Latest school attendance figures
Latest attendance figures show that the Government urgently needs to look at ways of reducing transmission in schools.
Press release
Circuit Breaker for Secondary Schools and Post-16
National Education Union is calling for an urgent circuit breaker to suppress Covid cases
Labour’s call on Free School Meals
NEU supports Labour ultimatum to Government on free school meals
Proposals to tackle child poverty
NEU writes to Prime Minister and Chancellor with proposals to tackle child poverty.
2021 exams
Government announcement on 2021 exams is a dereliction of duty
NAHT: Cancellation of SATs 2021
We welcome the NAHT stand. Teachers and headteachers are now united in their call for cancellation: the Government should listen. Statutory assessment in 2020/1 serves no useful purpose.
Education policy responses to pandemic
EPI report shows disadvantaged children hardest hit by UKs education response to COVID-19
Covid-19 impact on primary schools
UCL research into impact of COVID-19 on primary schools
IPPR report on the future of education
The NEU supports the call that all children should have access to on-site mental health support, including on-site counsellors and interventions to support parental support programmes.
Exams in Scotland
Whereas the English Government still resists committing itself to a full independent review of what went wrong in summer 2020, the report commissioned in Scotland has already been delivered and acted upon.
Boris Johnson's speech
Schools should instead receive tuition money direct and target extra support as they see fit.
October School Attendance
Government action needed to reduce infection rates and provide quick testing for pupils and teachers.
No Government plan for 2021 exams
Government needs to do more to ensure next year's GCSE and A levels are fair to students
Proposal for Awarding Exams Grades in 2021
Five education organisations, representing school leaders, teachers, and governors, have submitted a set of joint proposals to make next summer’s A-levels and GCSEs as fair as possible amidst the ongoing disruption of the Covid pandemic.
Building a Fair Education System After Covid-19
Covid has exposed the fault lines in our current system of assessment and accountability.
Winning in the Workplace after Covid-19
The legacy of the Covid-19 crisis must be that conditions in schools and colleges become better not worse for all of our colleagues.
Covid-19 and Safe Return
Everything that can be done must be done to ensure that schools and colleges remain open wherever possible.
Member survey shows lack of trust in Government
NEU survey shows a complete lack of trust in Government to keep schools open and safe through Covid
Government’s announcement on remote learning
Government support for distance learning for children self-isolating is necessary but not sufficient.
Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance
NEU Statement on certain clauses in the new Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance (1st October)
NEU launches interactive School Covid Map website
Today, as part of the next stage of the National Education Union’s campaign to keep our schools and communities safe, we are launching a new website.
Coronavirus: School Closure Data
The Government’s inability to provide what schools need to ensure they remain open for as long as possible is unacceptable and will affect not only children's education, but the wellbeing of staff and students.
Skills and lifelong learning
Major reinvestment is needed to reverse the 50% cuts to adult learning and cuts to college funding, pay and learner entitlements.
Pisa
This report makes for interesting reading. With almost one million children in classes of 31+ even before Covid struck, we know that we need smaller classes and more teachers if we are to avoid huge disruption to pupils' learning because of isolation.
Children’s Commissioner’s Covid Report
The Children’s Commissioner’s report highlights the multiple ways the pandemic has impacted on young people’s lives. Government plans for education must include ensuring that no child is left behind because of poverty.
EPI report on Early Years and Covid
This report by the EPI is further evidence of the deep financial and structural impact the Coronavirus continues to have on the Early Years sector as a whole.
School Attendance Figures
Government must do better on testing and convince parents that schools are Covid-secure to improve attendance.
Keir Starmer speech
NEU welcomes Keir Starmer's call for urgent efforts to close the education gap. To do this we need to end the debilitating poverty that so many families endure.
NEU demands urgent action on testing
NEU tells Government that support for wider opening of schools should not be taken for granted, and demands urgent action on testing
NFER on Initial Teacher Training
The impact of Covid-19 on initial teacher training
IFS Annual Report on school funding
IFS reports largest cuts to England's schools funding in 40 years
Education Support Covid survey
Education Support survey on Covid pressures on schools
Government pay proposals divisive
Government pay proposals for teachers and school leaders in England are “divisive and inadequate”, says joint union statement
PM failure to address school safety
NEU JGSs write to Government to underline urgent safety measures that must be in place to ensure education continues for all pupils.
Education at a Glance
OECD’s annual Education-at-a-Glance report highlights the strain on resources in our schools and colleges.
Ofsted Visits
Ofsted visits in the autumn term will be a distraction for schools rather than a support.
Labour: push back 2021 exams
Labour calls Government to push back 2021 exams to help pupils catch up
Welsh Government face coverings announcement
NEU Cymru notes face coverings announcement in schools and colleges.
Joint unions call for grading inquiry
Education unions make joint call for inquiry into grading fiasco
Boris Johnson and the ‘mutant algorithm’
It is brazen of the Prime Minister to idly shrug away a disaster that his own Government created.
Face Masks in Schools
Government revises its guidance on the wearing of face coverings in schools.
Ofqual Resignation
Resignation of Sally Collier, Chief Regulator of Ofqual
EPI Annual Report
If the Government is serious about ensuring all pupils receive access to a good quality, equitable education they must put their money where their mouth is and put measures in place to lift pupils out of the grip of poverty and disadvantage.
Maintained Nursery Schools
Extension of supplementary funding for Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) through to summer 2021
Return to school: PHE England report
Report by PHE England and the Chief Medical Officer's comments on the full return of schools and colleges in September
#FairGrade2021 Petition Update
NEU petition calling for action on fixing exams system reaches 25,000 signatures in its first 24 hours.
NEU Cymru launches petition calling for exam fairness in 2021
NEU Cymru has today (20th August) launched a petition with the Welsh Parliament, asking for fairness for students taking exams in 2021.
NEU Cymru comments on GCSE Results
Schools and colleges stepped up in challenging circumstances when exams were cancelled. They have worked tirelessly and professionally to submit grades for their students, based on all the evidence available to them.
GCSE Results 2020
We commend the students and staff who have supported them this year. They have shown great patience throughout the challenges of lockdown and last week's shambolic uncertainty.
Bigger changes needed for 2021
The Joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union have written to Gavin Williamson the Education Secretary, setting out why the disastrous handling of this year’s exam results must never happen again.
NEU Cymru welcomes use of assessed grades in Wales
NEU Cymru hugely welcomes this decision from the Education Minister.
Government U-Turn on Exams
Government forced into U-turn on A-level exam grades.
Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council accepts teachers' pay offer
Today, the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) – the body which makes up the Teachers’ Side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee has announced that it will be accepting the terms of the Pay and Workload Agreement presented to them on 8 April 2020.
A level grades in Wales
NEU Cymru wishes many congratulations to those who have secured expected grades and we trust that the adjustment and appeals processes will be robust enough to deal with all anomalies that may have arisen.
A-Level Results
The politics of results season 2020 has drowned out the most important point - that students must be congratulated for their hard work and patience through a difficult time for the whole nation.
Announcement on last minute changes to A level grades
NEU Cymru comment on Education Minister's announcement on last minute changes to A level grades
Exam Results ‘Triple Lock’
Gavin Williamson has many questions to answer on his exam 'triple lock'.
Scotland exam results
UK now has two different entry systems for UK universities.
Coronavirus: extra £10 million for local transport
NEU Cymru are extremely pleased to see that Welsh Government will be using extra money to support local authorities and local bus operators, including extra money for school and college transport.
EPI school funding analysis
This EPI report hows that the Government is increasing that gap, not closing it, through the way it is distributing its 2020 funding increase, with bigger increases going to those schools with fewer disadvantaged students.
Coronavirus: Ofqual arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A-Levels in 2021
Today's confirmation of business as normal for the content of most subjects next year makes insufficient allowance for the disruption this year and allows no contingency for any further disruption as a result of local or regional lockdowns.
Coronavirus: NEU's position on face masks
The NEU has raised concerns with Government in relation to the wearing of face coverings in schools, and its lack of consistency with guidance on other public places.
Exclusions
Curriculum and behaviour are intertwined, but the Department for Education often acts as if how pupils feel and behave and what and how they learn are not connected.
Teacher Training
NEU is calling on Government to follow the example of Scotland by centrally employing newly qualified teachers from this September, so that the needs of schools are met and talent is not wasted.
Proposed teachers' pay award
NEU Cymru's evidence to the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB) asked for a 7% pay award for all teachers, and sadly this does not fully do that. We will continue to argue for this.
Coronavirus: Extra £50 million for universities, colleges, and students
NEU Cymru welcomes the Education Minister’s commitment in providing much needed additional funding for universities, colleges and students in response to the economic impact of the coronavirus.
Ofqual Summer Symposium
Results from this year's extraordinary exams process are broadly comparable to previous years’ results, and the majority of students will not be disadvantaged by this year's process.
Public Sector Pay
The NEU asked for a 7% pay rise for all teachers. This increase does not achieve this entirely reasonable ambition.
Coronavirus: Committee report on merger of DfID and FCO
The NEU agrees with the Committee that this rushed decision to merger, taken under cover of the Covid-19 pandemic, is likely to have dire consequences.
School Funding 2021
School funding announced for 2021 doesn't even reach 2010 levels.
School Funding
NEU welcomes Government announcement of additional school funding. But it is important to be clear that this funding does not even replace the budget cuts made since this Government.
Opportunity areas funding
This funding is crucial to help reverse the impact of the coronavirus on education in those areas.
Parentkind survey
Survey shows parents are placing far greater trust in school leaders than Government.
NFER report on learning during Covid-19
National Foundation for Educational Research analysis looks at the differences in the cost of learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Calculated grades
Education Committee report on calculated grades
Survivors’ TPS victory
Victory on survivors’ pensions rights in Teachers' Pension Scheme
Coronavirus: Full opening of schools in September
NEU Cymru have commented on Education Minister’s statement regarding full opening of schools in September.
Srebrenica Genocide
This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in which over 8,000 Muslim men and boys were murdered.
Coronavirus: Gavin Williamson's speech on FE
Ambitious proposals to regenerate the further education sector are welcome. The devil of course will be in the detail and we will need to see what is in the White Paper in September.
Coronavirus: Investment in education
NEU Cymru welcomes an increase to the workforce. We believe that supply staff and those new to the profession will welcome the opportunity to provide extra support for those pupils who need it at this challenging time.
Legislation to support the new Curriculum in Wales
Our members have always welcomed the principles behind the new Curriculum. It is an opportunity for Wales to ensure that children have an opportunity to learn a curriculum with wellbeing at its heart.
