Press

Permanent Exclusions and Suspensions

Our young people have one chance in education, and it falls to Government to ensure that the best possible environment is provided to them.

Don't scrap BTEC

Education bodies write to Gavin Williamson urging him not to scrap BTEC qualifications

Attendance Data in Education Settings

The rates of absence in schools are really down to one thing: the Government's inability to control spiralling case numbers of COVID-19. 

Education unions react to publication of STRB report on pay

Teachers and school leaders are united in their opposition to the Government's pay freeze.

Teacher pay freeze

All education staff deserve a significant pay increase, not another real-terms pay cut.

Impact of the Pandemic on Early Years

The Education Policy Institute (EPI) and National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) report into impact of the pandemic on early years.

Latest school attendance figures: week 29

The new attendance figures show that a quarter of all pupils were absent from school last week, with over a million being absent for specific Covid-related reasons.

Government decision on school performance tables 2021/22

The continued mistreatment of education professionals brings shame on this Government.

British Educational Research Association report on primary assessment

This has to change. We will not move our school system forward without engaging in serious thought about its problems. BERA's report is an opportunity to do that.

Flu Vaccines

The NEU welcomes the news that there will be a mass vaccination programme against the flu including of children.

Coronavirus: school outbreaks remain high

NEU comment as latest PHE data shows school outbreaks remain high

EPI on Teacher CPD

EPI report: high quality CPD for teachers is both needed and cost-effective.

NFER on Pupil Covid-Related Anxiety

National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) report on an increase in pupils with mental health issues.

International Aid Vote

Shockingly cynical move has ridden roughshod over the Government's manifesto commitment and left the UK’s international credibility in tatters.

Latest School Attendance Figures

The number of pupils absent for COVID-19 related reasons is now the highest at any point in the pandemic.

Hamilton Commission on Representing Black People in UK Motorsport

The NEU is committed to working with The Hamilton Commission to support and empower young Black people through education, and to widen opportunities.

Labour Call for Free School Meals Support in Summer

The Government does not appear to be learning from its u-turns on free school meals and is ignoring the strong public support for meals in the holidays for these children.

Qualifications in 2022

This consultation is unlikely to provide definitive answers ahead of the new term starting in September. At best it will be a partial picture of arrangements. 

Rise in Coronavirus Clusters in Schools

Rising infection rates increase the disruption to education, but DfE still fail to act.

School Funding Consultation

DfE consultation on school funding simply completes the redistribution of school funding from poorer areas to better-off areas.

Removal of school safety measures

NEU writes to Gavin Williamson about removal of safety measures in schools

Changes to Covid Measures in Education Settings

We can all hope for the best, but we must now plan for something that is less than the best.

Labour on 2022 Examinations

September 1st is the absolute latest that information should be provided about qualifications in 2022. There still hasn’t been any detail nor a public consultation, and we are already in July. That is unacceptable.

Changes to Covid Restrictions in Schools

This is neglectful and reckless decision-making, when schools and colleges quite obviously need the backing of Government to ensure their workplace remains safe. This is not a Government which oversees, but one which overlooks.

Initial Teacher Training

The NEU urges the Government to halt the ITT market review, take a pause for breath, and then really engage all stakeholders in a discussion about what the issues and solutions in ITT provision are.

Unions condemn Government treatment of school and college leaders

Three education unions have written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson expressing our anger and dismay at the way in which the government is treating school and college leaders.

National Audit Office on School Funding

Schools cannot thrive without proper financial support and without a proper assessment of costs. Yet again, the Department for Education have been found out on school funding.

Education Endowment Foundation on Impact of Covid 

These reports show, once again, how much we need a long-term, properly thought-through and resourced plan for education recovery.

Free School Meal provision during summer holidays

Labour Party calls for clarity over free school meal provision during the summer holidays.

Mind report on Young People’s Mental Health

We need a holistic approach to education recovery over the coming year because of the strong relationship between mental health and learning. 

Attendance Data

The continued sharp rise in Covid-related pupil absences risks leaving plans for the end of the school year in tatters.

Self-Isolation and Schools

The DfE "possible arrangements for testing in September" scarcely qualify as a plan at all.

