nut norfolk newsletter autumn 2014

1 www.norfolknut.org

Standing Up For Education!


Welcome to edition 50 of the Norfolk NUT Newsletter! I hope you have all had a good start to the academic year, with the Summer break fast becoming a distant memory. Things are fairly quiet on the home front (partly because Mike has been drafted in to cover a temporary gap at Regional Office), but there are rumblings in the distance with everyone reaching the end of yet another Performance Management cycle. Don’t forget that we are still following the same PM policy and Pay Policy that was current in your school last September, so the new rules will not apply just yet and there should be no nasty surprises right at the end of the cycle. When agreeing to new targets, please remember that it is YOUR performance that is being measured, not the performance of any one of your pupils on a given day, so numerical targets based on student data are still completely inappropriate. Look on the website for ideas if you are not sure about what you and your line manager should be agreeing to.

The ‘Stand Up For Education’ campaign has really hit the ground running and I was proud to be at the Liverpool TUC where the manifesto was officially launched. It makes such good sense. I remember the slogan a few years back ‘Good for Teachers - Good for Children’ and I feel that the same still holds true. The future education of Britain’s children is equal on my personal agenda with workload, pay and pension, and the recent more cohesive

From The Editor

Chrissie Smith

and coherent campaign, though a long uphill struggle, finally seems to be paying off. You will be seeing rather a lot of the green tee-shirts in this Newsletter - however be assured that I have more than just the one!

Along with the commemorations for soldiers of the first World War this year(with some fabulous work going on in schools, in Literacy, Music, History and cross curricular projects such as the glazed poppy display at Heather Avenue), we saw the centenary of the Burston Strike school. Perhaps the powers that be should learn some of the lessons taught there. On a similar note, look at some of our success stories, particularly with the Action Short of Strike. This has worked really well under collective negotiation, often alongside our NASUWT colleagues. We don’t hear very much about the early successes using ASOSA. However, woe betide the school management that ignores the early stages . . . if action is escalated to Strike Action where the members come up against ‘non-negotiables’ such as at Benjamin Briton High School, the resulting publicity does little to recommend the management of that school! Congratulations to all of our colleagues over the border whose rolling strikes gave them the result they were hoping for.

I was trying to get through my editorial without mentioning Mr Gove (who?) but I cannot help but feel proud that the pressure on the government from the NUT’s actions has resulted in getting that man off our backs and replacing him with someone who now looks as if she might just be listening. Most of you will already be aware of Ofsted’s latest publication. The cynic in me wonders whether this is just election gloss, but I was ever the optimist. Watch this space!

Chrissie Smith


For the first time in living memory, the Conservative National Conference speech by the Education Secretary was not about bashing lazy teachers and sweeping curriculum changes. It is becoming clear, that as a result of our pressure and action, workload is now a specific policy area for the Government, with the requirement to find ways of reducing ‘unnecessary’ teacher workload.

The NUT has been pressing on the issue of how we should interpret comments by the Secretary of State that teachers should spend more time teaching. We have received assurance that there are no proposals to reduce PPA time or to increase the length of the school day. However, given the previous attempts to abandon national conditions of service, we will need to continue to be vigilant. Nevertheless, a success to be enjoyed! In Norfolk we have had our success stories too;

An academy chain in West Norfolk were unsure whether they would get their 1% pay

increase. Members and NUT officers met with management to make sure staff did get what they deserve. Another new academy conversion tried to lengthen the teaching day. A determined Rep and unified staff negotiated a shorter extension to the day and more non-contact time.At a large Norwich High school, members successfully negotiated a fairer performance management policy and a partnership school near Norwich used collective action to challenge a bullying Head teacher, resulting in their resignation.

Schools Forum voted to bring in a new policy, one year forward of legislation to address equality issues regarding entitlement to leave and pay for Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Surrogacy, resulting in a very relieved and happy young family!

NUT success in Norfolk and beyond.


January February March

April May June

July August September

October November

2014: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE

� NUT publishes YouGovsurvey which givesdamning verdict on Gove

� In NUT ballot,members showsupport for Stand Upfor Educationcampaign and furtherstrike action ifnecessary

� STRB rejects Gove’s

proposals to scrapworking-time limits and

PPA time� NUT social media

campaign forcesgovernment to publish

results of 2013workload survey

� Street stalls all overthe country� NUT announces strikedate

� Hundreds of MPslobbied by NUTmembers� NUT out in force onPeople’s Assemblydemonstration

� NUT in co-ordinatedstrike with other unions� Gove says that NUTdoes not have children’sinterests at heart

� Manifesto for Education

launched� NUT ballot begins� NUT conducts workload

survey of members� Nicky Morgan tells Tory

Party conference thatteacher workload is too high

� NUT Conference agrees

‘Engage – Pressure –Strike’ strategy includingManifesto for Education,lobby of MPs and a further

strike

� NUT hosts majorProfessional UnityConference� Stand Up for Educationstreet stalls take place allover the country� March 26th nationalstrike

� NUT wins media battle

� NUT confirmed as the

only teacher union to

report membership

growth in 2013

#proudtobeNUT

Gove declaresthat he is atwar withteacher unions

Gove issacked!