Coronavirus: National School’s categorisation system
NEU Cymru welcomes suspension of the categorisation system. It is important that safety is a focus ahead of September.
Food Insecurity
Lords' report on food poverty and insecurity.
Coronavirus: Ofqual consultation on exams and assessments
The NEU is seriously concerned about the minimal suggestions made in Ofqual’s proposals for exams in summer 2021.
Coronavirus: Guidance for Schools in September
School leaders need clear guidance based on scientific evidence, but instead they are confronted by a Government which is rushing through ideas that seem more based on hope than on science.
Coronavirus: Sutton Trust on Nurseries
The Sutton Trust briefing on Early Years is further confirmation of what the NEU has been warning for quite some time – maintained nursery schools (MNS) and the Early Years sector are in financial crisis.
Coronavirus: Maintained Nursery School Funding
Education experts call for Downing Street to prioritise Maintained Nursery School funding.
Coronavirus: FAQs on NEU NI school restart programme
Advice from the Department of Education, Northern Ireland guidance on School Restart Programme, including responses to the questions asked by NEU members at the recent Zoom meeting.
Coronavirus: Summer holidays letter
NEU Cymru have written to the Minister for Education, Welsh Government calling for local authorities to be funded to make a summer holiday local offer available to children and young people.
School Buildings
NEU's welcomes the Government’s commitment to maintaining school buildings. There are currently 3,731 school buildings in urgent need of immediate repair.
Coronavirus: Baseline assessment delay
The National Education Union welcomes the decision not to implement reception baseline assessment in September.
Coronavirus: One million pupils in classes of 31-plus
Today’s data show the proportion of pupils in class sizes of 31+ now stands at 13.4% across primary and secondary. This accounts for almost 1 million children, a shocking figure.
Coronavirus: Plans to scrap social distancing in schools
Leaks of proposals for school re-opening in September are not helpful. Schools and parents need to see from Government a clearly thought-out plan outlining the scientific reasoning behind a return for all pupils.
Liz Truss and the Gender Recognition Act
The National Education Union is deeply concerned by the recent comments made by the Women and Equalities Minister Liz Truss which have caused unnecessary distress and anxiety for trans and non-binary workers.
Coronavirus: Schools restart in Northern Ireland
A joint letter of agreement has been agreed and issued further to the announcement confirming that as a consequence of the current exceptional circumstances, the start of the academic year 20/21 will be from week commencing 17 August 2020.
Social Distancing Reduced to 1 Metre
The NEU is of course in favour of all children being back in school, but even with a one-metre rule that will need more teachers and more spaces.
Curriculum and anti-racism letter
NEU Cymru have written to the Minister for Education, Welsh Government to express deep concerns about the injustices and racial disparities that have been highlighted by the virus and by the horrific events of brutality against black people in the United States.
Coronavirus: Issues surrounding wider opening of schools
NEU Cymru clarifies issues surrounding wider opening of schools.
Coronavirus: Schools in September
The Prime Minister's hopes are not enough. He needs a plan for more teachers, to ask teachers who have left the profession to return, and he needs to be finding extra spaces in which they can teach smaller groups.
Violation of workers’ rights at seven-year high
Violations of workers’ rights are at a seven-year high, according to the newly released 2020 ITUC Global Rights Index.
Additional funding for schools
£1 billion additional funding for schools: Covid-19
Coronavirus: Funding for 2020 Summer holiday local offer
NEU launches call for funding for Local Government to co-ordinate 2020 Summer holiday offer for children and young people.
Fred Jarvis, CBE dies at the age of 95
Fred Jarvis, CBE - trade unionist and former General Secretary of the NUT dies at the age of 95.
Free school meals for children and young people
Government to provide free school meals for children and young people over the summer holidays.
Coronavirus - flexibility for primary schools
Department for Education to encourage head teachers to invite back more primary pupils before summer
Urgent action to tackle racism
NEU has today written to the Prime Minister with 5 recommendations for urgent action to tackle racism.
Free School Meals
The Government is seriously out of touch if it can't see that many families will need support with food.
Coronavirus - NFER on Remote Learning
The NFER report shows that a quarter of pupils have limited access to IT at home. Gavin Williamson confirmed in the Commons last week that only around half of requests for the Government’s free laptop scheme for disadvantaged students have so far been met.
NEU welcomes Rev. Jesse Jackson to Black Lives Matter solidarity webinar
The National Education is proud to host an exclusive Black Lives Matter solidarity webinar, with guests including the Reverend Jesse Jackson Snr, and Diane Abbott MP, on Monday 15 June at 3pm.
Coronavirus: National Education Recovery Plan
The National Education Union has today written to the Prime Minister outlining its proposals for a National Education Recovery Plan.
Black Lives Matter
Urgent action is needed to address widespread stereotyping, discrimination and the fear and violence caused by racism.
Coronavirus: Welsh Government guidance on schools' wider opening
NEU Cymru welcomes Welsh Government guidance on schools' wider opening.
Public Accounts Committee report on UTCs
This report vindicates the NEU’s longstanding concerns about UTCs. Significant resources have been ploughed into the programme despite serious flaws in the model and its poor record.
Coronavirus: Official Statistics on Wider Opening
The figures released show what a very long way the Government has to go to convince the nation’s parents and teachers that a wider opening of schools is safe.
Coronavirus: Primary Schools
The government’s social distancing rules made it impossible for primary schools to admit all pupils before the summer holidays. Primary schools and secondary schools will not re-open to all pupils until September at the earliest.
Unions set out five tests Government and colleges must meet
Trade unions set out five tests Government and colleges must meet before staff and students can return.
Fenton Review into Covid-19
The NEU calls on the Government and Public Health England to develop urgent advice on the issues of greater health risk identified in the Fenton Review.
IPPR on rise in child poverty
It is deeply alarming that in an already parlous situation, this report forecasts that an enormous number of children will be thrown into poverty by Christmas.
Coronavirus: Too much too soon
The Minister’s statement in which she has opened schools to all year groups with effect from 29 June does not sit well with NEU Cymru. It is too much, too soon.
NEU survey shows realities of wider opening
Respondents to a survey conducted by the National Education Union between 31 May and 1 June, reveals the pragmatism of schools when asked to open more widely under easing of lockdown.
NEU statement on the killing of George Floyd
The NEU sends its solidarity to the family and friends mourning George Floyd. We condemn the systemic racism that caused George's death and we support the urgent demands for justice for George Floyd, for his family and his community.
Stop wider 1 June school reopening
NEU calls on Government to step back from the brink and stop wider 1 June school reopening
Special Schools Survey
Serious questions about safety remain unanswered.
Wider Opening of Schools
We are not saying only go back when it is 100% safe. But meet your own tests, produce evidence, and return when the time is right.
Final report of Independent SAGE on Schools
This latest report casts yet more doubt and concern over the Prime Minister’s decision to press ahead with a 1 June wider opening for schools.
Safety guidelines not being met in significant numbers of schools
A snapshot survey of 4,016 members of the National Education Union, reveals continued problems with health and safety even before wider opening.
PM on wider opening of schools
Prime Minister's COVID briefing confirming wider re-opening of schools June 1st
SAGE advice published
Today, two months since lockdown was introduced, the Government has finally granted access to some of the scientific modelling behind its proposal for schools to open more widely from June 1.
Independent SAGE on schools
Independent SAGE set two crucial conditions for the safe wider opening of schools: low levels of Coronavirus in the community, and a robust track and trace system.
Track and Trace
Prime Minister responds to concerns on track and trace operation before the wider opening of schools during PMQs.
Educational gap survey
IFS survey: Educational gaps during lockdown
Wider opening of schools: update
Gavin Williams COVID briefing - re wider opening of schools update
Coronavirus: No date set for opening schools in Wales
NEU Cymru welcomes no date set for opening schools in Wales. Like everyone, we want learners to be back in their classrooms. But not until it is safe to do so.
NEU talks with Government’s scientific advisers
We are pleased that Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government on Covid-19 has told the NEU that information and papers from SAGE would be published and that they will prioritise its release.
The science on schools
It's really important that we are absolutely clear what the level of safety is and if it remains the case that we believe it to be unsafe, we will not back the wider opening of schools.
Councils need the power to close schools
LGA need to give Councils power to close schools and nurseries when clusters of Covid-19 cases emerge.
Education unions’ statement on the safe reopening of schools
Unions with members in the education sector are today (Wednesday) publishing a joint statement on the safe reopening of schools.
Over 1000 councillors write to Gavin Williamson
1,173 local authority councillors from across England have signed the NEU Councillors letter to Gavin Williamson.
Parents’ views on lockdown and school safety
Poll of over 1,000 parents, commissioned for NEU, shows support for lockdown measures since March.
Government guidance on lockdown
The NEU is advising our school leader members today that we are in no position to start planning for wider opening yet.
New research raises concerns about wider reopening of schools
These studies raise real concerns about the impact that a wider re-opening of schools would have on the rate of Covid 19 transmission and its incidence in families.
Members survey on Prime Minister's roadmap
49k NEU members in one hour respond to survey giving a resounding NO to Prime Ministers roadmap for school reopening.
Phased return of schools
Prime Minister’s announcement on return of schools is nothing short of reckless.
Coronavirus, Pupils and Schools
NEU report: Coronavirus, Pupils and Schools: Unanswered Questions
Coronavirus: Schools will not open more widely in Wales
NEU Cymru welcomes the announcement that schools will NOT open more widely on 1 June.
NEU petition nears 350,000 signatures
On the eve of Sage meeting at which lockdown measures will be reviewed, NEU petition demanding schools re-open only when safe to do so nears 350,000 signatures.
NEU and Parentkind write to Gavin Williamson
NEU and Parentkind sign a joint letter to the Education Secretary to express concerns about the re-opening of schools.
Public accounts committee on support for SEND pupils
As the Public Accounts Committee report makes clear, the Government approach on support has let SEND children down. Covid-19 means we have to put children's learning needs and interests at the heart of the offer in the classroom.
EPI on disadvantaged pupils
As schools re-integrate more students back on site over the next months the focus needs to be on healthy transitions which support engagement with learning and not on catching up to some government-mandated trajectory.
NEU Covid 19 survey
NEU snapshot survey of over 2,000 school staff shows significant concerns about effectiveness of present social-distancing measures in schools.
Coronavirus: Unions warn against premature reopening of schools
The General Secretaries of 10 teacher trade unions across the UK and Ireland have written to the Education Ministers in all 5 jurisdictions urging “significant caution in any consideration of reopening schools.