Behaviour Management in Schools

The consultation on behaviour management in schools should focus on wellbeing not phones.

Thank A Teacher Day

While there have been many unsung heroes during this pandemic, Thank A Teacher Day gives us all an opportunity to recognise the work that has gone on in schools and colleges up and down the country.

School Absence Rates

The new attendance figures are very worrying. In secondary schools the rate of absence for Covid-related reasons has tripled in just one week, while in primary schools the rate has doubled in a week.

NEU Cymru welcomes Estyn inspection plans for autumn term

The pandemic has meant that schools have not been focusing on moving towards to the new Curriculum 2022.

Education Committee Report on White Working-Class Pupils

It is important to understand that social class is the biggest determinant of educational success or failure. Too many children and young people are disengaged from the curriculum.

School Census Data shows increase in Free School Meal provision

Government must act urgently to implement the recommendations of the National Food Strategy. No child should come to school too hungry to learn. 

School Workforce Data

The school workforce data must be seen in the context of the severe recruitment and retention problems that have developed over the past decade.

Phonic checks back in Autumn

Education Secretary confirms phonic checks to resume in Autumn term

NFER on Apprenticeships

The NEU supports proposals to help young people access apprenticeship programmes but this report lays bare the disproportionate impact those reforms are having on younger apprentices.

Early Years Alliance on Underfunding of Sector

It is shameful that the Government continues to let down the Early Years sector. The Government’s current policies and lack of action are clearly a threat to the sector and the life chances of the children they educate.

NEU Cymru disappointed with IWPRB pay award for teachers

We are disappointed to read that Jeremy Miles is minded to accept the recommendation of a pay award for teachers across the board of only 1.75% with effect from 1 September 2021.

UK aid to Global Partnership for Education

UK announces £430m aid to Global Partnership for Education

Ofsted Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges

Sexual harassment is still trivialised and normalised throughout society, and we urgently need to boost the focus around both preventing and responding to the sexual harassment.

Reintroduce face coverings

Government must ​reintroduce face coverings to minimise Covid disruption in schools, say education unions

School Attendance Figures: week before half-term

In order to keep face-to-face learning on a sustainable footing, Government must take the rising secondary school case numbers seriously.

Resignation of Sir Kevan Collins

Sir Kevan Collins, Education Recovery Commissioner Resignation.

Government’s education recovery plan

The Government’s plans for education recovery for the nation’s pupils are inadequate and incomplete.

Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan

Labour is right to recognise that children need to recover through play and through greatly improved mental-health support.

Fairness on grading

As workload rockets for grading season, 10,000 educators write to Gavin Williamson demanding he provides compensation

Over half a million children reliant on free school meals

Labour Party figures show over half a million children have become reliant on free school meals during the pandemic.

Latest school attendance data from Government

We call on the Government to release school attendance figures for the local authorities to be released before the middle of June.

Sutton Trust on Early Years

The report confirms what early years educators have repeatedly told Government: recovery from the pandemic must be concerned with building back the social element in children's lives.

IFS on Covid-related spending

This report from the IFS exposes another example of the gap between Government rhetoric about investing in education recovery and the reality.

EPI on Teacher Pay and Retention

The EPI report rightly highlights the severe teacher recruitment and retention problems, and the significant gaps between teacher pay and the pay of other graduate professions.

Ofsted on Teaching Teachers

We urge the Government to fully fund schools to deliver the practical support new teachers need to become confident and competent classroom practitioners, and not risk a further loss to the profession that the system can ill afford.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Today is an important day which draws attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT+ people around the world and here at home.

EPI on Education Recovery

The EPI report highlights the scale of the disruption caused by the pandemic and the necessary funding needed to repair the damage.

Queen’s Speech

The Government must invest properly in education rather than attempt to cover up a general lack of new money.

Masks in Schools

The Government have ignored SAGE’s advice to keep face masks in the classroom.

Trial use of LFTs as an alternative to isolation

NEU meets with scientists running the trial on the use of lateral flow test (LFTs) as an alternative to isolation.

Masks still needed to Keep Millions Safe

Scientists: More than 153,000 children and school staff with Long COVID means masks still needed to keep millions safe.