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JOIN THE NUT www.teachers.org.uk/join020 7380 6369

� #TellNicky is top of

UK twitter trends� Manifesto for Education

wins widespread support

� Ofsted publish “myth-

busting” clarifications

to be continued....

� Nicky Morgan announcesmajor consultation andreview of teacher workload


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Following a long process of discussion dating back to around March we set out the NUT position of compliance or we would take action. The NUT were actively involved in suggesting amendments to the school’s pay policy. The Head finally agreed to meet face to face in the second week of September. We had conducted a poll of members which indicated that 18 out of 21 members would take strike action. I reported this overwhelming support for strike action to the Head.

At the September meeting, which lasted two hours, I set out what needed to be amended to make the pay policy compliant and said that we had conducted a second ballot of members which showed overwhelming support for strike action from an exceedingly high turnout. The Head made some very minor changes to the policy and communicated them to me ten days later. We then conducted an official indicative ballot for action which had support of over 90% (yes from a 90% turnout). This was communicated to the Head as official overwhelming support for strike action.

In our sister Union, Chris Keates decided that the NASUWT would embark on six days of action, 1 day in week one, 2 days in week two and 3 days in the third week, starting on 1st October. The NUT result would not be known until 1st October so clearly this was designed to steal a march on the NUT. There was no consultation about this date or any of the other dates. We found them out from the school Facebook account. The NUT members at the school went along to the picket line to support their NASUWT colleagues in a spirit of unity. The NUT then took two days of strike action alongside NASUWT colleagues on 8th and 9th October. On 7th October myself plus Des Hart plus

Keith Anderson (NASUWT) met for five hours with the Head and governors to reach agreement to avoid the strike. Some limited progress was made but there was still no agreement on pay progression and the school was adamant that they would not move any further from their original policy.

On the first day of the three day action there was another really good turnout by members of both unions. At 4.30 pm that night we met to try and reach agreement on the pay policy. At 7.30 pm following a recess the school agreed in principle to the section on pay portability, pay progression main scale and pay progression on the upper pay spine. The deletion of their paragraphs and the insertion of paragraphs from the NASUWT/NUT Model Pay Policy was then consideredWhat this shows is that if you keep restating the NUT line eventually they concede. It has taken six days of strike action to get us to the point that I set out back in September. This is such an unnecessary delay and it has damaged pupils’ education but that is the school and the governing body’s fault. Unity is strength and it is important that all the members are united. At BBHS as a result of the strike action only year 7 were able to be in attendance because there were so few staff in. The NUT and NASUWT members have been magnificent and there is no reason why this cannot be repeated anywhere else in Suffolk, Norfolk and beyond!

Graham White - Eastern Region Executive Member

(Since this was written, we have heard that the management have backed down completely and the strike action was an unmitigated success! Congratulations - Ed)

ASOSA Success: Benjamin Briton High

Another victory! - Graham White (left) pictures with Chrissie Smith and Nick O’Brian Picket Line at BBHS


Norfolk Association Further Success for the NUT

Government agrees to review teacher workload In recent weeks the three main political parties in Westminster have acknowledged what the NUT has been saying for the last two years – that teacher workload is too high and teachers need to spend less time on tasks that take them away from a focus on teaching and learning. So great is this recognition that the government has launched an urgent review of teacher workload and is consulting with teachers and their unions about this. The consultation is called The Workload Challenge, Teachers are being asked to send in examples of accountability tasks and other work that do not have an impact on teaching and learning. In announcing the review, Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said, “I believe it’s time for us to stop that runaway train of bureaucracy in its tracks, giving our teachers more time to do what they do best - creating and planning the best possible lessons and experiences for our children.” This follows Nicky Morgan’s statement that teachers should be trusted to decide how and what to teach. Campaigning works NUT members should be pleased at this news and the role our union has played in bringing about the review. For it is the NUT who have campaigned consistently on the issue of workload an accountability, highlighting the increased hours teachers are working and the huge numbers leaving the profession. Only ten months ago the government was hoping that the School Teacher Review Body (STRB) would get rid of all the protections teachers have under 1265 hours and 195 days (see box right). Now we have the opportunity to shape the first major review of workload for decades. This shows that our campaigning activity and strike action have had an impact. Take the opportunity The NUT has created a great opportunity for us to bring about some positive change, and we encourage all teachers to take part in the government survey. Of course nothing has changed yet and we must keep up the pressure for a solution that will benefit children and teachers. There are some solutions that would not be good for children and others that would not be good for teachers.

NUT campaign creates opportunity for change

Changing the narrative ❏ In January 2014 Michael Gove said that the problem in schools was that teachers were not working long enough hours and that heads needed freedoms to make them work more than 1265 hours and 195 days. ❏ In March 2014 the NUT forced the government to release its own figures showing a 10% increase in teachers’ working time. ❏ In July 2014 Michael Gove said that the NUT does not have children’s interests at heart. ❏ In July 2014 Michael Gove was sacked. ❏ In October 2014 Nicky Morgan has conceded that the problem in schools is that teacher are working too many hours, creating stress and exhaustion, which is not good for children. ✔ The one constant voice in this time has been NUT members Standing Up for Education all over the country and winning the argument.