Sutton Trust on A-Levels
Research by Sutton Trust’s suggests young people believe cancellation of A-Levels will damage their chances in university applications.
5 Tests for Government before schools can re-open
NEU has launched 5 tests for Government before schools can re-open. We believe that these test must be capable of being passed in order to create the necessary confidence amongst parents and staff.
NEU members win case against grade inflation
NEU members win case against accusations of Key Stage 1 and 2 grade inflation by the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust.
Gavin Williamson and the Education Select Committee
We were relieved to hear confirmation from the Education Secretary that schools and colleges will not be returning during the summer holidays. Lockdown is not a holiday.
Coronavirus: Safety is top priority in opening schools
For our members, parents and learners themselves, staying safe at this difficult time is critical. We look forward to hearing more details from the Welsh Government in the coming weeks.
Coronavirus: Education Minister sets out five key principles for schools’ return
NEU Cymru has welcomed the announcement by the Education Minister, setting out the conditions under which schools in Wales will reopen. The union agrees that the safety of staff and students alike is paramount.
Letter to Gavin Williamson on behalf of supply members
NEU joint general secretaries have written to the education secretary Gavin Williamson about issues affecting supply staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Children at Risk During Lockdown
We welcome the data the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) has collated to enable good local responses to supporting vulnerable children.
Ofqual plan for Vocational and Technical Qualifications
The NEU welcomes Ofqual’s announcement today on the regulatory arrangements for awarding this summer’s Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs).
Testing for teachers and school staff
NEU welcomes Government's announcement that practical steps will be taken to test school staff for Covid-19. It is essential that staff who are self-isolating at home get immediate access to the test.
Changes to Free School Meals guidance
NEU Cymru welcomes the Welsh Government’s revised guidance today. Our members will be heartened to see that the Welsh Government is thinking about those children most in need of support.
Remote Learning
Some pupils will need much more individual support than is possible, and many will need support for their wellbeing before any meaningful learning can take place.
Minister focuses on wellbeing in latest statement
We're pleased the Education Minister has focused on wellbeing in launching this policy statement. Like the Minister says, the wellbeing and safety of learners and education professionals alike is centrally important at this difficult time.
Over 80,000 sign NEU petition
Over 80,000 have signed the NEU petition to "open schools when it is safe" and the number continues to grow.
Extra money for mental health services
Extra £1.25 million for school counselling services will be invaluable to support the anticipated increase in need for mental health services as a result of social distancing and school shut down measures.
Letter to PM on school opening
In the light of speculation on the re-opening of schools and colleges, the joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union have called on the Prime minister for clarity on how the Government will make such a decision.
Ofqual: Vocational and Technical Qualifications
One form of assessment will not fit all, and more detail is required.
Guidance on social distancing at work
NEU Cymru welcomes the Welsh Government plans to ensure social distancing in the workplace. These are challenging times, and it is right that we try and keep those in work as safe as possible.
School closure policies
The UCL review indicates that school closures are effective as part of a combination of tactics. Schools can only open safely on the basis of sound scientific reasoning. We are a long way from this point.
New Shadow Education Secretary announced
NEU comments on the appointment of Rebecca Long-Bailey as Shadow Education Secretary.
NEU launches microsite for parents and carers
The coronavirus microsite provides advice and recommends resources to parents to support home learning.
Free School Meals available over the Easter Holidays
We are pleased to see that Government has listened to the NEU and others who have asked for FSM to be available throughout the holidays.
Home schooling and the educational divide
The Social Mobility Foundation highlights inequalities in families' home learning environments.
BBC Education Service
In a time of crisis it is welcome that the BBC is not just informing and entertaining, but remembering the other part of their original mission statement: to educate.
Summer 2020 grades for GCSE, AS and A level
We are pleased that the Department for Education and Ofqual both recognise the professionalism of teachers. Exams are not the only way to assess someone’s ability.
Coronavirus: Joint covid-19 advice Wales
Today four education unions, NEU, ASCL, NAHT and UCAC have issued joint coronavirus advice to their members calling for mutual respect, understanding and support.
Coronavirus crisis - Joint union advice on COVID-19 Wales
During this time of crisis school leaders, teachers and support staff are doing essential work – caring for the children of key workers and vulnerable children in Wales.
Funding for free school meals over Easter holidays
Free school meals over the Easter period is going to be useful for those families. We know that Welsh Government has put extra money into this, and it is welcome.
National Voucher Scheme for Free School Meals
DfE covering all costs for schools supplying free school meals at school and home.
Agencies must support supply staff in education sector
Analysis of the available Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guidance strongly indicates that supply staff will be covered within it.
NEU issues guidance on distance learning
The NEU guidance on distance learning out today makes very clear what should be acceptable levels of workload. Normal education is currently suspended, and teachers should not be teaching a full timetable, or routinely marking work.
Coronavirus crisis - joint union advice on COVID-19
The Covid-19 crisis means that school leaders, teachers and support staff are working in new situations and new ways in order to meet the challenges they face every day.
Action for supply teachers
Supply teachers, agency teaching assistants and others working in the education sector must have proper financial stability, on a genuine like-for-like with their directly-employed counterparts.
NEU Cymru comments on schools staying open
We’re glad that the Welsh Government plan to work with us as a union. We’ve been putting forward our members’ concerns and will continue to do so.
Coronavirus: Keeping staff and young people safe in schools and colleges
We know many of our members will be worried, so need strong and clear advice to schools, to back up the head teachers, who are having to choose which young people can be in schools.
Safety in schools during coronavirus outbreak
Our priority as a union is to our members and the children and young people they work with. We are concerned that Government advice for schools is not currently strong enough.
OECD Talis survey 2018
TALIS shows us that under normal circumstances, teachers are overworked, stressed and looking to leave the profession.
Coronavirus: School attendance
Schools should only remain open to those whose parents are key workers. The vast majority of children should stay at home. This is the safest place for them.
NEU Cymru welcomes sensible approach on exams
We expect the Welsh Government and Qualifications Wales to work with the profession, to fine-tune the detail of this approach.
Testing of education staff
The National Education Union has called for testing of education staff to be made an urgent priority in efforts to tackle coronavirus.
Exams
We welcome this announcement from Government. Evidence shows teacher-assessed grades are reliable and valid.
Parents asked to follow Government advice
It is vitally important that parents follow Government advice and keep their children at home where possible.
Key workers
This is a very long list and could result in some schools having the majority of pupils attending. This will not achieve the goal of slowing the spread of the virus.
NEU Cymru says time to be sensible over exams
NEU Cymru statement on school closures in Wales.
Closure of Schools
We welcome the Government’s announcement that, for public health reasons, schools will now close.
NEU Cymru welcomes school closures in Wales
We welcome the Education Minister’s announcement to close schools from Friday. We are pleased that Wales is the first UK nation to take this practical and pragmatic approach.
NEU Cymru asks for closure of schools and colleges
NEU has written to the Prime Minister asking that he close all schools and colleges, and we are hoping that the this will be the same for Wales.
Ofsted suspends inspections
This announcement is as welcome as it is overdue. Schools are operating in extraordinary circumstances and must be able to focus on what is essential.
Estyn Suspends Activities in Wales
Scotland and Wales have shown England the way. It is unacceptable for Ofsted inspections to be taking place at a time of national emergency.
Annual conference 2020 cancelled
Today the NEU’s National Officers have made the decision to cancel annual conference, due to take place in Bournemouth 6-9 April.
Coronavirus - school closure policy
Why aren’t schools closing if mass gatherings are to be suspended?
OFSTED should cease inspections
As COVID-19 spreads, schools need to focus on what is important.
Coronavirus school closure update
NEU calling for school closures "at least for some time and at least in some areas"
Budget 2020
The Government knows that lack of funding is putting schools and colleges under great pressure. This budget does not support a long term plan for the millions of young people being educated within a chronically underfunded system.
EPI on school funding
Government needs to listen to the evidence. Our schools and colleges are simply not being given the funding they need to deliver the education every parent child and young person expects.”
NEU Cymru members pause Caerleon Comprehensive strike action
The strike action is paused and next steps depend on the nature of discussions.
Budget
The Government’s pledge last year to increase school funding fell short of the £12.6 billion we estimate is needed to replace the cuts made since 2015. Schools and colleges continue to fall into disrepair, and at the present rate it will take several decades to rebuild them all.
Sixth day of strike action in over 30 sixth form colleges
National Education Union members working in 34 Sixth Form Colleges will be taking strike action on Tuesday 10 March in response to the impact of funding cuts in their sector.
EPI on Technical Education
If Government is serious about the importance of technical education then it must learn from this challenging report.
Teachers at Colfe’s independent school to strike tomorrow
Teachers at Colfe’s School, Greenwich, have voted for strike action on Wednesday 4 March over proposals by their employer to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), the pension provider to the vast majority of teachers in England and Wales.
Coronavirus
Schools have an important role to play, but we are concerned about suggestions in recent days that larger class sizes will be recommended for indefinite periods.
EPI on teacher supply and disadvantages schools
As the EPI report itself notes, teacher recruitment and retention problems are widespread and severe. The proposals in the EPI report for yet further fragmentation of pay will cause more problems.
NEU joins civil society groups in demanding social and environmental protection
Following the publication of the UK’s negotiation objectives this week, the NEU has joined with other UK trade unions, environmental organisations and health and human rights groups to call for an EU-UK trade deal based on rights, justice and sustainability.
Petition hand-in to defend maintained nursery schools
Ahead of the Budget, a coalition of organisations acting in defence of maintained nursery schools will be handing in a 25,000-signature petition to the Prime Minister at Downing street.
Behaviour Support
This announcement is silent about the pressures on disadvantaged schools, where more teachers are leaving. Heads and teachers are only too acutely aware of what they want to do more of in order to support students, but they can't because of funding and staffing cuts.
Baseline assessment to become statutory in September
The DfE has satisfied itself about the technical validity of the tests, but is completely incurious about the effects of Baseline Assessment on the educational experience of four year-olds.
Further Education funding
The system is broken. Colleges are financially struggling, with staff numbers decimated. We need money for staff: parity with schools would require a £7000 pay catch-up for FE college teachers.
Sixth form college strike rally
London march and rally marking fifth day of strike action in over 30 sixth form colleges.
NEU welcomes improvements to teacher workload and pay
The National Education Union (NEU) has welcomed action by the Northern Education Trust (NET) academy chain to improve teacher workload and pay.