Sutton Trust on Pupil Premium Funding

School budgets have been hit hard by coronavirus and the inadequate reimbursement from Government. Gavin Williamson must come clean as to how much schools have lost as a result of his moving the goalpost.

Speech by Gavin Williamson to the Confederation of School Trusts

The fragmented academy system has serious structural problems and contradictions which are entirely the fault of this Government. What we need is greater coherence and investment in the democratic structures and support that bind schools to one another and to their communities.

EPI on Teacher Training and Development

The NEU agrees that a boost to the amount of high quality CPD teachers receive would be extremely welcome by the profession and a good step in improving retention.

NEU endorses the Stephen Hawking Foundation "Are Vaccines Safe?"

The National Education Union and Runnymede Trust have endorsed classroom resources produced by the Stephen Hawking Foundation to tackle vaccine hesitancy and encourage critical thinking.

New curriculum and assessment legislation reform

NEU Cymru calls on the next Welsh Government to fully fund the new Curriculum and ALN reform.

Cuts to International Aid

The Government's plans for slashing overseas aid are indefensible. A direct line can and will be drawn between these cuts and irreversible damage to children's fundamental right to education, safety, and dignity.

EPI on Education Recovery

We agree with the report’s conclusions that overcoming the pandemic is possible and that it should serve as a catalyst for sustained improvements in education.

Post-16 Sector

If the Government is to achieve its agenda of levelling up and the promise of better jobs, it must restore funding and pay in the sector.

Union Recognition and Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS)

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme is a fundamental part of a teacher’s remuneration.

SEND Funding and Mental Health

Government must properly fund all schools and conduct an urgent review of high-needs funding.

Funding for Nursery Schools

The NEU is determined that the early years sector will not be the poor relation of the education system.

Venezuela

The sweeping sanctions and economic blockade imposed on Venezuela are blunt instruments that have led to ordinary people suffering inhumanely.

Pride in Our Union

We've got to assert that homophobic and transphobic discrimination doesn't go unnoticed or unchallenged.

Marcus Rashford MBE receives 2021 Fred and Anne Jarvis Award

This year’s Fred & Anne Jarvis Award has been given to Marcus Rashford MBE for his work in fighting food poverty.

Harassment, Abuse and Violence Against Women

Sexism has real negative consequences for girls and for female staff, who disproportionately experience sexual violence and harassment. If we want different outcomes for girls, we need to start doing things differently.

Black Lives Matter

It is urgent that all Black students can access a positive, engaging and representative curriculum.

Combat Climate Breakdown in School and Beyond

The Government should recognise the power of education in the fight against climate change and ensure that the school curriculum addresses the climate emergency, the effects of climate change and what we can do to mitigate it.

PSHE, RSE and LGBT+ Inclusive Education

We can't work towards equality in society or tackle discrimination in workplaces unless we talk positively about LGBT+ people across the curriculum.

Defend the Right to Protest - Oppose the New Police Bill

We believe that this Bill attempts to solve a problem that does not exist, diverting the police into partisan ‘culture wars’, and restricting an inherent aspect of a free society – the right to protest.

Workload

Analysis after analysis and survey upon survey continue to demonstrate that teacher workload remains unsustainable and is the main driver for leaving the profession.

Supply Staff

The Covid crisis has demonstrated even more reasons to change the way that we organise the provision of supply staff in schools.

Protecting Black Lives in Education

Throughout 2020 and 2021, racism and the value of Black lives has been the subject of persistent and painful news stories, and the Covid pandemic has laid bare the extent of racial inequalities in all areas of social policy.

Addressing the Crisis of Disability Equality in Our Schools

There remains a job of work to do within the education sector about making sure employers make reasonable adjustments to retain and value their staff who are disabled.

Child Poverty

The last ten years has seen a dramatic rise in child poverty across the UK – and without drastic, immediate action from Government the numbers will increase.

Abolish Ofsted and League Tables

Ofsted is not an agent of change. It is a blunt instrument – a wholly negative presence in schools, never offering constructive advice.

Stop Toxic Testing

Today, the Union has set out the measures government should take to learn from the failures of the past and to open up our narrow, test-driven and restrictive education system so that it benefits all learners, from the early years to adulthood.