Follow the NUT on Twitter @NUTonline @ELNUT2606

The NUT has drawn up an Action Programme to reduce teacher workload, which we think would be good for teachers, children and education. Please have a look at this on the NUT website and consider using this in your response to The Workload Challenge.

Things to do ✔ Go online and complete the government workload survey www.surveymonkey.com/s/Workloadchallenge ✔ Meet as a school group to discuss how you can use the Ofsted clarifications in your school ✔ Discuss the NUT Action Programme to reduce workload with colleagues ✔ Elect an NUT Rep if you don’t already have one ✔ Try to send someone from your school to the next local NUT meeting


Universal Infant Free School Meals – How’s it Going?

Currently, when Primary Teachers get together, the conversation tends to start with questions about the new curriculum and what packages the school is looking at to replace curriculum levels. The next topic is often, ‘How is your school coping with so many more having free school lunches?’

Launched by Nick Clegg at the Liberal Democrat Conference, as an idea or sound bite it sounded great, every child from Reception to Year 2 to have a free school lunch. Recommended as part of the Leon Report it was based on two principles: that packed lunches were often less nutritious than a school hot lunch and that free lunches for all would raise academic standards. The new policy, it was stated, would mean an extra 1.55 million lunches being cooked and that additional funding would be available to help schools get ready for an implementation date of September 2014. BBC News (2.9.14) reported that the new policy would cost £50 million more than the budgeted increase in funding and that 1700 Primary Schools had no kitchen at all.

So, as we approach October half term, I can’t help but wonder how Norfolk schools are coping with the new initiative. Anecdotal evidence is that varies greatly. New kitchens were installed but budgets for new lunch time staffing were limited. The result being that many KS1 teachers are now helping serve lunches to their children in school lunch/sport halls. Some of the larger schools who were providing hot lunches to small

Please sir!

schools stopped this service (apparently – according to teacher chat - one school provided M&S sandwiches to pupils whilst setting up an alternative). Office staff have spent hours and hours setting up and reviewing systems to record the new lunch choices so that food could be ordered well in advance with the result that in some schools the option to order on the day has stopped. Some schools allow a choice of bringing a packed lunch but some do not – how much food is wasted by children not wanting to eat the lunch provided and how does that impact on that child’s learning in the afternoon?

I can’t help but wonder about two more issues. The first being the research underpinning this idea – that it would raise academic standards. For most Primary Schools the Literacy and Numeracy lessons are in the morning. How many children arrive without having had breakfast? Would free breakfast clubs have been a better option? It would also help those parents who need to set off to work early and avoid the ‘latch key’ effect for some children. In addition, a large lunch can make me sleepy – are KS1 children more alert after a hot lunch? What research is being carried out to see the impact of this initiative?

Finally, how are Schools identifying their FSM children? The Pupil Premium money is for FSM children – are schools in danger of missing out on this funding by not knowing who their KS1 FSM entitled pupils are? Getting ‘voluntary’ forms filled in can be challenging at the best of times. My favourite idea is the Norfolk School offering free uniform vouchers to parents who completed the FSM form in KS1 irrespective of whether they were entitled. The costs involved are outweighed by the additional funds coming in.

Union Reps – are your teaching staff being tasked with additional duties to support this initiative? Other Unions (MSA/Office Staff/Kitchen Staff) what patterns are they finding? The goodwill of so many staff is making this work for the children in some of our schools but will additional staff & funding follow?

Beverly Hart


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If life is an adventure then we believe the adventure should begin at the beginning! We aim to make every day an adventure in discovery, learning and self-reliance. Children are unlikely to make informed decisions as they get older, if they aren’t encouraged and given the opportunity to explore, use their imaginations and make their own choices as they grow and develop.

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After carrying out a ‘Teachers Pension Presentation’ at a school in Norfolk, a teacher contacted me to discuss her own pension concerns. Having established that she did not wish to carry on working full time as a class room teacher through to her normal retirement age of 60; she wished to find out what impact it would have if she chose to retire early.

Therefore we sat down and talked about what was important: work, health, family, and leisure but most of all the transition from work to retirement. Planning for retirement can be a worrying time and this teacher’s main concern was to establish the amount of monthly income her pension would provide her with, so that she could look forward to the lifestyles that she wished for in retirement.

Together we discussed retiring early and the impact this would have on the amount of pension income and lump sum benefits she might receive. By taking early retirement at the age of 57 and 7 months, it would mean that her pension would be reduced by 10.06%. She was not impressed and the net monthly pension was lower than she’d been hoping for.

We continued to talk and I highlighted that she might consider reducing her hours to three days a week (point 6) and carry on working until a date closer to her 60th birthday, however she was concerned about the impact this would have by reducing hours and having a part time salary. After explaining that her pension calculation would still be based on the full time equivalent salary or the average salary I also added that she would not build up service for the days when she was not working. Not only did the school agree to this, she in fact worked for another two and a half months beyond her 60th birthday as she wished to retire at the end of the academic year.

