Cornwall NUT General Meeting
Dates for your diary
27th June May 2009
County Arms, Truro 10am Coffee—10.30am meeting begins Guest speaker Martin Reed—National President. (pictured)
At a packed pre-lobby meeting, NAHT General Secretary Mick Brookes asked the question that will be crucial for all teachers in England over the coming year, “Do we allow something that’s poor practice to continue or do we stand up and be counted?”
Cornwall NUT General Meeting 10 for 10.30 am 12th December 2009 Victoria Inn, Roche
Cornwall NUT AGM 10 for 10.30 am 21st March 2010 County Arms Truro
All members are encouraged to attend. You can claim child care expenses for attending & are invited to join fellow members for refreshments and chat after the meeting.
Cornwall NUT Committee
With the BNP standing a full slate of candidates in the Euro elections in the South West the threat of racist and fascist politics infecting our schools has never been greater. They are also standing in 4 local elections in Cornwall : Liskeard South & Dobwalls Newquay Treloggan Padstow Threemilestone & Gloweth We stand for a fair and just society. We stand for HOPE not Hate. We stand for equality and respect. These are not the values of the BNP.
NAHT & NUT Unite to End SATs
The committee meets about once a term to organise NUT activities, campaigns and ensure that local members views are heard and interests are being protected. We are always looking to improve our effectiveness through increased participation. If you are willing to give up a little time to strengthen the union locally then please email: cornwallnut@aol.co.uk
We are not against assessment. What we want is assessment that is meaningful, assessment that is more accurate and assessment that focuses on what children can do, rather than stigmatising them as failures for the things they can’t do. In the House of Commons education experts joined with parents, governors and teachers to put our case to MPs. Warwick Mansell spoke for all attendees when he said, “Children deserve better and teachers are to be applauded if they feel the need to take a stand against what’s happening.”
The unanimous vote to boycott SATs at NUT Conference, together with the justifiable anger felt by the many teachers is a clear indication that teachers believe enough is enough and are more The most moving speech of than ready to stand up the day came from Conor and be counted in the Muller, year 5 pupil at Benthal Primary battle for a quality education for our School in Hackney. Conor told us, “I heard on the news recently that children. We will not accept our sensible position on assessment being stereotyped by the Secretary of State and some Labour MPs. We will continue to get the message across to the majority of the public who support us that we want an end of SATs because they are bad for children, bad for teachers and bad for the education service.
children in the UK are among the unhappiest in the world. They are also among the most tested in the world. Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so.” Conor said that all his classmates were behind his decision to speak out on SATs. The message is clear. The government should be listening to children and their parents and teachers. It’s time to give children the education they deserve.
Our aim: One Union for ALL Teachers
Prepare to ‘rarely’ cover From 1 September 2009 The current situation teachers will have a Current recommended cover levels are not than 3.5 hours per year in primary and contractual right to ‘only more not more than 11 hours per year in rarely’ cover. secondary. If this limit is being breached in
Cover and HLTAs
rarely’ cover
No HLTA should be actively teaching other than under the supervision of a teacher. Cover supervisors should not be doing any active teaching. Where you are aware that teaching assistants are being requested to go beyond the proper limits of their role, you should inform your NUT school rep or division/association secretary.
We are concerned that some local authorities are seeking to introduce a revised fixed cover limit from 1 September 2009. Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said:
your school, contact your NUT school rep.
The NUT’s view is that, from that date, teachers should only be asked to undertake cover in exceptional circumstances. Make sure that your school is preparing to meet its obligations.
“The Union will strongly resist the retention of a fixed hours limit. Any new limit, School Cover Strategy From 1 September 2009 you should only however low, would quickly be seen as a justified cover level within schools. The The Union’s view is that head teachers rarely be asked to take pupils from a class Union will oppose any changes to the should establish a cover strategy to deal that has been split. current provisions which might weaken your with planned and unplanned absences of contractual right to ‘only rarely’ cover from teachers. Protecting your right to ‘only September 2009.”
Split classes
Cornwall NUT Rep’s Training West & Central 8th July 12 noon—4pm Tyacks, Camborne.
North & East 1st July 12 noon—4pm Eagle Hse Hotel, Launceston. All reps are entitled to attend this training. Lunch, expenses and the cost of lesson cover supplied. Contact Ian Williams for more details: cornwallnut@aol.co.uk
Don’t forget to use the special offfer membership fees to help boost membership amongst NQT teach hers.
If you have any questions or would like to contribute to the next edition of Kernel then please make contact at: nutkernel@gmail.com