3,000 sign petition defending NEU rep
Greenwich rep Kirstie Paton is facing disciplinary charges for raising health and safety concerns at her school. Sign at bit.ly/2LV5Zbu
Supply educators get NEU subs holiday MEMBERS in financial difficulty are being offered a subscriptions ‘holiday’ by the union. The NEU executive agreed in January to offer the payment break to all those in receipt of grants from the Hardship Fund. This follows a similar response during the first lockdown last year when more than 800 members – mainly supply teachers and agency workers – had their subs suspended for four months from April. The length of the benefit this year will depend on the full reopening of schools and colleges, and will end on 31 August at the latest. Many agencies refusing to pay furlough Katherine Green, supply teacher officer for Kirklees, Yorkshire, told Educate many members were struggling financially during the current lockdown with the loss of longterm arrangements and day-to-day work. She said many agencies were refusing
“Supply members are struggling with the loss of long-term arrangements and day-to-day work.” Katherine Green (left) to furlough supply staff, “leaving them in a dire situation”. “Receiving a subscription payment holiday will provide supply members with the security and support of the union without having to choose between paying their bills and subscription fees,” she said. To request the subs holiday, email the
NEU membership and subscriptions team at membership@neu.org.uk The union will accept membership applications from educators who are experiencing similar financial problems and they will be entitled to the subs break as long as they set up a direct debit for the following membership year starting in September.
Barrister expelled after Ruby Williams racist trope
Ruby, aged 14 in 2016, the first time she was sent home from school because of her natural hair
A BARRISTER has been expelled from his chambers for calling a pupil who won a hair discrimination case against her school a “stroppy teenager of colour” on social media. Ruby Williams was repeatedly sent home from her school because of her afro hair between the ages of 14 to 16 (see Educate, Jan/Feb 2021). Ruby’s family was successful in using the Equalities Act 2010 with the support of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in a legal case against the school. On 17 January, barrister Jon Holbrook attacked Ruby on Twitter when he shared a video from the EHRC about Ruby’s case, commenting: “The Equality Act undermines school discipline by
Advice for Roma after Brexit EASTERN European Roma families may need to take steps to ensure they remain lawfully resident in the UK following Brexit. The NEU has collated information for teachers with Roma children in their schools advising them how they can support families to ensure they have the right to remain in the country. The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
empowering the stroppy teenager of colour.” The tweet was widely condemned and Holbrook was subsequently expelled from his chambers by his employers, Cornerstone Barristers. Ruby’s mother, Kate, told Educate: “This incident has brought back many painful memories. But we are resolved to use this platform to make sure that all schools eradicate this form of policing children with afro hair.” Ruby, who is now 19 and studying at Manchester University, released a statement on Twitter, saying: “If standing up for my right to have the same uniform policy as everyone else in the school makes me a ‘stroppy teenager’ then I am proud to be one.”
requires all non-British and non-Irish EU citizens to register to continue to live and work in the UK by 30 June. Visit neu.org.uk/media/13661
Remembering Black pioneers THE union is planning to mark 30 years of the Black Educators’ Conference this year, including the creation of an archive of pioneering Black teachers.
It will feature women such as Yvonne Conolly, the first Black woman head teacher in the UK, and Beryl Gilroy, who also became a head teacher. Yvonne, who was made a CBE last year, died aged 81 at the end of January, when many paid tribute to her courage and inspiration. Beryl died in 2001. Email suggestions of Black education pioneers to equality@neu.org.uk
educate Your magazine from the National Education Union (NEU)
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