School Admissions
Sutton Trust research on school admissions finds social segregation has lasting effects and is letting down pupils and communities.
Baseline research launched
New research into Baseline testing shows a lack of trust amongst teachers.
Sixth form college strike rally
London march and rally marking fifth day of strike action in over 30 sixth form colleges
Pay survey results 2020
Teacher pay survey shows that 63% of teachers have considered leaving the profession due to pay concerns.
Letter to the Prime Minister
National Education Union, has written to the Prime Minister about the hiring of Andrew Sabisky
Unions criticise government’s pay proposals
Four education unions are warning that government pay proposals would short-change most classroom teachers and all senior leaders.
NEU Cymru welcomes extra funding for FE
National Education Union Cymru welcomes the£23m extra money for Further Education (FE) in Wales.
New National Air Quality Guidance
The British Lung Foundation (BLF) and the National Education Union (NEU) has produced guidance with support from Living Streets, the UK charity behind the National Walk to School campaign.
Teachers strike calls for Newport change of heart
National Education Union Cymru and NASUWT members to take strike action on Wednesday 12 February.
Striking tomorrow in sixth form colleges
34 sixth form colleges will be taking strike action on Wednesday 12 February in response to the impact of funding cuts in their sector.
NEU backs #PauseOfsted campaign
As the union with the second largest leadership membership, the NEU supports Ethical Leadership and call on members who are additional inspectors to stop working for Ofsted.
Government Announcement on Funding
The Government’s rhetoric is excellent, it is a pity the reality for the vast majority of schools does not match it.
Children’s Mental Health
The findings of this report are further evidence of the chronic underfunding of children’s mental health services and the lack of available support for so many children and young people who need it.
NFER on Teacher Autonomy
Teachers and school leaders need to have the ability to judge what is best for the children and young people they teach.
New Curriculum in Wales
NEU Cymru welcome more details on the new Curriculum.
Teacher Mental Health
There is no doubt that the excessive demands upon education staff and the poor working practices they endure in schools and colleges are helping create a toxic work environment, leading to mental ill-health among both teachers and support staff.
Gender gap in foreign languages- EPI report
While schools do a great deal to provide all students with a broad and balanced curriculum, as this report shows, gender continues to shape the subjects chosen by pupils at GCSE.
Serious Fraud Office inquiry
NEU calls for Serious Fraud Office inquiry into Collective Spirit Free School and Manchester Creative Studio School.
Sutton Trust on Social Mobility
The impact of poverty on children's confidence about their future can't be reversed within schools unless we generate economic and cultural opportunities in the communities where young people live.
Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) findings
The NEU supports the conclusion of the authors of this volume that “expanding the number of grammar schools is unlikely to increase levels of educational or social mobility in this country”.
More Than A Score assessment survey
More Than A Score /YouGov publishes survey findings of parents' views on too much testing in schools.
NEU Cymru on Minister’s RE and RSE plans.
Our members do not believe it is right for any child to miss out on these important areas of learning, and support the Minister's plan to discontinue the parental right to withdraw their children from RE and RSE.
Ofsted Annual Report
Ofsted has neither the personnel, the expertise nor the experience, to operate its new curriculum-focused inspection framework fairly, so that reliable results are made on schools and colleges.
Department for Education proposals for teacher pay
The Government’s approach will create new problems. All teachers deserve a pay increase that will make a significant start in restoring the real terms cuts to their pay since 2010.
STRB submission 2020
Teacher Pay – NEU evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) calls for 7% increase for all teachers in England.
The state of girls’ rights in the UK
We support Plan International’s call for a remodelling of education, one that puts gender equality and social and emotional learning at it’s heart.
Free Period Products in Schools and Colleges
Period poverty forces girls to miss out on vital time in school. In 2018, over 137,000 children missed school because of their period.
EPI on the Early Years Workforce
Government should learn the lesson of this report: serious change begins with funding, and with a sustained programme to improve workforce qualifications.
EPI on CAMHS
The EPI report makes for alarming reading and chimes with the concerns raised by our members.
Ofsted 'stuck' schools report
Fear of Ofsted is a key factor in school leader and teacher flight from these schools. Ofsted is, unfortunately part of the problem, not the solution.
NEU comments on the Queen’s Speech
The Queen’s Speech failed to address the challenges facing education.
Queen’s Speech
Boris Johnson's new Government has the opportunity in this Queen’s Speech to right the wrongs of successive Conservative-led Governments.
Ofsted's five-year strategy
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union comments on the publication of Ofsted’s five-year strategy for delivering “its mission of improving the lives of children and young people”.
Further education bodies call for Budget investment
In a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, ten bodies representing further education staff, students and providers have called for extra funding to ensure a “stable and well-resourced further education sector” which can meet different needs and ambitions.
General Election Result
The NEU reacts to the result of the 2019 General Election.
Vote today
Today we have an historic opportunity to shape the future for all our young people.
Child Poverty Poll
NEU poll shows majority of teachers worried that yet more children in their school will be hungry and cold this Christmas.
Chronic lack of investment in school buildings
New analysis by the National Education Union shows that the inadequacy of the Government schools building programme.
NFER report on T Levels
NFER is right that there has to be a concerted effort to raise awareness about the new T Level awards, particularly around the uncertainty about progression routes.
Free schools policy
NEU research reveals staggering cost and failure rate of the free schools policy.
Vote Education, Value Education
NEU Cymru believes the election provides a chance for real change
Super Saturdays – Week 5
With education now ranking as the third biggest electoral issue among parents, our fifth and final weekend of General Election events will take place in the North East, Cumbria and Yorkshire.
EPI on Education Manifestos
The focus on early years education is particularly welcome. Like the EPI, the union believes that the development of a larger educational workforce, with higher levels of training and qualification, is essential to a programme of early years reform.
Sutton Trust on GCSE Reforms
The Sutton Trust is right to say that the new GCSE reforms have a negative impact on students.
Do the party pledges cut It?
The School Cuts website has been updated to reflect what the manifestos mean for every school in England.
Labour Investment for Education
The plan outlined by Labour will address the years of underfunding and allow schools to heal and to plan improvements, increasing SEND support, supporting teachers and other staff, capping class sizes and improving our school buildings.
Wales PISA results
Pisa offers some bench marking against other countries but it is only one measure of performance.
Pisa England Results
Pisa findings should be a wake-up call to the Government that its polices are taking education in England in the wrong direction.
Shelter report reveals 135,000 children without a home
This survey is an indictment of the child homelessness which austerity is causing. It’s a national disgrace that 1.5 million children are forecast to fall into poverty between 2010 and 2020/21.
Pisa Results
OECD tells top performing countries in Pisa 2018 that they have a long way to go in improving students’ social and emotional outcomes.
Conservative plans for Ofsted
The NEU comments on latest Conservative Ofsted pledge.
Initial Teacher Training 2019
Initial Teacher Training recruitment figures in England - 2019 to 2020 released today, show that the Government has failed to recruit enough trainee teachers, based on its own targets.
Super Saturdays – Week 4
Our latest wave of weekend events visits the north west, south west and west midlands to raise awareness about education during this General Election.
NEU parents poll
New parent poll shows education rising to third biggest issue in General Election.
Labour’s Race and Faith Manifesto
Tackling the under-representation of BME teachers is one very important step in addressing the issue of racism in society. The NEU welcomes the proposal for a new Emancipation Educational Trust.
New Ofsted Framework
NEU has released guidance advising members of their rights during “brutal” Ofsted inspections. The guidance advises members on their contractual responsibilities in light of the new framework.
NEU state of school and college buildings survey
This survey highlights the challenges facing schools and colleges in ensuring their buildings are well maintained and provide a safe and decent environment for teaching and learning.
Conservative Manifesto
The Conservative manifesto reveals £340m of further cuts to school budgets in 2023/24. A generation of pupils have missed out on opportunities because of austerity, and for many it has trapped them in poverty. This election is about much more than Brexit.
Super Saturdays – Week 3
Our third week of Super Saturdays, raising awareness of school cuts and other education issues, will visit the midlands and south-east regions of the UK.
Labour Party Manifesto
The NEU asked each party to value education and make pledges on funding and the Labour party has met our tests. Labour’s manifesto demonstrates an understanding that schools alone cannot counter the drastic and long-lasting impacts of poverty and class inequality in wider society.
School Cuts welcomes Labour funding
A coalition of education unions has today welcomed Labour’s manifesto commitment to reverse all cuts to school budgets and to make a once-in-a-generation investment in education.
NEU independent sector survey
NEU survey shows staff working in independent schools have increased workload, low pay and damage to pensions.
Liberal Democrats Manifesto
NEU welcomes the the Liberal Democrats commitment to abolish primary SATs testing. These tests, beloved of the Government, cause enormous stress and narrowing of the curriculum – they do not produce useful information for teachers.
NEU members poll on child poverty
In a snapshot poll of National Education Union members, the growth of child poverty and its visibility within schools and colleges is laid bare.
Government Fire Safety
Government’s “shameful” record on fire safety must end, says joint unions' letter
Liberal Democrats Education Pledges
The NEU welcomes the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to reverse school cuts and the recognition that teachers’ pay needs to rise.
Green Party Manifesto
The Green Party’s pledge to end centrally-imposed testing and Ofsted inspections is a welcome recognition of the pressures high-stakes accountability places on schools, narrowing the curriculum and driving teachers out of the profession.
Labour pledges on poverty
Teachers and support staff work on the front line of child poverty and witness its devastating effects every day. Labour’s proposed policies on reserving the effects of austerity offers hope to millions of children and their families currently trapped in poverty’s grip.
More than 30 sixth form colleges on strike Wednesday
National Education Union members working in 34 sixth form colleges will be taking a day of strike action on Wednesday 20 November to demand more funding for their students and their colleges.
SEND provision poll results
Government heavily criticised in new NEU poll about SEND provision. It should be a point of shame for the Government that so few education staff believe it is up to the task of providing for SEND pupils.
Super Saturdays – Week 2
The NEU’s Super Saturdays are an opportunity for parents, teachers, school staff and all who are interested or concerned about education, to come together find out more about the challenges facing schools and colleges.
Class sizes
NEU class size analysis shows a rise in 474 England constituencies since 2010
New Wales Curriculum
The new Curriculum is a huge step change for education here in Wales, but more detail is clearly needed on the Progression Steps and assessment arrangements.
Welsh schools need a national plan for Music
Creativity is at the heart of the plans for the new Curriculum, so members’ concerns about music in schools needs to be taken seriously.
