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Comment on the academic year 2012-2013 examinations

Web Editor 1 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:08:00 +0100

It takes years to prepare for GCSE, AS and A2. It takes hours to mark each examination paper.

BUT IT COULD TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TO INFLUENCE FUTURE PAPERS BY TELLING STANDING JOINT COMMITTEES JUST WHAT YOU THINK!

The Teacher Unions/Associations maintain Standing Joint Committees (SJCs) to let the awarding bodies know the views of Teacher Union/Association members about GCSE, AS and A2.

SJCs are completely independent and, when they comment, awarding bodies take notice. A written response to SJC comments is then made available to schools and colleges.

If you've something to say, download and fill in an SJC comment form, or complete and submit a form online here.

Please submit your comments as soon after the conclusion of the examination that you are commenting upon

Download and print a poster for display on your staff noticeboard.

Free Schools for 2014 - Press Release

Web Editor 5 — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:33:18 +0100

22 May 2013

Commenting on the announcement of 102 new free school applications approved for 2014 onwards by the Department for Education, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“It is extraordinary that at a time when the shortage of primary school places amounts to nothing short of a national crisis that the Government is persisting with the folly of its free school policy. Less than a third of the approved free schools are primary schools; and the overwhelming majority – 45 per cent of the new schools – will be located in London, which by common agreement already boasts the best schools in the country.

Labour’s Interim Report on Further Education - Press Release

Web Editor 5 — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:53:57 +0100

21 May 2013

Commenting on the report Talent Matters – Why England Needs a New Approach to Skills, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“It is the Union’s view that a coherent and integrated education system that places equal value on vocational and educational routes must be in place and the sooner the better.

Evaluation of the Phonics Screening Check: First Interim Report - Press Release

Web Editor 5 — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:26:57 +0100

20 May 2013

Evaluation of the Phonics Screening Check: First Interim Report

Commenting on the report commissioned by the Department for Education and undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“This report will make for very uncomfortable reading by Michael Gove as it has very little to say that is positive about the Phonics Check. The NUT agrees with many of the findings, in particular the key conclusions that schools believe the check provides no new information on pupils’ ability and that phonics should be used alongside other methods in the teaching of reading. This is indeed what happens now.

People's Assembly - 22 June 2013

Web Editor 5 — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:20:17 +0100

The Union is supporting the People’s Assembly which has been called to bring together campaigns against cuts and privatisation in a movement for social justice.

The Assembly will meet in London on Saturday, 22 June 2013 at Central Hall, Westminster to provide a national forum for anti-austerity views.

Further information can be found on the People’s Assembly website, where you can also buy tickets for the Assembly. The website address is: www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk

Soulbury Joint Circular JESC 189: Consultation and Negotiation at Local Level (May 2013)

Web Editor 5 — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:13:02 +0100

This joint circular gives formal guidance on consultation and negotiation between local authorities and the Soulbury associations at local level and also comments further on the car user allowance scheme.

NUT News - Build on the fantastic rallies for education in the north west

Web Editor 5 — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:15:46 +0100

Good Early Years Provision for All: NUT Response

Web Editor 5 — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:24:43 +0100

This response outlines the NUT’s concerns about proposed changes to Ofsted inspection arrangements for early years provision. It also considers Government proposals to extend Ofsted’s role in early years quality assurance and improvement work at the expense of local authorities’ existing support services.

Parents, Teachers and the Public Rally for Education in Cardiff and Newcastle - press release

Web Editor 1 — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:03:39 +0100

17 May 2013

Parents, teachers, head teachers, governors and other members of the public will this Saturday 18 May be taking part in the third of a series of Rallies for Education across England and Wales as part of a campaign to defend the education of children and young people.

The Rallies for Education are jointly organised by the NASUWT and NUT teachers’ trade unions, which together represent nine out of ten classroom teachers across the country.

Saturday’s rallies are being held in Newcastle and Cardiff and will be addressed by NUT General Secretary Christine Blower and NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates, as well as parents, teachers and others.

Recent rallies in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham proved immensely popular and more than 2,000 teachers, parents and other concerned members of the community have attended.

The rallies come as both unions embark on the next phase of their campaign of industrial action which will include a one-day strike in the North West on June 27 with further regional strikes in other parts of England and Wales planned for the Autumn term, culminating in a one day national strike.

Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary said:

“Parents, teachers and the public care deeply about the education of our children and young people. That is why there is widespread opposition to the education policies of the Coalition Government.

“These Rallies for Education are being held in defence of our world class public education system which the Coalition Government is determined to wreck.”

Christine Blower, NUT General Secretary said:

“We know that neither teachers nor parents are happy with education policy under Michael Gove. He is hell bent on riding roughshod over the wishes of parents, local communities and the teaching profession.

“Even the Public Accounts Committee has now publicly criticised him.

“These rallies give an opportunity for the voices of opposition to be raised. We know there are alternatives. Michael Gove must now stop, listen and reflect.”

LGBT Teachers Conference 2013

Web Editor 5 — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:45:02 +0100

The LGBT Teachers' Conference is an annual event that allows the NUT's LGBT members to meet together in a safe space to discuss equality related issues and education in the workplace. Please cli

Parental Leave: Guidance For All NUT Members - May 2013

Web Editor 1 — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:29:17 +0100

This fact-sheet outlines your right to take pre-arranged unpaid parental leave to care for your child. If you qualify, you have a statutory entitlement to a certain amount of unpaid time off work per year per child.

Parental Leave: Sample Letter For NUT Members - May 2013

Web Editor 1 — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:20:15 +0100

This sample letter may be used to request parental leave. Notice should be provided at least 21 days before the leave is to start. See also the NUT’s fact sheet: Parental Leave: Guidance for all NUT members.

Michael Gove’s letter to schools re teachers’ pay - press release

Web Editor 1 — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:34:14 +0100

15 May 2013

Commenting on the letter sent to schools questioning the NUT/NASUWT joint pay policy checklist Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“Michael Gove again demonstrates that whilst saying he wants to give schools more freedom, in reality he wants to impose his own ideas which have repeatedly been demonstrated as having no basis in evidence and as undermining, not enhancing, standards.

Local News March/April 2013

Web Editor 5 — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:25:37 +0100

NUT Wins Ruling in Academy Case

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPAG) Test - press release

Web Editor 5 — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:33:19 +0100

13 May 2013

Commenting on the SPAG test, conducted for the first time tomorrow (14 May), Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“The culture of high-stakes testing has worsened under this Government, with the introduction of both the Phonics Check in Year 1 and the SPAG test in Year 6. Both are unnecessary and harmful because they test children’s skills out of context. Indeed, the Government’s own advisors have said there is no evidence that the tests will improve children’s English and could give a false impression of their level of literacy. (1)

“This is yet another example of Michael Gove failing to understand teaching or to engage in professional dialogue with teachers. Schools would have benefited from a full picture of the style of test questions at the beginning of the academic year, so as to inform learning, but the framework documents only surfaced in December 2012.