National youth arts charity
Music for Youth provides free musical opportunities for young people aged up to 21. The NEU is among its supporters. See page 8 and visit mfy.org.uk
Success after six days of strikes TEACHERS at City and Islington College in London, who took six days of strike action over spiralling workload and graded lesson observations carried out during the pandemic, have had a breakthrough in their dispute. NEU rep and A-level biology teacher Pippa Dowswell said the college management team has agreed to remove “requires improvement” grade 3s from staff profiles for lesson observations done in Covid classrooms. Interview afternoons for prospective students have also been reduced from 15 to three as a result of the action. “We’ve been incredibly well supported and a large number of members turned up on the picket line every morning,” said Pippa. Members had also been considering balloting for action over issues including the failure to give staff the nationally agreed pay rise and compelling staff to return to college on 11 August for enrolment. The college has now agreed staff will get their pay rise backdated in their July pay packet, and staff attendance on enrolment day is voluntary. A protocol on consultation has also been agreed, which means no new working practices will be introduced without timely negotiation with the union. And plans for a new observations policy have been dropped.
Teachers Dan Nelson and Huseyin Cizer (who is a former student) on the picket line
PHOTO by Kois Miah
Commission plans A New Era for education A PANEL of experts appointed to examine whether the assessment system for 14- to 19-year-olds in England is fit for purpose is hearing from educators at focus groups over the summer. Ten commissioners representing leaders and teachers, academics, parents and students sit on the commission, called A New Era. They are taking evidence before publishing a report with recommendations later this year. NEU members Laura McAllister and Nik Jones have already been sharing their views about the assessment system in a film explaining the commission’s work. Both are English teachers at UTC South Durham, a technical college for 14to 19-year-olds with an interest in science,
technology, engineering and maths. Nik said: “The commission is coming at the perfect time. “There’s a growing feeling that things need to change. There is a broad spectrum of voices saying the system is not doing what it’s supposed to do and not working for kids, for staff, for parents or employers.” Laura added: “One of the most sad things for me is that the current system is set up so that a third of students fail. “We have to remember how actually we are disqualifying people we need to do better for.” Impact of exams fiasco The NEU set up the commission, following a special conference in 2020 where many angry and dismayed members detailed the impact of
last summer’s exams fiasco on students. Independent chair Louise Hayward, professor of educational assessment and innovation at the University of Glasgow, said: “The current system fails too many pupils, teachers and schools.” NEU president and secondary head teacher Robin Bevan is a panel member: “As a trade union, we are delighted to take part in this commission with a wide array of organisations, calling for change to the secondary assessment system. “Too many of our students are disadvantaged by a system that bakes in and exacerbates disadvantage for those already up against it in life.” n To find out more about the commission
and submit your views on assessment, visit neweraassessment.org.uk
educate Your magazine from the National Education Union (NEU)
9