Post 16 colleges funding in Wales
Years of underfunding have seen the post 16 sector in Wales suffer from restructuring. It is sad to hear members’ experiences which suggest they are not valued.”
Use of unqualified staff
Wales’s largest education union has concerns over the continued and growing use of teaching assistants, including Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) and cover supervisors being used to teach classes both on a long- and short-term basis.
Greater action needed on teacher workload
The National Education Union Cymru also feels that there can be no real progress in reducing teacher workload until the high level of teacher accountability is dropped.
Staff wellbeing must be a priority
The cutting back of teaching assistants and teachers in many schools have exacerbated workload issues which has led to a marked increase in stress and mental health issues in teachers.
School funding in Wales
The National Education Union Cymru is also concerned that Welsh MPs, and the Secretary of State for Wales in particular, don’t see it as their job to approach Westminster to ask for more money for Education in Wales.
Violence and threats of violence towards education employees
The level of violence and abusive behaviour against our members is an issue. Aggressive behaviour, including physical attacks and verbal abuse towards school staff and leaders occur across Wales and the causes of this needs to be addressed.
Regional consortia positive impact on schools
Wales’s largest education union believes that there is not enough evidence of Regional Consortia having a positive impact on schools in terms of improving standards for pupils.
Impact of austerity on schools
Wales’ largest education union has called on the office of the Secretary of State for Wales to publish proposals for rectifying the harm that has been inflicted upon Wales, its public services and education in particular as a result of the Conservatives’ austerity programme.
General Election - more than brexit
This election has to be about more than Brexit. The future of schools and education is at stake on 12 December.
Support for mental health education professionals
Wales’s largest education union has called for the Welsh Government to introduce legislation to require all Welsh Unitary Authorities to introduce a mental health charter that protects employees by tackling the root causes of work-related mental health problems.
Most vulnerable youngsters at serious risk due to austerity
Wales’s largest education union has called on the Welsh Government to support the rights of every child to a fully funded and equal education.
Liberal Democrats on Lifelong Learning
NEU welcomes the commitment to empower people to develop new skills so that they can thrive in the UK’s technology and industry sectors.
Labour Plans for Adult Learning
We need to address how education gives adults and young people the skills and knowledge needed for the modern world.
Early Years - Labour
Labour Party policy on Early Years Education
Labour Party policy on early years education
The fight against disadvantage begins in the early years, and Labour’s policies recognise this.
Super Saturdays
During the General Election the National Education Union will be holding a series of Super Saturday events explaining the facts about education funding.
Constituency school funding
Underfunding of schools in England, listed by constituency.
Making news toolkit for schools
The National Education Union Cymru will launch the ‘Making News Toolkit for Schools’ online resource to its members at their Annual Conference in Newport on 9 November.
Strikes in sixth form colleges
National Education Union members working in 25 Sixth Form Colleges will be taking their second day of strike action on Tuesday 5 November to defend their pay, working conditions and employment.
Early Years Funding
We are pleased the Government has bowed to pressure from parents and educators by extending funding for maintained nursery schools for a further two terms.
Value Education, Vote Education
There is a huge choice for education at this election. When casting their vote, we will ensure that parents, teachers, school leaders and the general public are in full possession of the facts, not the spin.
School and college building repairs
Today’s announcement by Government to invest £400m in the repair of school and college buildings in England is too little, too late.
Review into cost of schooling
National Education Union Cymru welcomes the review into cost of schooling
Education Committee on SEND
Education Committee publishes report on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
NEU Cymru- Teachers' pay
NEU Cymru welcomes announcement on teachers' pay
Education Policy Institute on Free Schools
This report is an important reminder of the reality behind the Government’s rhetoric on free schools.
Weapons in Schools
Schools form just one part of a multi-agency approach to reducing youth crime and the exposure of young people to violence, and those agencies all need support.
Sixth form colleges strike and rally
NEU members working in Sixth Form Colleges will be taking strike action on Thursday 17 October to defend their pay, working conditions and employment.
Settled status
Teaching unions general secretaries write to the Secretary of State for Education to express concerns over school places after Brexit.
False funding claims
Government’s false claims in Queen’s Speech.
Queen’s Speech
This Queen’s Speech needs to address the issues that face schools, children and young people and their families
School Cuts updated funding figures
More than 16,500 schools losing out under new cash allocations for April 2020.
Initial analysis of school cash allocations shows a strong link with deprivation
Following the release of the national funding formulae allocations for 2020/21, we are taking a close look at what this means for schools.
DfE Teacher Workload
It is good that teachers are spending less time on marking and planning, but the numbers for time spent on data collection are still stubbornly high.
School Funding Allocations
The Government continues to try to pull the wool over the public’s eyes about the reality of school funding. They have to triple count monies to get to their claim that there is £14bn more in schools.
Unexplained Pupil Exits
Sixty-nine thousand unexplained pupil exits from schools is a shocking figure and one which the Government needs to address.
Children’s University
What schools need most is to be adequately funded. Challenging schools to do more with even less resource is not the answer.
SEND court case
The National Education Union will continue to stand in solidarity with SEND Action and fight to ensure that all children with SEND have access to the provision they deserve.
Gavin Williamson speech
Gavin Williamson must get the Treasury to find the money to save the maintained nursery sector. Even after the announcement of an additional £400m in April 2020, they still have £1.1bn less in real terms than in 2010.
School Funding: 4 in 5 schools worse off under Government spending plans, finds new analysis
New figures, released today by the School Cuts coalition, reveal that four in five of England’s schools will be worse off next year than they were in 2015.
Phonics
NEU comments on Government's release of Phonics Check statistics.
Sutton Trust on Private Tuition
The NEU response to the findings in the Sutton Trust's poll on the prevalence of private tuition.
World Teachers’ Day – screening of new documentary The Teachers’ Protest
Ahead of World Teachers’ Day (5 October), the National Education Union (NEU) will be screening the new documentary from British filmmaker and former teacher Jon Seal.
Labour to abolish Ofsted
The NEU welcomes Labour’s announcement that it will abolish Ofsted. Labour’s proposal to abolish an overall school grade is long overdue. Schools are too complex to be reduced to a single grade.
Children’s Commissioner report into children and young people’s educational attainment
Schools and local authorities have been struggling to plug the gaps in SEND education left by years of cuts and underfunding, but without significant investment many children are unable to access the support they need.
IFS on education spending in England
This IFS report confirms our belief that the additional money announced in the Spending Round is insufficient. They point out that even after the Spending Round, schools still have to cope with an unprecedented 13-year long funding squeeze.
Workload
The Government is doing a far better job of driving people out of teaching than they are in retaining them.
Education Unions write to Gavin Williamson about teacher pay
A letter calling on Gavin Williamson, the new Secretary of State to increase teachers pay written in agreement by NEU, ASCL, NAHT and Voice, representing the majority of teachers in England.
Nursery School Closures
Unless Government changes course, all local authority Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) in England will lose on average 30% of their budget by September 2020.
Education at a Glance
The findings of the OECD’s latest Education at a Glance provide another worrying reminder that education in England is moving in the wrong direction and is an outlier compared with other OECD countries.
National Audit Office on SEND
This report makes clear the challenges facing schools and local authorities in their efforts to give the best possible support to SEND pupils. It is plain to anyone working in education that the levels of education funding for SEND pupils are inadequate.
Malpractice Commission
The recommendations to spread best practice and take advantage of technological advances in order to help prevent malpractice, where it does occur, are sensible.
Boris Johnson on Free Schools
The Government’s academy and free schools programme is in crisis. Almost 70 ‘orphan schools’ do not have a sponsor and yet the Government recklessly wants to expand the programme.
SEND Review
Every school wants to provide the strategies and support which work for each individual SEND pupil, but the real-terms funding crisis has had a devastating impact. We don’t need another review to tell us that children with SEND need quicker assessments.
Provisional SATs results
Today’s report will do nothing to halt the growing demand to abolish the SATs-based system, and replace it with one which support’s pupils’ learning, and does more to trust teachers’ professional judgment.
Spending Review
Today's funding announcement in the Chancellor's Spending Review is not sufficient to reverse all the cuts to date.
16-19 Funding
Funding announcement for further education and sixth form colleges is nowhere near to closing the £1.1bn gap.
School standards
Further expansion of free schools will result in more unused pupil places and more complications for parents trying to navigate the system and secure a place for their child.
Starting salaries
Government announces a raise in starting salaries for teacher.
It's a start but it's not enough
The Prime Minster's announcement is a victory for the SchoolCuts campaign. It’s a start but it's not enough.
Young People’s Mental Health
Young Minds survey shows that academic pressure has significant impact on students mental health.
NEU response to leaked education plans
Leaked Department for Education document shows Government's education policy plans.
NEU Cymru- GCSE results 2019
NEU Cymru congratulates students in Wales for today’s GCSE and Welsh Baccalaureate results.
GCSE Results
Congratulations to all those receiving their GCSE results today. They are a testament to the hard work of students and all those who have supported them, including education professionals.
Reformed GCSEs are damaging the mental health of young people, and failing to accurately reflect their abilities
On the eve of this year’s GCSE results, the National Education Union (NEU) has carried out a snapshot poll of members about their perceptions of how recent reforms to the qualifications have impacted on the students they teach.
Today’s A Level results - A positive news story for Wales
NEU Cymru congratulates pupils in Wales on their achievements in A and AS level today.
A-Level results
Congratulations to students who have succeeded in their A-Level and vocational qualifications today.
NEU poll shows damaging impact of A-Level reforms on students’ mental health and engagement
On the eve of this year’s A-Level results, the National Education Union (NEU) has polled members about their perceptions of how recent reforms to the qualifications have impacted on the students they teach.
EPI on the education disadvantage gap
We shouldn't be surprised by these findings, but they should urgently trigger a change in approach. Cutting school funding dramatically while at the same time driving more families deeper into poverty comes at a high cost for poor and working-class students, says NEU.
Academies sector annual report and accounts
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the publication by the DfE of annual reports on the expenditure and performance of the academy school sector.
New Education Secretary
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the appointment of Gavin Williamson as the new Education Secretary.
Boris Johnson’s education pledge
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union comments on the incoming Prime Minister’s statements that education and school funding is at the top of his domestic agenda.
New Prime Minister
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on Boris Johnson becoming the new Prime Minister.
Ofsted on teacher wellbeing
Rosamund McNeil, assistant general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on Teacher wellbeing at work in schools and further education providers, published today by Ofsted.