This meant there was no actuarial reduction of her pension benefits and her monthly pay from her pension was only lowered by a net amount of £37 per month and her lump sum by £1,674 - which was a small price to pay for her reduced working hours, which she was greatly appreciative of.

In conclusion, until she spoke to us, this teacher was unaware what she could put into place regarding her work load and the impact on her pension. It also helped her moving from full time work to three days a week to now none. She is now a very happy retired teacher!!

A Teacher’s Tale

Encourage members from your division/association to participate in these events:• LGBT Teachers’ Conference – 29 November 2014

And tell reps/members about:• Transgender Day of Remembrance – 20 November 2014• UK Disability History Month – 22 November to 22 December 2014 At:

www.ukdisabilityhistorymonth.com/in-education• World Aids Day – 1 December 2014• LGBT History Month – 1 to 28 February 2015

At: www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk

Important forthcoming events


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Nicky Morgan responds to NUT pressure “There is more that the DfE can do to tackle unnecessary workload”

The Ofsted “myth-busting clarifications” are one step towards addressing our demands to reduce teachers’ working hours. They can be used to bring about change in schools. They cover areas such as:

• Planning • Marking • Lesson observations • Use of data

❏ Make sure you meet as a school group to discuss these. ❏ Can you identify some key areas where you can use these to make a difference?

Another Success!


Whos Who atHamilton House

Beth Davies Past president

Christine Blower General Secretary Ian Murch Treasurer

John Dixon Kevin Courtney Deputy General Secretary

Max Hyde President 2014 Phillipa Harvey Vice President


Thank you to all the members who joined us for the first Norfolk Division NUT Gathering. It was a brilliant success and it was a perfect opportunity for Officers to meet members and share our success stories. Unlike previously, the officers shared news, decisions and made recommendations which needed to be ratified, at the beginning of the gathering, leaving time for networking socialising and just relaxing, something that many teachers don’t have much time for!

Does this make any of you wonder what this has got to do with the work of the Union and how you get your activists from what is simply a meeting over a couple of drinks? If you weren’t there, you might be surprised that we managed to do far more than at one of our previous style meetings.

First and foremost, it gave everyone a chance to catch up with other teachers with different or similar experiences and backgrounds. NQTs and PGCE students were able to meet some of our retired members who are still keen to keep up with latest news views and campaigns and lend us the benefit of their experience. Because of the informal setting, newcomers found it easier to ask questions, tell us about themselves and in the case of one young NQT, give us older ones an insight into the brave new world of technology which will make organising, sharing information and keeping everyone in the loop so much easier. Even Scott learned something new!

As for getting more people active in the union - - - getting to a meeting IS an action; volunteering to deliver manifestos or write an article for the newsletter or website IS an action and making suggestions about how to engage a fuller range of teachers IS an action. So, having become active in the union, we look forward to seeing you all in December (with your colleagues and new recruits) to give us ideas of what other activities might appeal to the members of Norfolk Division

Please join us for the Christmas Social on Friday 12th December @ Vodka Revolution 6.30pm

Norfolk NUT Social Gathering


Norfolk NUT invites you to our

Christmas Social Friday December 12

6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Food at 7pm

Please join us for free Xmas buffet, welcome drinks and friendly chat at Revolution Vodka, Tombland, Norwich

Please bring along a friend - NUT, teacher or not, we want to meet you!

Any questions? [email protected]


Students, NQTs and teachers new to the area - please introduce yourself to your school NUT Rep. We will get an some useful information to you ASAP. We are available for advice and support. Moreover we host many events over the year; check updates on the Norfolk NUT Website. Please join us:

26th SeptemberNQT Social event @ Vodka Revolution 6.30pm

10th October Norfolk Association Gathering @ Vodka Revolution 6.30pm

6th NovemberNorfolk Association Gathering - The Globe at King’s Lynn

12th DecemberXmas Young Teachers Social @ Vodka Revolution 6.30pm

Welcome to Norfolk and welcome to Norfolk NUT.

Peter Loughlin

Hello UEA PGCE students. My name is Peter Loughlin. I have recently started my Primary PGCE at the University of East Anglia before which I worked as a teaching assistant at Dereham St Nicholas Junior School. Hope you all have a great year and please contact me if you have any questions and issues for the NUT.

Pete.

Freya Hunter will be acting as the NUT SNITT /SCITT link.

‘Hello to all trainees! I have recently commenced my secondary SCITT training (School Direct) in RE with SNITT, and have been placed at Ormiston Victory Academy for my first placement. Prior to starting teacher training I held support roles at Falcon Junior School, Manor Field SRB and Notre Dame High School. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns for the NUT and I can signpost you to the right person. Good luck with the year ahead!

Freya


Workload Survey Reveals Shocking ResultsThe recent survey conducted by the NUT has only confirmed what every teacher has had been aware of for several years now: workload has risen alarmingly, and most teachers are now working longer hours than ever. The stress of this, along with OFSTED performance and accountability measures, poor pupil behaviour and punitive pay and performance management practices have pushed teachers closer and closer to the edge. This has resulted in more illness than ever before, through anxiety, stress and exhaustion, causing both long and short term absences. How many more teachers are not going off ill, but are trying to cope with such illnesses and are living thoroughly miserable lives, undergoing low morale, low self-esteem and dreading going into school on a Monday morning or after the school holidays?

