outstanding… all schools, whatever their circumstances, have the opportunity to be judged outstanding for their overall effectiveness… There is nothing in the evaluation schedule or the guidance we have issued to inspectors which suggests otherwise."

Members and school representatives should contact their division/association or their regional office if they do not think that inspectors are taking sufficient account of children’s actual progress in their learning.

Early Day Motion (EDM)

It is important that members of Parliament are aware of the problems with the new Ofsted framework. The NUT drafted an EDM, which was tabled in Parliament on 9 February. Please go to www.teachers.org.uk/ofsted to email your MP and ask them to sign EDM 845 "Ofsted’s new inspection framework for schools".

Let us know your views

If your Ofsted inspection paints a picture of your school that you don’t recognise, we want to know. Please contact your NUT association/division secretary or your regional office. Also, please keep your views coming to inspections@nut.org.uk

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said:

"The NUT is determined to raise members’ concerns with Ofsted.We want a school evaluation system that supports schools, rather than punishing them. Ofsted has made it absolutely clear that a complaint by a school against unfair judgements or the conduct of inspectors will not be detrimental to the school. If your Ofsted inspection paints a picture of your school that you don’t recognise, we want to know."

NUT News - Ofsted
Special Edition - Spring 2010