Teacher pay – schools expected to fund pay Increase from stretched budgets
Department for Education’s response to the STRB report on teacher pay.
NEU Cymru reacts to IWPRP first report
David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union Cymru has commented on the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body First Report 2019 and the proposals from Minister for Education Kirsty Williams published today.
Teacher Pay
2.75% pay increase for teachers predicted for next Monday.
Ofsted Annual Report
Commenting on Ofsted’s Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19, published today, Andrew Morris, Assistant General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Education Select Committee Report on School and College Funding
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union comments on the Education Committee’s report calling for a ten-year plan for school and college funding.
Academy Transfers
Commenting on today’s Department for Education figures detailing the number of and cost of academy transfers and funding in England, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
National professional qualifications – expert panel announced
Commenting on the unveiling of the expert panel that will develop new qualifications for teachers, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Tackling Workload
Commenting on the Department for Education’s latest vow to tackle teacher workload, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
NEU Cymru welcomes extra INSET days
NEU Cymru welcomes an extra INSET day for the next three years, planned for the summer term, announced by the Education Minister today.
More information needed on Godre’r Graig closure
Speaking about the sudden closure of Godre'r Graig School, following risk of landslides last week, David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union, who represents many members in the school, said:
Coalition unveils long-term funding plan to reverse education cuts
A coalition fighting for improved funding for education today sets out a long-term plan to reverse the cuts which have caused so much damage to schools and colleges. It shows that a total of £12.6bn extra would be needed by 2022/23.
New report shows EBacc no longer serves any useful purpose
Commenting on the report A Step Baccward by the think tank EDSK, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union said:
DfE analysis of 'good' and 'outstanding' schools
Commenting on the latest Government analysis, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Joint Union Asbestos Committee: Asbestos crisis in our schools
The recent articles in the Guardian newspaper- “700 English schools reported over asbestos safety concerns” (5th July) & “Britain’s death toll from asbestos at crisis level figures reveal” (8th July) only serve to validate the Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) approach to the terrible legacy of asbestos in schools.
NEU and NSPCC survey into school readiness for RSE lessons 2020
New relationships and sex education lessons ‘undermined’ as teachers have said they lack confidence.
NEU Cymru welcomes the CYPE’s report on school funding in Wales
Wales’s largest education union has responded to the National Assembly’s Children, Young People and Education Committee Report into School funding in Wales.
SATs results - demoralising and damaging
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary NEU comments on the release of today’s SATs results.
Primary teachers support NEU’s campaign for an alternative to SATs
With this year’s SATs results published today, the findings of the largest poll of primary school practitioners ever undertaken gives a ringing endorsement of the National Education Union’s (NEU) campaign to end damaging high-stakes tests in primary schools. It also sends a clear message to Government that the current assessment system must change.
Free Schools
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary NEU comments on Free schools: The next 10 years, a report by the New Schools Network which calls for the 92 ‘orphan’ schools rated inadequate to be taken over by parent and community groups rather than wait any longer for a suitable academy sponsor.
Recruitment and retention
One need only look at this week’s Teacher Workforce statistics from his own department, to see that teachers are leaving at an alarming rate.
NEU Supply Teachers Survey
The National Education Union’s latest survey of supply teachers shows that, despite a teacher shortage and regardless of the Government’s efforts to regulate the supply teacher market, the majority of supply teachers are reporting lower levels of pay compared with previous years. They are also finding it harder than ever before to obtain work.
Parents and teachers win postponement to academy transfer
NEU members and parents are celebrating the decision today to postpone the transfer of Waltham Holy Cross to an Academy chain, NET Academies Trust.
Teacher workforce and class sizes
The latest data on the school workforce in England will give teachers and parents further cause for concern.
CBI on getting young people ‘work ready’
The EBacc policy has reduced the breadth of subjects offered in many secondary schools, limited opportunities for our children, and driven many staff out of the teaching profession.
UK off-track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in education and social justice
Today, the National Education Union releases Progress off-track, a new snapshot briefing indicating how England and the UK are performing with the Sustainable Development Goals in relation to education and social justice.
Over 8,000 young people with SEND are ‘awaiting provision’.
The National Education Union has found that as of January 2019, up to 8,587 children and young people with SEND are currently classed as ‘awaiting provision’ for a school place, and have no access to any type of educational provision at all. This is significantly higher than previously known.
Elitist Britain – Sutton Trust/Social Mobility Commission report
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary, NEU comments on Elitist Britain 2019, a report from the Sutton Trust and Social Mobility Commission which looks at the educational background of over 5,000 of Britain’s leading and “influential” people.
Talis shows government failing England’s teachers and head teachers
England’s teachers are highly motivated by the opportunity to influence children’s development or contribute to society – 93% of teachers cited these factors as major motivations for joining the profession, according to the findings of the OECD’s first volume of its Teaching and Learning International Survey (Talis) 2018.
Grove Academy action
Staff take 2 more days of action to protect the most vulnerable students in North Yorkshire and form the “Working together walk”
Together for Education Rally - Jeremy Corbyn and Mayor of London now confirmed
This coming Saturday, parents, MPs, councillors and trade unionists meet in London for the Together for Education rally.
NEU Cymru call for ‘vision’ during Adult Learners’ week
Speaking ahead of the Education Minister's statement on Adult Learners' Week, David Evans, Wales secretary NEU Cymru, said: "We need to value our adult learners and make sure the FE and adult learning sectors are properly planned for and funded."
Mental Health Training
Commenting on an announcement by Theresa May that every new teacher will be trained in spotting the signs of mental health issues, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary NEU, said: “The aspiration to train school staff to spot signs of mental illness amongst pupils is welcome, but it will amount to little more than a sticking plaster."
New Free Schools
Commenting on the announcement of 22 new free schools, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary NEU, said: “After nine years of this failed policy, the Government’s claims about the successes of the free schools project ring hollow."
NEU Cymru welcome plans to tackle workload and new education workforce survey
Welcoming the Education Minister's statement today, David Evans, Wales secretary NEU Cymru said: "Workload is an extremely important issue to education professionals here in Wales and it is welcome that the Minister has committed to looking at this."
Children’s Commissioner report on Speech and Language Therapy Services
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary NEU comments on “We Need To Talk: Access to Speech and Language Therapy”, a report published today by Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England.
Tackling child poverty is key for success in education
Reacting to the debate on "Tackling Poverty" in the Assembly yesterday, David Evans, Wales secretary NEU Cymru said: "NEU Cymru members are clear - tackling poverty is a critical issue for education professionals in Wales, and key to improving schools and colleges for learners"
Opportunity to provide much needed funds to schools
David Evans, secretary NEU Cymru comments on today’s decision by First Minister Mark Drakeford to scrap plans to build the £1.4bn M4 relief road around Newport, Wales.
SEND National Crisis
The National Education Union is supporting today’s (Thursday) SEND National Crisis campaign day by joining its call on Government to provide more money for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). More than 25 events are happening nationwide.
942 schools in Wales have seen cuts to funding since 2015
School Cuts Cymru are today, 27th May, launching their campaign at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Cardiff Bay.
Provisional Entry Statistics for GCSE, AS and A Level
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the provisional statistics for the summer 2019 exam series, published today by Ofqual.
Labour to Make Climate Change Core Part of School Curriculum
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on the announcement by Labour that climate change will form part of the core curriculum from primary school onwards,
Cash incentives for maths and physics teachers
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, comments on the announcement of £2,000 incentive payments in addition to existing bursaries for maths and physics teachers.
UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty in the UK
Commenting on the final report by Philip Alston, which identifies the “tragic consequences” of “ideological” cuts to public services since 2010, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “This report is further evidence that the government must reverse benefit freezes that have left millions of children in poverty."
NEU Cymru comment on child poverty figures released today
Commenting on Child Poverty figures released today, David Evans, Wales Secretary for the National Education Union said: "Rates of poverty in Wales have risen when compared to other parts of the UK is shocking - but it is not a shock."
New Curriculum, time to review Welsh Bacc?
Commenting on Conservative plans to scrap the Welsh Bacc, David Evans, Wales Secretary for National Education Union Cymru, said: "We are broadly supportive of the Welsh Bacc, but believe it has had some problems which mean it has less value than originally intended."
Fracking, the Daily Mile and Ineos
The National Executive of the National Education Union (NEU) has voted to oppose Ineos’s sponsorship of the Daily Mail initiative because it endangers the future of the young generation through fracking and plastics production.
Number of primary schools registered to take part in the pilot of the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) falls
Government figures show that 9,600 primary schools in England have registered for take-up of the Baseline assessment.* This is down from 16,766 primary schools in 2018.
John Roan School Strike
National Education Union members at The John Roan School, a secondary in Greenwich will be taking further strike action on Tuesday 14 May as part of their ongoing campaign to revoke the academy order imposed on the school and stop its forced academisation.
Kevin Courtney pays tribute to former NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy (1939-2019)
Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers between 1989 and 2004, has died at the age of 80.
Ofsted’s New Inspection Arrangements
Commenting on the new inspection arrangements for Ofsted, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Ofsted is not proposing to abandon data as a key factor in its inspection judgements."
Sixth form and college funding
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on 16-19 Education Funding: Trends and Implications, a report published today by the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
NEU Cymru figures show tax-payers money funds private supply teacher agencies
A recent Freedom of Information Request to local authorities by NEU Cymru has shown that almost £114 million has been spent on staff from private supply teacher agencies in the three academic years to August 2018.
Timpson Review on exclusions
Commenting on the Timpson Review on exclusions, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We know that the vast majority of schools want only the best for all their pupils, and the minority who engage in poor practice in relation to exclusions and ‘off rolling’ are not typical of the majority of schools. "
SEND consultation
Commenting on the call for evidence on SEND funding announced today by Damian Hinds, Rosamund McNeil, Assistant General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "For too long, children with SEND have been disgracefully let down by this Government".
NEU Cymru would welcome collective bargaining as workers’ rights
Speaking ahead of the Plaid Cymru debate on workers’ rights, NEU Cymru’s Wales Secretary David Evans said: “We would welcome a 'collective bargaining' approach to School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions negotiations here in Wales.
Social Mobility
Commenting on the today’s report by the Social Mobility Commission, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "This report shows that Theresa May’s promise to make ‘Britain a Country that works for everyone’ is clearly failing".
Post-16 colleges
Commenting on the passing of Motion 36 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “NEU members are calling on politicians and the public to recognise the weakened and fragmented state of the post-16 sector.