GCSE and A-Levels

The pandemic has exposed the flaws that exist when awarding GCSE and A-Level grades even in a normal year.

Maternity Rights

Sexism and sexist biases including pregnancy and maternity discrimination mean that women in the education sector are losing out in status and pay.

A Diverse and Inclusive Curriculum

In place of micro-management, teachers need space to make a curriculum that is broad and balanced, offering opportunities for creativity, exploration and for meaningful, collaborative learning.

Pay Freeze

The Government's ideologically-driven pay freeze is both unjustified and unfair.

Covid-19 and Workload

The problem of high workload predates the pandemic and will, unfortunately, survive it.

The State of Education: Young People’s Mental Health

In advance of the National Education Union’s annual conference, held online this week, more than 10,000 teachers, leaders and support staff from across the UK and in all school and college settings have made clear their views on the State of Education and the conditions under which they work.

The State of Education: Poverty, the Pandemic and Recovery

Survey of members on how best to steer a course for education out of Covid.

Face Coverings in Class

The NEU welcomes the fact that the Government has accepted the scientific consensus that the wearing of face coverings by staff and students in classrooms forms a key part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission of Covid-19 in schools and colleges.

Baseline Assessment

“This year of all years is a terrible time to introduce a statutory requirement to introduce a baseline test which is designed not to give information to either teachers or parents.

Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities

Many schools themselves are already showing the lead on this and decolonising their curriculum, but today’s report misses the point that schools are doing this in the absence of support and despite the Government. 

Summer Schools

There is welcome clarity in today’s advice that schools can adopt the plans which best suit their situation.

Ofsted

We have long warned that this framework is extremely difficult for primary schools and will force more schools to take their focus away from the needs of the children they teach and towards a rigid view of curriculum.

JCQ Guidance on GCSEs and A-Levels

School leaders and teachers now need assurances from the Secretary of State that no new requirements will be made of them.

NEU Cymru members say more funding for education

99% of NEU Cymru members say more funding for education would help young people learn

Teacher labour market

The NFER is right to note that any improvement in teacher supply due to the pandemic will be short-lived.

NEU Cymru welcomes report on "Fair Deal for supply teachers"

During the pandemic, our supply members have been extremely disappointed by the behaviour of some of the supply agencies, who have refused to Furlough supply staff.

EPI report on SEND postcode lottery

It is an impact of the systemic cuts to SEND funding that local authorities in the most disadvantaged areas are found in the report to have been forced to ration support for the children with greatest need.

NAO on Public Service Pensions

The NEU broadly welcomes the NAO report on public service pensions, which largely endorses the NEU’s arguments down the years.

UCL on School Accountability and Stress

The UCL analysis also highlights cases of schools where stress caused by accountability is higher than in others.

NAO report on the DfE and support for children’s education during Covid

It is understandable that the Government would not have an off-the-shelf plan for schools having to operate under an extended lockdown, as was the case from March 2020, but it continued to dither and delay over many months.

Police gross mishandling of vigil for Sarah Everard

Covid-19 safeguards are necessary but vigil policing was inappropriately handled and disturbing.

Labour's analysis of class sizes

The Labour Party is right to highlight this important issue. The proportion of pupils in outsized secondary classes is at its highest point in the last 40 years with 1 million children being taught in classes of more than 30. 

Bright Future Taskforce

Labour launches Bright Future Taskforce

School and college wider re-opening Monday 8th March

We all hope that this is the last lockdown. But the Government has not done enough to ensure this properly.

Budget 2021

The Government has said schools are a “national priority”, yet this Budget has provided schools with no new resources to manage coronavirus.

Local Councillors sign letter to PM to extend Free School Meals

Ahead of the Chancellor's Budget statement this week, over 750 local councillors have signed a letter to the Prime Minister calling for more support so that no child is left behind.

Awarding Grades for 2021

Government acted too late. Had there been steps taken at the start of the academic year to prepare for the eventuality that exams may not be able to happen, this could have been more easily resolved.

Government’s education recovery package

The NEU and the Sutton Trust have recommended to Government that £750 million is needed as the first immediate boost to Pupil Premium. Instead, £302 million has been announced.

The Government are still not following the science

Boris Johnson has pressed ahead with this gamble on the wider opening of schools and colleges in one swoop and ignored the advice for a phased return.