The survey results reflect this; revealing that 90% of teachers have considered leaving the profession in the last year, and half of the surveyed teachers know someone who has left the profession recently. How many teachers know colleagues who are near breaking point with the workload but who carry on, not wanting to let the children or their colleagues down? How many teachers know of colleagues who have been off with stress in the past year? Every teacher and every school will have their own unpleasant experiences of these.

I retired this year at 55, forced out with ill-health and stress due to the never ending and crippling workload. I am doing supply teaching now, and I met a teacher two weeks ago who is seriously thinking of leaving the profession because she is so ‘burnt out’ and disillusioned with the excessive workload – she is 31 years old! Shame on this government, this is an absolute disgrace.

This leads me on to my second point – retirement age. If you joined the Teachers’ pension scheme after 2007, you have to go to 65 to get a full pension. If you join after April 2015, your retirement Steve Smith

age is linked to the state pension age. The state pension age is set to rise one year for every ten years starting from 2020 up to 2050. For example, a 22 year old who starts teaching in 2016, will have to teach until they are either 69 or 70, depending on ‘the economic climate at the time’; according to government pension forecasts that can be found on the on-line state pensions website. You can round up to 70, rather than round down to 69, I suggest!

How can teachers possibly teach at 70 under present conditions that teachers have to endure? To me, it is an impossibility, and teachers will be leaving the profession well before this due to illness, exhaustion, low morale or wanting to find another career that is far more favourable. Many more bright young graduates will choose other less crippling, less stressful and better paid careers!

So if ever there is a time to keep up the pressure on the government, then it is now, with our ‘stand up for education’ campaign and our programme of strike action where this is felt necessary. We will not allow any government to treat us this way anymore. Enough is enough, support the campaign, support strike action.

Steve Smith


NUT Remembers ‘The Longest Strike in History’On Sunday 7th September NUT members from Norfolk and Suffolk joined trade union colleagues and others from across the whole country in commemorating the longest strike in history - by attending the one hundredth annual march and rally in the Norfolk village of Burston. They were marking the centenary of events that followed the story of Kitty and Tom Higdon, a wife and husband team of head and assistant teacher and both NUT members, who were sacked on trumped up charges. The pupils of their Norfolk village school came out on strike on April 1st 1914 calling for the reinstatement of their teachers and refusing to work with the replacement that had been sent from County Hall.

So began the Burston school strike, known as the longest strike in history which is now celebrated as one of the TUC’s Big Four annual festivals (along with the Tolpuddle Martyrs, the Durham Miners, and the Black Country’s Women Chainmakers).

The main reason behind the dismissal was that Tom Higdon was recruiting labourers to the agricultural workers’ union (he went on to become its national treasurer) and was involved in local politics. Kate Higden’s uncompromising campaign for proper heating and drains for the school also upset the local ‘squirearchy’ and church worthies.

Mrs Higdon was represented by an NUT lawyer, and a

Bob Crow, who passed away earlier this year.

Burston NUT stall 2012 Des Hart; Regional Officer Burston Strike school today


member of the education committee argued her case but they were unsuccessful and the Higdons were dismissed and evicted from their cottage. The village of Burston rallied to their cause and set up a strike school which, supported by contributions from throughout the trade union and labour movement, lasted until 1939.

Tom Higdon felt his wife had initially been poorly served by the Union, which was not among those supporting the strike school. In the first instance it did not agree to pay her victimisation pay.

However, the timidity of the Union’s tenure committee was reversed when, after pressure from a powerful minority of members at the Union’s conference and an NUT enquiry into the case, the NUT redeemed itself by awarding Mrs Higdon victimisation pay backdated to her dismissal. The Union also agreed, exceptionally, to continue payments after the normal five-year limit under the rules of the sustentation fund. (Although an NUT member, Tom Higdon did not seek support from the Union.)

So on September 7th 2014, hundreds of people, accompanied by colourful banners representing trade unions and workers’ groups from across the country and supported by rousing music from two brass bands marched along the rural roads of Burston, to commemorate the longest strike in British history. The procession followed the same route taken by the village’s schoolchildren who marched in support of their beloved teachers almost a century before.

The school building, made up of stones engraved with the names of the Union groups that supported them

remains to this day and continues to be a national symbol for trade union solidarity and the battle for democracy in the countryside.

Since the 70th anniversary in 1984 campaigners have built on the commemoration and have gathered at Burston village green every year to remember the strike and to address the issues affecting workers’ rights today.

This year the rally was opened by Unite Regional Secretary Peter Kavanagh and other speakers included MP Jeremy Corbyn as well as columnist and author Owen Jones. In addition RMT speaker Geoff Revell reminded all present of the sad loss in the past year of Burston stalwarts Bob Crow and Tony Benn.