Challenging stereotypes and empowering young people
Commenting on the passing of Motion 10 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Alongside everything we need education to achieve, we need it to give children the confidence to follow their own individual interests.
Supply teachers
Commenting on the passing of Motions 20 and 22 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “NEU members have supported two motions calling for urgent action to stop the exploitation of supply teachers and schools by employment agencies.
Accountability and Assessment
Commenting on the passing of Motion 30 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The resolution demonstrates the conviction of those who work in English education that our system of assessment and accountability is not fit for purpose".
Abolish the anti-union laws
Commenting on the passing of Motion 37 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The 2016 Trade Union Act was a blatant attempt by the Conservative Government to weaken the ability of trade unionists to take action to defend their jobs, pay and working conditions.
Valid assessment for all
Commenting on the passing of Motion 35 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “With this resolution, the Union adds its voice to the rising concern about the effects and educational value of exams at 16+.
The Fred & Anne Jarvis award
This year’s Fred & Anne Jarvis Award has been given to campaigner Madeleine Holt.
EPI on Offrolling
Commenting on Unexplained Pupil Exits From Schools: A Growing Problem?, the Education Policy Institute (EPI)’s major new analysis, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The issue of 'offrolling' is rising up the political agenda. NEU members' concerns about offrolling led the Union to sponsor this EPI research into informal exclusions".
Change needs to come from within
Commenting on the passing of Motion 32 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "Progress against racism in workplaces is far too slow.
Disability Discrimination
Commenting on the passing of Motion 33 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Disabled teachers are undervalued for the contribution they make to their schools and colleges.
Palestine
Commenting on the passing of Motion 31 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights notes* the occupation of Palestine continues to severely impact on the lives of millions of Palestinians,
The Steve Sinnott International Solidarity Award
The winner of the 2019 Steve Sinnott International Solidarity Award is Dave Harvey, of Croydon NEU and ex-chair of the union’s International Solidarity Sub-Committee.
Mental health in exam factories
Commenting on the passing of Motion 29 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The current draconian approach to the education of children and young people is turning our schools into Exam Factories and squeezing the joy and creativity out of the classroom.
A national education service
Commenting on the passing of Motion 28 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “All children and young people have a right to a high-quality education in a good local school.
The Nikki Simpson Award for Learning
Liz Mills is the winner of this year’s Nikki Simpson Award for Learning.
NEU Representative and Officer of the Year Awards
Today the Joint General Secretaries of the NEU today presented awards to the Representative and Officer of the Year for 2018/19. These awards recognise the hard work of reps and officers in the Union.
Supporting Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Commenting on the passing of Motion 23 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The NEU is appalled at the continued off-rolling and illegal exclusion of too many SEND pupils and wants the government to address the underlying pressures which lead schools to take such action.
Jeremy Corbyn's speech
Commenting on Jeremy Corbyn’s speech at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union in Liverpool, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is good to hear a politician who understands the depth of the educational crisis, and the urgency of finding solutions to it.
Fair pay for teachers
NEU members have voted to reject the Government’s policy on teachers’ pay, including its unprecedented decision to reject the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) on the 2018 pay increase
LGBT+ Rights
Commenting on the passing of an urgency motion on LGBT+ rights at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is crucial that every young person can feel happy and safe at school but too many LGBT+ young people still don't feel they can be themselves at school.
Workload and Pedagogy
Commenting on the passing of Motion 19 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Workload in schools remains a significant problem, posing a major threat to schools’ effectiveness and pupils’ learning and is driving the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.
Devolution of pay and conditions to Wales
Commenting on the passing of Motion 18 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We are entering unchartered waters in Wales following the devolution of pay and conditions for school teachers in September 2018.
The State of Education: Young People’s Mental Health
Mental health problems amongst young people hit “crisis point”, according to findings of NEU survey
Boycott High Stakes Summative Testing in Primary Schools
Commenting on the passing of Motion 16 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Funding for Nursery Schools
Commenting on the passing of Motion 15 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
T-Levels
Commenting on the passing of Motion 13 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is vital for both young people and the economy that technical qualifications have parity of esteem with academic ones.
Non-Pensionable Allowances
Commenting on the passing of Motion 12 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The National Education Union is extremely concerned about the threat to teachers’ pensions in independent schools.
Anti-racism
Commenting on the passing of Motion 9 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Racism is a pernicious thread that runs through society both at home and abroad.
The Blair Peach award
Kauser Jan is the winner of this year’s Blair Peach Award.
Climate change
Commenting on the passing of Motion 8 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Climate change is a public health emergency and NEU members and the children they teach are at the forefront of this crisis.
End of privatisation of education
Commenting on the passing of Motion 7 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “After nine years of the academy programme, there is still no evidence to suggest that turning a school into an academy raises standards of education or brings any benefit whatsoever.
Launch of new report ‘In whose interest? The UK's role in privatising education around the world'
A new report from UK civil society organisation Global Justice Now and the National Education Union, the largest education union in Europe, launches today.
School funding
Commenting on the passing of Motion 6 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The outcry about the state of school and sixth form college funding continues.
The state of education: workload
Survey of NEU members shows workload is out of control and driving people out of profession.
The State of Education: Child Poverty
Increased concern about worsening levels of child poverty and its impact on learning, according to survey of NEU members.
SEND Provision
Special needs provision in England has lost out on £1.2bn because of shortfalls in funding increases from central government since 2015.
NEU comment on Ofsted consultation
Commenting on Ofsted’s education inspection framework consultation which closes today, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Register for Children Not Educated in School
Commenting on the Department for Education’s proposal of a new register for all children not being educated in school, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Home Office proposals on violent crime
The Home Secretary should accept the impact the decimation of youth services has had, leaving very few safe places for children to go outside of school hours or during the holidays.
Over 1,000 councillors urge Government to increase school funding
A letter from the National Education Union (NEU) urging Education Secretary Damian Hinds to end the school funding crisis has been signed by 1,115 local councillors.(1)
School Funding: new analysis shows £5.4bn cut from school budgets in England since 2015
The School Cuts coalition analysis* of the latest Government school funding figures shows a shortfall in funding of £5.4 billion over the past three years with 91% of schools in England affected.
International Education Strategy
NEU comments on the newly released Government’s International Education Strategy: global potential, global growth.
YouGov/More Than A Score survey on testing
Commenting on the results of a YouGov survey commissioned by More than a Score, released today, which shows the level of school leaders’ frustrations with the Government’s assessment regime, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Philanthropy and Privatisation
A report to be launched today by Education International (EI), the global education union confederation, lifts the lid on the activities of so-called ‘philanthropic’ organisations involved in promoting the commercialisation, marketisation and privatisation of education systems around the world.
NEU Cymru pension funding
David Evans, NEU Cymru Secretary welcomes the Education Minister and the Welsh Government pension funding.
Spring Statement
Commenting on the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Statement, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
School Cuts Coalition: Chancellor’s spring statement must address school funding crisis
The Chancellor’s Spring Statement today (Wednesday) must address the “national emergency” faced by our schools and colleges due to a lack of funding.
NEU Cymru warns that securing pay parity for teachers in Wales is a fundamental principle
Responding to a Welsh Government statement on a report by Professor Mick Waters, Teaching: A valued profession, David Evans, Wales Secretary for the NEU Cymru said:
490 MPs contacted by NEU members ahead of Westminster Hall debate on school funding
MPs in England have been contacted by teachers, headteachers and support staff of the National Education Union and School Cuts Coalition supporters asking them to attend today’s Westminster Hall debate on school funding.
NEU survey shows widespread funding and workload pressures on school support staff
The National Education Union’s largest ever survey of support staff* in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, published today, shows members are struggling to cope with real-terms funding cuts and the consequent additional pressures on workload.
Work Your Proper Hours Day – Teachers Top League Table for Unpaid Overtime
Commenting on data from the TUC to mark Work Your Proper Hours Day (1 March), showing that teachers do more unpaid overtime than any other workers, totalling 462 million hours per year,
‘Pointless’ baseline assessment pilot for 4 year olds announced by Government
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union comments on the announcement by Nick Gibb that the DfE will be looking for schools to take part in a pilot scheme for the proposed baseline assessment tests.
William Torbitt Primary School
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education comments on the decision by the Department for Education to lift its academy order against William Torbitt Primary School in Redbridge.
Recruitment and Retention
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union comments on the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)’s first annual report on the teacher labour market in England.
Unions urge review body to ignore government’s suggested pay cap for teachers
Organisations representing the overwhelming majority of teachers and school leaders in England have written to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) urging it to ignore pressure from the government to cap the teachers’ pay award at 2%. The unions are calling on the STRB to recommend a fully-funded 5% pay increase in September 2019
Social Mobility
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union comments on a report from an All-Party Parliamentary Group on social mobility, published today.
Concern about increased Estyn Inspections
David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union Cymru expresses concern about increased Estyn Inspections.
Teachers’ Working Hours
NEU comment on the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) study showing that teachers work the longest hours.
Freedom of information requests to Multi Academy Trusts reveal shocking disparity in asbestos management
The continuing presence of asbestos in the majority of schools and academies is a national scandal - putting the lives of pupils and staff at risk.
Ofsted annual report - 2017
Kevin Courtney comments on the Ofsted Annual Report, presented today by its Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman.
Education unions call for an immediate 5% pay rise for teachers
Education unions - the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), the National Education Union (NEU), UCAC, and Voice – are calling for an immediate, fully funded, 5% pay rise for all teachers.
Support staff struggling with increasing workloads, says NEU survey
Teaching assistants, school administrators and other support staff are having to work overtime to cope with the increasing workload as schools cut staffing to cope with budget cuts, according to a National Education Union survey released today by the ATL section of the union at its annual conference in Liverpool.
Enough is enough! March for Education
Trade unions, campaigners, councillors, parents and school students to march for education on Tuesday 20 November 2018.
Good news that Cambridge primary will not become an academy
NEU welcomes the news that St Phillip's Primary School in Romsey has decided not to convert into an academy or join an MAT.
NEU reaction to Budget Autumn 2017
With no significant new money for education, the budget shows that the government has chosen to ignore the anger of parents and clear evidence of the damage caused by funding cuts.
NEU Survey finds workload increases for support staff in schools as staff are cut
Teaching assistants, school librarians and lab technicians are facing a soaring workload as staff are cut and they are increasingly being expected to teach, according to a National Education Union (NEU) survey of over 1,700 support staff members.