Schools Wider Opening from 8 March

Today’s announcement that all pupils will return to English schools and colleges on 8 March demonstrates, again, that Boris Johnson has, despite all his words of caution, failed to learn the lessons of his previous mistakes

Joint statement on wider opening of schools in England

Nine education organisations have joined together to issue a statement on the wider opening of schools and colleges in England.

Joint education statement on vaccines

Early years, schools and college staff must be prioritised for Phase 2 vaccinations, union and education leaders warn following reports of government row-back

EPI on education recovery

No educational programme will be successful unless it is linked to measures on a massive scale to deal with poverty.

Education unions unite to reject Government pay freeze

Organisations representing the overwhelming majority of teachers and school leaders in England have united in opposing the Government’s pay freeze.

Joint statement: fair summer assessment

Education organisations set out principles for fair assessment this summer

EdenRed FSM vouchers report

PAC report into EdenRed delivery of Free School Meal vouchers

Consultation on public sector pensions

The NEU deplores the Government’s decision to pass the cost of fixing its own unlawful age discrimination on to public sector workers.

Ofsted Inspections

NEU is pleased that Ofsted has shown sense and further delayed its on-site inspections.

NEU Cymru notes plans to open schools for early years

We must be mindful that everyone will be apprehensive about a potential rise in the virus levels if we open up too quickly, so a phased approach is welcome, as a safe return is essential.

NEU launches plan for education return and recovery

Today the NEU launches a new Education Recovery Plan

Prime Minister’s Roadmap for Schools

We all want schools to open, but like the Prime Minister we want them to open when it is safe to do so. This has to be done sustainably and safely. 

NEU and Daily Mirror launch Help a Child to Learn appeal

The National Education Union and the Daily Mirror launch Help a Child to Learn appeal with £1m for schools.

NEU survey shows need to support students during lockdown

In a survey of more than 2,500 National Education Union members, we asked staff working in schools in England and Wales to detail the impact of the pandemic on their disadvantaged students.

Ofsted on Remote Education

Ofsted's insistence on "monitoring" only adds to the pressure onschools

Early Years Census 2021 Return

The clarification to the census guidance is a limited and confusing response to a worsening crisis. Its offer of top-up funding does not guarantee the necessary level of financial support.

Coronavirus Infection Survey

This survey is of great concern. It confirms the worries of the NEU and many others that this lockdown has not been strict enough. 

Gavin Williamson on wider reopening of schools and colleges

It is good that we now have an assurance from Gavin Williamson that school staff will be given two weeks' notice before reopening.

NEU Cymru welcomes changes to awarding grades

We are always concerned that exams do not fully reflect the potential of young people in the system, and are especially pleased that there are no plans to use an unfair algorithm this year.

Sutton Trust on Learning in Lockdown

We agree with the Sutton Trust that disadvantaged pupils are going to require significant extra investment because of deepening levels of deprivation.

Remote Education Hub

NEU Launch Remote Education Hub

Pause on Lateral Flow Testing

We are relieved that the Government now accepts that it was wrong to introduce testing in this way

Impact of COVID on school workforce

Department for Education releases data on the impact of coronavirus on the school workforce.

Latest statistics on school attendance

The number of pupils eligible to go to school and colleges is higher than in the previous lockdown but even given the increase in student numbers staff attendance rates could be much lower.

Universal Credit and Free School Meals

More than 1 in 4 children across the UK are growing up trapped in poverty, but we are still having the same conversations about whether MPs will do the right thing to tackle the scourge of child poverty in 2021.

DfE Consultation on Awarding Grades

Consultation is always welcome but this is too late in the day.

MHRA on Testing in Schools

We have always supported the idea of mass testing in schools as a means to facilitate safe on-site learning, but this has to be consistent with scientific understanding.

Free School Meals in Half Term

Government won't fund FSM over February half term.

Teachers top priority in next vaccine phase

Gavin Williamson on school staff being a “top priority” in next phase of vaccine rollout

Gavin Williamson on 2021 Exams

The principle of trusting teachers rather than algorithms is absolutely the right one to take. The fact that the Government originally did not do so last summer was what caused upset and chaos for students.

