7 minute read
Michael Rosen
An opportunity
Words by Michael Rosen Illustration by Dan Berry
As the Covid pandemic rages across the nation, perhaps now’s a good time to try imagination: we know that politicians have begun conversations on whether it would be right to delay examinations.
But let’s imagine this could be a moment of unity: instead of being a problem, it could be an opportunity. A window has opened, it’s a time we could seize: and ask the question, why do we have GCSEs?
Five years of education reduced to a few hours’ race to scribble as much as possible at a frightening pace. In fact, quite often it doesn’t matter how fast you go what they seem to be testing is what you don’t know.
Now of course this suggestion often causes anxiety but what if we mixed examinations with more variety? School time research, course work that’s invigilated? Marking by teachers that’s rigorously moderated?
Getting this to be debated always takes nerve it’s often resisted by lovers of the bell curve, the system that ranks according to a norm, but hey, isn’t now a good time to kick up a storm?
NEU secures pensions in private sector
THE union’s fight to protect pensions of independent school teachers has scored another victory, bringing the number of schools that have been persuaded to stay in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) to 50.
The chair of governors at Durham High School for Girls told staff in September that the school will remain in the TPS for the next two years, when it will review its position.
Some independent schools are arguing that they cannot afford the scheme after PUPILS from Pakefield Primary in Lowestoft celebrate the sixth annual Wear Red Day on 16 October with a school assembly about what racism is and how to stop it. Organised by anti-racism education charity Show Racism the Red Card, and supported by the NEU, Wear Red Day encourages schools to wear red and donate £1 to help fund anti-racism education. Visit theredcard.org “INTENTIONALLY unhelpful” is how the NEU described controversial elements of new guidance on implementing the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum this academic year.
Some of the non-statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) has proved confusing and alarming to educators and campaign groups. There are concerns the guidance could limit anti-racist teaching, negatively affecting educators’ ability to use material from organisations such as Black Lives Matter, as well as climate change groups such as Extinction Rebellion.
Part of the DfE guidance states: “Schools should not use resources produced by organisations that take extreme political stances on matters. Examples of extreme employer contributions rose from 16.4 per cent to 23.6 per cent in September 2019.
But the NEU, with other unions, has successfully challenged employer proposals to leave the TPS during consultations carried out at independent schools across the country.
The financial impact of Covid-19 has made this fight harder.
Independent sector national official John Richardson said: “While the NEU political stances include ... a publicly stated desire to abolish or overthrow democracy, capitalism, opposition to the right or freedoms of speech ... or organisations that promote victim narratives that are harmful to British society.”
Emphasising that the DfE guidance is non-statutory (and therefore not mandatory), the NEU issued a statement of concern: “We will advise members that ‘promoting divisive or victim narratives’ is an intentionally unhelpful way for the DfE to characterise campaigns that advance participation and human rights, that highlight existing discrimination, or that encourage young people to discuss the barriers they face in their daily lives.” acknowledges that the coronavirus crisis has negatively impacted on independent school finances, it is not a get-out-of-jail-free card to cut pay, pension and ramp up workload.
“Employers need to nurture their best asset – their staff.” n Recognition agreements have been secured by the NEU at six more independent schools over the summer: Wellesley House, Ballard School, Box Hill, Farnborough Hill, St Bede’s
School and Our Lady of Sion. Visit neu.org.uk/RSHE-guidance
Brutal killing of French teacher
THE NEU condemned the killing outside his school of French teacher Samuel Paty on 16 October. In a statement the union said: “Teachers must have the right to carry out their daily work in safety. No one should face threats or violence in the course of their working lives. Members of the NEU in the UK are deeply shocked by this brutal killing.
“Teaching about our human rights and inspiring students to play a positive role in society is part of the vital work that teachers across the world carry out diligently every day.”
The joint general secretaries sent letters of condolence and solidarity to the NEU’s sister union in France, the SNES-FSU, and to the French Education Minister.
Pupils at a primary school in Dorset have made a string of eco achievements as they have led their community towards a greener future. Teacher Edd Moore describes some of their many successes.
WHEN I first joined Damers First School in Dorchester eight years ago, there wasn’t a huge level of environmental awareness.
The children did not know about recycling or how to look after their environment, and just thought their food came from the supermarket.
I saw great potential to embed the EcoSchools programme across the school. This is the largest educational programme in the world, engaging some 19.5 million children in 67 countries, with 20,000 schools in England now signed up.
Every class has an eco ambassador and makes a termly pledge to help animals, people or the environment, giving every child the opportunity to have a voice and speak about the environmental issues they believe in. Year 3 teacher Edd Moore with pupils learning to grow their own vegetables at Damers First School
Pledges have included encouraging the community to feed the birds, making like to see. They are very determined, and Charles, wildlife campaigner Dr Jane Goodall, Dorchester litter-free and asking other schools don’t take no for an answer. The skills they are have twice been interviewed on BBC’s to be involved, and persuading businesses to developing are skills they will need as adults. Newsround, and are now part of Dorset reduce single-use plastic. Council’s climate change panel.
The children have been active in getting ‘How we would all like the world to be’ Pupils have learned about growing the local community to recycle – helping the Their initiatives have seen many achievements vegetables and fruit and have taken this environment and raising £1,500 towards a bird by the school, which won the Roots and knowledge home to their parents – or even hide and wildlife area. The school’s recycling Shoots Educational Environmental Institution taken on an allotment themselves. centre has been so successful that volunteers of the Year award and Eco-Schools Primary The children are fantastic ambassadors for come and help sort items to be recycled. School of the Year 2019. Damers also became how we would all like the world to be. I would
Damers children are enthusiastic a Plastic Free Schools Champion in 2019 and like sustainability to be compulsory in schools; about the project: some have given up their inspired the neighbourhood to secure Plastic for me, children learning about the environment weekends to lobby local businesses on Free Community status. is as important as literacy and numeracy. environmental issues, and others have asked The children won four awards at the n Edd has been shortlisted in the Environment for litter pickers for Christmas… Young Enterprise Fiver Challenge 2018 with Champion of the Year category of the 2020 Tes
The Eco-Schools programme has had their product Waxtastic No Plastic, a waxed School awards. a huge impact on pupils’ learning. They have cotton alternative to plastic gained confidence and believe what they are doing will make a real difference to the cling film. They sold the product at local events, raising Edd’s top eco tips society they live in. They have the passion and £4,500 which financed a Find a staff leader with the enthusiasm, confidence to stand up in front of a room full of school nature area. drive and initiative to take the group forward. people and talk about the changes they would They have met Prince Create a passionate group of eco warriors.‘They don’t take no for Make an audit of the school’s environmental work, celebrate what you do and improve other areas. Make an action plan to work towards. Sign up for Eco-Schools at eco-schools.org.uk Involve staff, parents and the local community. an answer’ Embed environmental work into the curriculum. Take part in national campaigns such as Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean.
