The Blair Peach Award is awarded at Annual Conference to give recognition to members who have made exemplary contributions to their school or association or division’s work on equality and diversity. Daniel Kebede was the winner in 2017 for his tireless campaigning on anti-racism. Find out more about Daniel’s work here.

There is so much local equality campaigning and activity going on in the Union and we want to hear about it. Nominate your local activists and campaigners and make sure their work is shared with others and rightly celebrated.

The Government recently updated its guidance on the status of EU nationals following the triggering of Article 50.  The guidance, issued on 7 April 2017, is available as a new information page at GOV.UK and may be accessed here.  The revised guidance replaces the statement issued in July 2016.  

The unions (NUT, ATL and NAHT) have also received a reply to their letter to Justine Greening urging the Government to protect the status of EU teachers already in the UK.  The letter to the Secretary of State and her reply may be found here.

The School Census

Schools are being asked to collect information about the nationality and country of birth of pupils for the first time in this year's census form. This is causing a great deal of anxiety to both parents and schools, who are concerned about the uses to which such information may be put. The School Census 2016/17 guidance provides school groups with a tool for requesting that their school adopts a policy statement of fair processing.

Challenging racism

The NUT has a series of resources available to support schools and teachers to challenge racism, including some produced in partnership with the Show Racism the Red Card, the campaign that uses top footballers to educate against racism.

Education and Extremism – guidance on Prevent

This advice and guidance on the Prevent strategy for members in England and Wales includes practical suggestions about steps that you can take in your school/college towards discussing difficult, complex or controversial issues openly and safely.

It also includes information about the Prevent duty statutory guidance, school inspection and useful resources for teachers.

As a response to the refugee crisis the NUT has created a hub for refugee teaching resources, booklists for primary and secondary teachers and useful websites which have been developed, used and shared by teachers for teachers.
The Welcoming Refugee Children to Your School guide provides information about ways in which you can create a refugee-friendly school, make an accessible curriculum and think about some principles of effective practice.

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, says that from April 2016 teachers from outside the EU who have stayed here as Tier 2 visa holders since 6 April 2011 must leave the country after 6 years unless they are earning at least £35,000 or are on the shortage occupation list (i.e. Maths/Science secondary school teachers).

The NUT wants the Government to rethink its policy, particularly in the light of the teacher shortage crisis.

What you can do to help:

Ask your MP to raise the issue in Parliament and with the Home Secretary.

Why Trans Teachers Matter

The NUT’s Why Trans Teachers Matter leaflet celebrates the importance of supporting transgender pupils and staff and challenging the attitudes which generate transphobia in schools.