The NUT stand contained information about the history of the dispute, general educational material on teacher trade unionism, helium balloons as well as details of the current campaign, where the NUT is fighting to protect the working conditions of teachers from the attacks of the current government as well as protecting the education of our children - just as the Higdens did. A century on from the start of the dispute the need for strong unions is as necessary now as it has ever been.

Put a date in your diary to take part in the first commemoration of the second century which will take place on the first Sunday of September in 2015.

Des Hart (Regional Officer)

We are now taking nominations for the Blair Peach Award 2015. The BPA 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. More details about the award, previous winners and how to nominate someone can be found at:

www.teachers.org.uk/node/20234

Blair Peach Award 2015


NUT workload survey – a cry from the heartIn the space of just four days over 16,000 members responded to a short online survey about workload, the results of which should concern all politicians. Of those responding:

• 90% have considered leaving teacher during the last two years

• 87% know one or more colleagues who have left because of the workload

• 96% say that their workload has a negative effect on their family or personal life

The comments made by teachers are truly shocking and show how urgently something needs to be done – these two examples are typical:

• “I have three young boys who I barely spend time with any more. Just writing that upset me deeply.”

• “The amount of planning and paperwork required and then thorough marking – trying to mark 120 books a day is daft.”

Over the last few weeks there has been an encouraging shift in the way the government has been talking about, and to, teachers – and so there should be. As a result of NUT campaigning and pressure, Nicky Morgan now recognises that there is an urgent need to address teacher workload and bureaucracy. In her speech to the Conservative Conference, the Secretary of State spent a long time talking about workload and said that she is concerned that high levels of accountability were burning teachers out and she will be talking to unions about how to address this.

Nicky Morgan’s speech came on the same day that the NUT released the results of an online survey of members, which underlined the problem. The next day, in an interview on Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, she spent a long time talking about the same issue, saying that it is not good for children if teachers are stressed and exhausted. So far we have not heard of any concrete proposals from Nicky Morgan about how the government will address the problem, but it is clear that the door is opening to us. At last we have an opportunity to win something that will make a difference for teachers, children and education.

Make no mistake – this development is a result of campaigning, pressure and strike action by NUT members. It is the NUT who Nicky Morgan has mentioned in her speeches and interviews.

With signs that our pressure is working and making politicians listen it is vital that we step up our campaigning at all levels and keep the pressure on.

Alex Kenny


Liverpool TUCEarlier this year, I was delighted to be nominated and selected to attend the TUC in Liverpool to represent Eastern Region. It gave me an insight into how everything fits together and also a chance to meet up with senior activists from other parts of the country. It also made me feel that our Norfolk voice (accent included) is being heard and considered in all parts of the Trade Union Movement.

Apart from meeting some of the ‘Good and the Great’ from the Trade Union movement, we had debates on a whole range of topics - from the effects of poverty at home to the crisis caused by war in other parts of the world, and how working people are affected by government policy. There was an opportunity to question the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney and the Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Innovation, Chuka Umunna. Guess which one impressed me most? I did wonder if we had just met Britain’s first black Prime Minister . . .

Across the year there are a variety of conferences organised by the NUT and the TUC so if you are interested in representing the region, make yourselves known to us. I highly recommend it!

Chrissie Smith

Pictures below show Francis Grady, questioning each of the speakers. Look at the body language and see which one impressed her the most!

So we want all NUT members to:

• go to the NUT website and e-mail your MP about workload www.teachers.org.uk

• volunteer to help distribute the NUT Manifesto for Education to parents and others

The NUT is campaigning for teachers and education and together we are making a difference.

The door is open, let’s keep it open –join the campaign to Stand Up for Education!

Alex Kenny


Division Secretaries’ Report

Scott Lyons Joint Division Secretary

The Norfolk Division Secretaries have settled well into their new roles, with Chrissie available full time during term-time and Scott available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week. Casework continues to come in steadily though we have felt the benefit of the advice line, which has taken some of the early stages of casework off our hands. In the first instance, members are asked to phone 02030066266 or email: [email protected]. Often there turns out to be a simple and straightforward answer but cases get forwarded to us when a face-to-face approach would be more appropriate. This has kept casework manageable this half term (though I’m not wanting to tempt fate) and given a little more time for organising and working on training, extending lines of communication and building up our growing ranks of young activists.

We still have the benefit of sage advice from Mike, who has kept one Norfolk Facilities day each week, even though he has been temporarily poached by Regional Office. Vicky continues to assist wherever possible and she will be taking over the running of the new website in the next few months.We are delighted with the change of attitude shown from the Secretary of State for Education and we’re looking forward to quoting ‘What Ofsted Really Wants’ when pressure is put upon our members in schools, who are sick to the back teeth of management saying; “Well Ofsted will expect . . . “

ASOSA is still an extremely useful tool in our armoury and now we have the splendid example of Benjamin Briton High School, just over the border to refer to, if school managers are not taking their members seriously when it comes to workload, directed time, planning, admin tasks, meetings, observations etc. We have worked well with our NASUWT colleagues in a number of schools to put pressure on to bring about change. In every case, it is the collective action that holds the most sway. “Better together” is a very apt slogan.

