27 November 2012

Commenting on The Learning Curve, a report by Pearson which singles out the United Kingdom as sixth highest achiever in their global league table, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

23 November 2012.

The National Union of Teachers is delighted that governors at Petts Hill Primary School, in the west London borough of Ealing, have revoked an earlier decision to convert to Academy status. We believe that this may indeed set a national precedent.

At a meeting on Thursday evening 22nd November governors reviewed their decision last Spring to join a chain of Academy schools. This had been due to commence on 1st December.

22 November 2012

Commenting on the report Managing the Expansion of the Academies Programme, published today by the National Audit Office (NAO), Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: 

“The National Audit Office report specifically warns against deeming the academies programme ‘value for money’. Unsurprising when 10% of the Department for Education’s total budget has been expended on this project, with a staffing increase of 133% in those posts focusing on this work.

19 November 2012.

16 November 2012

Commenting on Ofqual’s confirmation of plans to change the GCSE English grading process for 2013, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: 

“It comes as no surprise that Ofqual are now making efforts to avoid a repeat of this year’s GCSE grading fiasco. It merely confirms the mess they have made in 2012.

14 November 2012.

Commenting on Culture Minister Ed Vaizey’s announcement that automatic library membership to children and young people will be tested in 22 projects across the country, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“It is really pleasing that the Coalition Government has recognised the importance of instilling a love of reading at an early age and the important role that libraries play in achieving this.

14 November 2012

Commenting on prior reports of Michael Gove’s speech to the Independent Academies Association, to be given today, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: 

“Michael Gove appears to have little grasp of what is already in the curriculum. Learning times tables and facts is already a part of the school day.

12 November 2012

School leaders’ unions have joined together to disprove claims that over-marking by teachers caused this year’s GCSE grading debacle – and to force Ofqual to take responsibility for the injustice caused to thousands of students.

As the courts confirmed that a judicial review of the affair will now be heard on 18-20 December, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) announced they would be calling on their members to provide evidence to show that schools did not inflate their marking to get pupils higher grades.

Both unions, which represent more than 45,000 school leaders in the UK between them, are already part of an alliance led by Lewisham Council and formed of 150 schools, 42 councils and six professional bodies which is seeking legal redress on behalf of the pupils who were victims of a decision by the examination boards to change grading boundaries mid-year. That decision led to work of the same standard being graded differently by the exam boards, despite the students being in the same cohort.

Last week, NAHT national executive member Kenny Frederick demanded that Ofqual release evidence of its claims that the changes were imposed to correct inflated marking by schools.

12 November 2012

Commenting on David Cameron’s announcement that 400 primary schools will be forced to become academies, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“There is no evidence to show that academy status in primary schools will bring any educational benefits. Despite this the coalition government is pressing ahead regardless, removing schools from their local authority and handing them over to unelected sponsors.

6 November 2012.

Commenting on the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee report into apprenticeships, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:  

“The MPs’ report into apprenticeships is right when they say that high quality vocational training should be seen on a par with academic achievement and should be promoted within schools as such.

2 November 2012

Commenting on the regulator’s report into this summer’s GCSE marking fiasco, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“Ofqual seem to be shifting the blame whilst at the same time exposing the nonsense of floor targets. They continue to refuse to acknowledge the mistakes they have clearly made. It is high time Ofqual took some responsibility for a situation of their own making.