Child poverty harms children’s educational opportunities
Growing child poverty is affecting children’s learning, say NEU education professionals, and schools and education staff are increasingly providing the services and essentials of daily life to stop families falling through the cracks
New tests are of no educational benefit to children
The National Education Union is deeply disappointed that the Government has decided to introduce the Reception Baseline Assessment and Multiplication Tables Check.
Response to Teachers’ Pay analysis by Taxpayers' Alliance
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on an analysis of teachers’ pay published by the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
Workload announcement is a beginning, but more than ambition needed
The Government is finally beginning to recognise the teacher shortage crisis, but it remains to be seen if today’s announcement makes any practical difference.
NEU comment on Education at a Glance (OECD)
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commentied on the OECD’s Education at a Glance report.
Liberal Democrat Party Conference emergency motion on education
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union comments on the emergency education motion passed at today’s Liberal Democrat Party conference.
NEU comment on confirmation of teachers’ pay award
Comment on the government's confirmation of the teachers' pay award and distribution of the teachers' pay grant, which for the first time in 27 years ignores the advice of the STRB.
NEU workload survey: DfE and Ofsted need to do much more to reduce teacher workload
The National Education Union has long been concerned that unnecessary practices surrounding marking, planning, and data collection in schools, is having a significant impact on teacher workload.
School Cuts website shows 88% of schools still facing cuts
Following the announcement on school funding by Justine Greening last week, the picture remains bleak.
Sutton Trust on Closing the Attainment Gap
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union comments on the Sutton Trust report Closing Gaps Early, published today.
NEU comment on the Local Government Association’s (LGA) analysis into the lack of secondary school places
Commenting on the Local Government Association’s (LGA) analysis into the lack of secondary school places, Nansi Ellis, Assistant General Secretary of the National Education Union, said
NEU comment on the DfE's School Resource Management Strategy
Commenting on the Department for Education’s School Resource Management Strategy, released today, Nansi Ellis, Assistant General Secretary of the National Education Union, said
PSHE and SRE should both be compulsory for all school children
Teaching children and young people personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) and relationships and sex education (RSE) is vital, according to a survey of members of the National Education Union (NEU).
Teachers’ pay being cut due to lack of annual pay rises and performance related pay progression
Teachers’ pay continues to be cut because schools are increasingly failing to give them cost of living increases as well as denying them pay progression, the National Education Union’s annual national pay survey shows.
NEU calls for a significant increase in teacher pay
The National Education Union is calling for a significant pay increase for teachers to help address the growing crisis in teacher recruitment and retention, pay teachers fairly and help deliver the best possible education for pupils.
Pressures at school making pupils suicidal – NEU survey
Almost half (49%) of education staff say secondary school pupils have been suicidal because of stress they are under, according to a survey of the National Education Union (NEU), released at the ATL section annual conference.
Sexual harassment of girls is widespread in schools
New research from the National Education Union and UK Feminista – “It’s just everywhere”: Sexism in schools and how we tackle it - shows that the sexual harassment of girls in schools is widespread.
NEU survey shows workload causing 80% of teachers to consider leaving the profession
Initial findings from the latest NEU workload survey, of 8,173 members show the continuing scale of the workload problem facing teachers and the impact this is having on their willingness to stay in the profession.
Commission for Religious Education: a National Plan for RE
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary, National Education Union, comments on the report 'Religion and World Views the Way Forward'.
NEU comment on DfE guidance for tackling sexual harassment and violence in schools
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, comments on today’s written statement on Keeping Children Safe in Education.
GCSEs and A-Levels
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary NEU comments on remarks by Robert Halfon MP that GCSEs should be scrapped and A-Levels replaced with a baccalaureate system.
School Funding Crisis
The latest NEU survey of 900 members in local authority schools and academies paints a bleak picture about the state of school funding in our schools.
Social Media and Screen Time
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary NEU comments on the UK Chief Medical Officer’s review on the impact of screen time on children and young people’s mental health, published today.
Schools at breaking point as funding pressures hit support for SEND pupils
The results of a snapshot survey* of 1,026 primary and secondary school teachers in England, shows the alarming levels of inadequate and underfunded provision for pupils with SEND.
Free schools - launch of new application criteria
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the NEU comments on the Department for Education’s launch of new application criteria for free schools.
Access to lifelong learning important for Wales
National Education Union Cymru, notes Education Minister Kirsty Williams' commitment to lifelong learning, during Education Minister's Questions today.
Wellbeing of education professionals important
David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union Cymru, welcomes Education Minister's reiteration that wellbeing of staff is as important as wellbeing of learners, during Education Minister's questions today.
NEU pay survey
Almost 34,000 teachers have responded to a National Education Union pay survey, which shows alarming levels of dissatisfaction both with levels of pay and with the performance related pay (PRP) system in schools.
DfE teacher pay increase ‘derisory’
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the NEU has commented on the DfE’s submission to the School Teachers’ Review Body which suggests a 2% pay increase for teachers
Categorisation in Wales remains stable - time to call time on the regional consortia?
David Evans, Secretary of NEU Cymru Wales, notes that this year's results of the Categorisation system in Wales show that schools in Wales remain 'stable', in terms of their "improvement" category.
A Transformational Curriculum consultation welcome
David Evans, Secretary of NEU Cymru Wales welcomes the consultation on the new Curriculum "Our National Mission: A Transformational Curriculum".
Teachers’ Pay: Joint Union Call for 5% Increase
Organisations representing the overwhelming majority of teachers and school leaders in England have urged the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) to recommend an immediate pay increase of 5% for all teachers and leaders, which should be funded in full by the Government.
Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the NEU has commented on the release of the Department for Education’s recruitment and retention strategy.
NEU comment on Damian Hinds’ speech at the 2018 Conservative Party Conference
Commenting on the Education Secretary’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
NEU comment on Theresa May’s Speech
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on the Prime Minister’s speech at Conservative Party Conference.
Performance Tables
Nansi Ellis, Assistant General Secretary NEU has commented on the secondary school performance tables, published today by the Department for Education.
NEU comment on Apprenticeships
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on 'The apprenticeships ladder of opportunity: quality not quantity', a report by the House of Commons Education Committee,
Education Policy Institute’s damning report on UTCs
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the latest report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
Union leaders join forces for pre-budget video
Headteachers and teachers across England are being encouraged to write to their MPs over the school funding crisis in the run-up to the Budget on 29 October.
Ofsted Chief outlines changes to education inspection framework
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union, has commented on the Chief Inspector of Ofsted’s admission that focus on data has been a major factor in schools becoming exam factories.
GCSE Performance Statistics
Nansi Ellis, Assistant General Secretary, National Education Union has commented on statistics released today by the Department for Education for 2017/18.
NEU comment on Equity in Education
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on Equity in Education, the latest report in the Pisa series from the OECD.
NEU comment on the Budget Speech
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on the Chancellor’s Budget Speech, delivered today in the Commons.
NEU comment on IFS report on the rich and poor in education
Andrew Morris, Assistant General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on research by the IFS which reflects on the historical skew towards the rich in public spending on education.
Three education unions to simultaneously consult members after Budget fails to address funding crisis
Following the Government’s failure to address the school and college funding crisis in last week’s Budget, three education unions are taking the unprecedented step of simultaneously consulting with their respective members on what steps to take next.
NEU comment on teacher workload
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on the publication of the Department for Education’s response to the Teacher Workload Advisory Group report on data.
Undervalued and underpaid, NEU survey of independent school staff finds
The National Education Union’s 2018 independent sector pay & conditions survey reveals that pay in private schools is failing to keep pace with inflation, and that staff continue to experience high levels of workload, much of it unpaid.
Delays to the Government’s Asbestos Management Assurance Process
This week the DfE reopened its ‘Asbestos Management Assurance Process’, an exercise which asks school employers to declare whether they are compliant with their legal duty to manage asbestos in their schools.
NEU and Sex Education Forum survey finds significant gaps in sex education in England
A poll of young people shows gaps in Relationship and Sex Education on sexual grooming, abusive relationships and how to get help if they are sexually assaulted.
Damian Hinds calls on more schools to become academies
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the Education Secretary’s call for more academies, and the Department for Education’s analysis of sponsored academies.
Initial Teacher Training
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union has commented on the release of the trainee number census for 2018-19.
Ofsted Annual Report
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on the release of the Ofsted Annual Report
NEU comment on Primary School Performance Tables
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on today’s publication of primary school performance tables.
NEU survey: Teachers witnessing distressing new levels of child poverty this winter in schools
A National Education Union snapshot poll of 1,026 teachers* in England paints a harrowing picture of the increase in poverty seen in our schools and the daily impact it is having on children and young people.
NEU comment: Sutton Trust on Academy Chains
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the Sutton Trust report Chain Effects 2018, published today.
School Holiday Poverty
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, has commented on the Government’s school holiday programme for disadvantaged children.
Broken promises from Government on school funding
New analysis by the National Education Union of the Schools Block funding allocations show the Government has not even matched their previous woefully inadequate promises on school funding. The Government has delayed and delayed the publication of these figures. The reason now is clear.
School Finances
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union has commented on an Education Policy Institute report, published today, which looks at current school finances.
PAC report: Poor NHS mental health provision for young people
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union has commented on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report Mental health services for children and young people.
Ofsted consultation on changes to education inspection framework
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary NEU has commented on the launch of Ofsted’s consultation on how it inspects schools, early years settings and further education and skills providers.
EPI on Childcare Workers
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary NEU has commented on new research from the Education Policy Institute, analysing the childcare workforce in England.
School Cuts Coalition Stands By Figures Challenged by Deputy Chair of Conservative Party
James Cleverly, the Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party, has complained to the UK Statistics Authority about the figures on the School Cuts website. We stand by those figures.
Consultation of Members on School Funding
82,487 teachers taking part in the National Education Union’s consultation of members have given a ringing endorsement of the School Cuts campaign.
PAC report on academy failures and misuse of funding is a wake-up call to DfE
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the NEU has commented on Academy accounts and performance, the report of the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
PAC ‘seriously concerned’ about the Government’s approach to asbestos management in schools
The Joint Union Asbestos Committee which comprises the education and support staff unions (ASCL, GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, UCU, UNISON, Unite and Voice) and the Asbestos in Schools Group, Chaired by Emma Hardy MP are today responding to the asbestos recommendations in the Public Accounts Committee report into Academy accounts and performance.
NEU unveils billboards with questions for the Education Secretary during Conservative Party Conference
The NEU unveils three billboards during the Conservative party conference in Birmingham asking Damian Hinds three questions around funding for schools.