The ‘Stand up For Education’ manifesto has been well received in the county; however, we’re still hoping for a “yes, yes” vote in the latest ballot so that we have the option of that extra bit of pressure where needed to redress the workload balance. We will be continuing to distribute the manifestos to governors, parents and members of the public to win the battle of hearts and minds, which some people thought was beginning to ebb in recent months. We would like every single member active in this particular battle - so if anyone wants to help out on an NUT stall in your nearest town, or make door to door deliveries, or take them to a local church or social group, do get in touch so we can order more copies and get them out to you.

There has been a bit of a rush to gain Academy status in some areas. If your school seems to have

Vicky Warnes Assistant Secretary


something planned, please get in touch so that we can ensure that the proper procedure is followed (if you can’t persuade your management to stick outside of the academy system entirely). We have always had our concerns about the ethics behind academisation and recent news headlines have done nothing to reassure us.

When academies are transferred, they go through a process called TUPE which gets all the County union officials involved, along with the LA to make sure that the terms and conditions for staff are not eroded. Academies can then choose to buy back NCC services or use their own. One issue that we have

spent time on is persuading academy chains to buy back into the county’s facilities pot, which covers such things as parental leave, jury service, armed forces and release for Trade Union activities. This is vital if we want to continue to give time to our lay-officers to support members in schools during the working day when there may be issues that need our negotiating skills. It is also of utmost importance that school reps, URLs and H&S reps take the time off that they are entitled to attend training which is provided free by the NUT.

Chrissie & Scott

Officer and Rep of the Year: 2014Each year, members are able to nominate school reps and local Union Officers who they think have gone ‘over and above’ in the work they do for the NUT - either in terms of communicating, recruiting, campaigning, inspiring others , supporting other members or being active in some other way. Two years ago we were delighted to have two of our own nominated, who went on to receive awards at conference. This year, Rep of the year went to Deane Narayn-Lee and Officer of the year went to Ed Finch from Oxfordshire.

If you have been impressed by the work of your rep or any of the local officers, please send nominations, with reasons to Regional Office. Let’s keep Norfolk firmly on the NUT map!

Ed Finch receives his award from Christine Blower

Rep of the year - Deane Narayn-Lee


FAQs on Temporary and Fixed - Term Contracts(We have had a lot of casework on these recently - particularly in academies - so worth another read)

Q1. I have been given a fixed term contract. Do I have the same rights as the colleagues who are permanent?

Yes! The Fixed-Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 provide that employers must not treat fixed-term employees less favourably than similar permanent employees with regard to pay, conditions of service and pensions and also place restrictions on the repeated use of fixed-term contracts.

Q2. Can any teaching post be offered on a fixed term contract?

No - There are three types of acceptable fixed-term contract:

The first is a contract that will end on a specific date, for example;

• to cover a period of leave where the end date is known;• to cover a period of secondment;• to cover a period of in-service or educational training; • for a fixed-term pending an appointee filling a permanent post on a specific date.

The second type of contract is one which will end when a specific event does or does not happen, for example,

• to cover another teacher’s sickness or maternity or parental leave absence;• to cover any other period of paid/unpaid leave where the end date is not known; • to cover a temporary reduction in the hours of a member of staff.

The third is a contract which will end when a particular task has been completed, for example:

• to implement a new scheme of work, or • to cover a short-term temporary increase in workload.

Q3. When is unacceptable to Use a Fixed-Term or Temporary Contract?

The NUT regards the following circumstances as unacceptable for using fixed-term or temporary contracts:

• where schools anticipate falling rolls or budgetary restrictions and wish to use fixed-term contracts as a means of achieving staffing reduction by not renewing these at a future date;

• where schools wish to impose a probationary period upon a teacher before confirming their appointment on a permanent basis.

Q4. Can a fixed term contract end at any time?

It depends on the contract. Where a teacher is employed on a fixed-term contract to teach for a complete term, the expiry dates should be December 31st, April 30th or August 31st.


The only time when an earlier expiry date may be acceptable is when the contract is a temporary one covering a period of sickness or maternity leave or other short-term leave of absence and the substantive post holder has a predicted return date earlier than the end of the school’s working term.

Q5. Can fixed term contracts be renewed indefinitely?

No! After four years on two or more fixed-term you will be entitled to become a permanent member of staff, unless the use of a fixed-term contract is objectively justified.

Q6. Am I entitled to Training while I am on a fixed term contract?

Yes. The 2002 Regulations state that employees on fixed-term contracts should have the same opportunity to receive training as permanent employees unless unequal treatment can be justified. The NUT does not envisage any circumstances where treating such employees differently could be justified.

Q7. Should I be notified of Vacancies?

Yes. You have the right to be informed of available vacancies at your workplace. Posting of vacancies on a public notice board or local authority intranet would be an acceptable way of doing this.

Campaign against UKIPNUT members are joining with other local action groups to campaign against UKIP’s rise to power. They will be running Information Stalls in Yarmouth on a regular basis and having some very interesting conversations with local residents. If you would like to volunteer on the stall, please contact our campaign organisers - contact details are on the back page.


Dear colleague

I am writing to inform you about some positive movement in the talks with the Government on teachers’ excessive workload.

The pressure of the NUT campaign has resulted in the publication by Ofsted of an important statement. It clarifies what Ofsted DOES NOT expect schools to do or provide during, or before, inspection. This should provide teachers with the ammunition they need to reduce expectations on them in preparation for, or during, an Ofsted inspection. It states, for example, that Ofsted DOES NOT:

• require teachers or schools to provide individual lesson plans for inspectors, or previous lesson plans • expect schools to use the Ofsted evaluation schedule to grade teaching, or individual lessons • require schools to undertake a specified amount of lesson observation • expect to see a particular frequency or quantity of work in pupils’ books or folders • expect to see unnecessary or extensive written dialogue between teachers and pupils in exercise books and

folders • expect performance and pupil-tracking data to be presented in a particular format.

The full document can be found at: http://www.teachers.org.uk/education-and-equalities/ofsted

We will be writing to your school rep with advice about how to use this statement to secure workload reductions. It can help to eliminate activities that do not support teaching and learning and which are damaging teachers’ health and well-being. However, we know that teacher workload has a variety of causes and this statement only opens the door to a possible reduction in workload. But it is a sign that our pressure is working.

We need to keep up the campaign to force the Government (and Ofsted) to end the relentless test, league-table and inspection driven pressure and to negotiate properly about pay and pensions. Our campaign is working and we are strongly hoping for a ‘Yes, Yes’ outcome to the ballot to maximise the pressure in the forthcoming talks.

Yours sincerely,

CHRISTINE BLOWER NUT General Secretary

Christine Blower, speaking at the TUC


Letters to the secretary:

Disbandment of Norwich Branch of Retired Teachers’ Association. I am writing to inform you that the Norwich City N.U.T. Retired Teachers’ Section will cease to meet from the end of 2014. For several years we have found it very difficult to arrange speakers for our monthly meetings, as most have either been too expensive or have been unwilling to take bookings to visit the small number of members (at most about 12–15) who attend our meetings. Most of our members are now quite elderly and in spite of a varied programme it has been impossible to attract new members. Therefore it was with great reluctance that the decision was taken at this year’s A.G.M. that the Section will be unable to continue after the end of this year. Yours faithfully, Linda Sullivan (Mrs)

Norfolk NUT would like to thank Linda for all her hard work. It has been much appreciated by the members.

I recently received this letter from a worried teacher:

I am very concerned about the lack of leadership given to schools that are federated. I am towards the end of my career, but I fear for young teachers like my daughter who is doing a P.G.C.E. this year and will be entering the profession shortly. How is a Head teacher meant to lead 3 schools successfully? How can staff and pupils be kept safe when there is no one on site to manage difficult situations?

Last year I had two children with statements in our class, who could not cope with the school routine. There was no chance of referring those pupils to a PRU for the help and support they needed as there are none left with places available! They shouted, screamed, threw things, pulled things off the wall and trashed the classroom on a regular basis. They constantly had to be removed from the classroom or if they would not move, the class had to be taken to another room or we had to barricade ourselves in. The time spent dealing with their behaviour clearly affected the education of the other children. When they were sent out, at least one member of staff had to be with them for health and safety reasons. Most of the time there was no Head teacher on site to give support. The Deputy Head had to constantly come out of her class to give back up, leaving all the pupils in her own class, vulnerable. I understand that some federated schools do not even have a Deputy Head so what would happen then, I wonder . . .

How are teachers meant to teach outstandingly in these circumstances? Norfolk is being slated at present because results are poor, but is it any wonder results are not good? I don’t know if the Union has had concerns raised by other teachers, but I feel action needs to be taken to support Norfolk’s children and their teachers. I particularly fear for the youngsters themselves and trainee teachers, such as my daughter, who are just entering the profession.

Kind regards,

(I have deleted the name to protect this member. However, we need to know where this kind of thing is happening to see what support we can give - Ed)


To contact the UNION regarding issues at workUnless we are already dealing with your case, in the first instance you should contact the NUT Advice Line by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 02030066266. The AdviceLine is open from 9 – 6 Mon – Fri.

Support Line: If you are distressed about your situation and need emotional support, counselling or just someone to talk to please telephone:

Teacherline on 08000 562 561 or go to http://www.teachersupport.info/get-support/phone

This is a 24/7 free counselling service for teachers where you can have a ‘one- off’ conversation with a counsellor, or arrange a series of sessions with the same person.

If this is the first time that you have contacted the NUT, it will help us to respond more quickly if you provide by email:

• Your membership number and school/workplace• A succinct summary of your situation

To find out more about NorfolkNUT, including campaigns and forthcoming activities, please refer to our website http://local.teachers.org.uk/norfolk

To contribute to this Newsletter contact: [email protected] or visit our website.

Moved house? Changed jobs? Update your details at https://www.teachers.org.uk/joinus/updateor email [email protected]

If you would like this sent to you electronically, to save on costs and on the environment, please register on the website for the e-newsletter.

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nut norfolk newsletter autumn 2014

Documents

school management

burston strike school

performance management

education campaign

teachers good

good start

good sense

action short of strike