Government and Laptops

The Government can't claim to protect disadvantaged students while they routinely let them down

Keep early years safe and funded

The National Education Union and UNISON have highlighted a series of funding and safety issues ministers must address to ensure community safety around the care and education of young children. 

Keir Starmer Speech

Keir Starmer is right to call out the Government on key worker pay.  A pay freeze is no way to reward education staff for the immense contribution they have made to the country's response to the pandemic. 

Education unions need answers from education secretary

The NEU and UNISON have written to Gavin Williamson about the effect a significant extension to the number of pupils allowed back into school will have on Coronavirus transmission rates.

ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey

The Government can't seem to decide whether schools are safe or unsafe. Let this data end their confusion.

Wales school closure

NEU Cymru welcomes proposed closure of schools and colleges until February

Wales money for disadvantaged learners

NEU Cymru welcomes extra money for disadvantaged learners

Wales families on UC

Organisations join forces to call for more support for families on universal credit

SATs Cancelled

Teachers and parents will be relieved that Gavin Williamson has faced up to reality and cancelled this year's SATs tests.

Gavin Williamson’s Plan for Schools and Colleges

Education staff will need further information soon about the training proposed by Gavin Williamson to assist with ensuring consistency and fairness of grades nationally.

National Lockdown: Schools and colleges to close

No one wanted schools and colleges to be shut again but the evidence clearly pointed to the necessity for this to happen weeks ago.

Wales move to on-line learning

NEU Cymru welcomes move to on-line learning

Northern Ireland primary and post-primary schools to extend remote learning

Full National Education Union Statement, 3rd January 2020

Wales return to education

NEU Cymru comments on the return to education

Call for all primary schools in England to move learning online

We are informing our members of their legal right to protection to be guided by the science. In order for viral levels in children and in the community to decrease to below R1 primary schools should not open in the first weeks of January.

NEU advises primary members it is unsafe to return to work

Today, the National Education Union has taken the difficult decision to advise its members in primary and special needs schools, and early years settings, that it is unsafe to return to work on Monday.

London primary schools to close

Another last minute U-turn as Government announces all London primaries are to stay closed until 18 January at least.

On December 22 SAGE told Government to close schools

SAGE told ministers that they needed to close schools to contain coronavirus, before Christmas.

January return to school

NEU responds to the Government’s announcement on the return to school in January

Schools and colleges should delay January opening

NEU presses Government to release advice from Chief Medical Officer and reiterates position that schools and colleges should start the New Year with a period of online learning

EPI report into school funding during COVID

The Government claims to want to build back better but that will not be possible if schools are bankrupted by coronavirus.

New measures for return of schools and colleges in January

NEU calls for new measures to ensure safe return of schools and colleges in January

ONS: huge surge in school infection

Latest COVID infection survey shows huge surge amongst school and college students

NEU writes to Gavin Williamson about mass testing plan

NEU has today written to Gavin Williamson about his “inoperable” mass testing plan for secondary schools and colleges beginning in January.

ONS School Infection Survey

NEU call that education staff should be vaccinated

Plans for Schools in January

Today’s announcement by Government, made on the last day of term, demonstrates ministerial panic rather than rational and responsible action.

Education unions condemn STRB restriction

Three education unions condemn Gavin Williamson for restricting the STRB

School Attendance Data

These attendance figures that have been hidden from the public for so long show just what a profound impact coronavirus has had on schooling in many areas. 

Mass Testing for Schools

This announcement gives almost zero notice for unions to assess the plans, or for schools to implement them. The Government’s suggestion that the preparation for the roll-out of testing should happen this week is ridiculous.

Greenwich Council

This Government really has taken a step too far. They should hang their heads in shame. Parents, students and school staff will not forgive this wilful neglect of their safety.

Ofsted on Covid Isolation

It is hugely concerning that Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children are not doing as well as their peers in terms of coping with remote learning.

NEU Cymru welcomes ‘distance learning’ week in secondary schools and colleges

NEU Cymru secondary members will be heartened to hear secondary schools are moving to a distance learning model in the last week of term. Our members in primary schools will still be concerned.

School closures 

NEU comment on call by Sadiq Khan to close schools this week and move to online learning.

ONS Figures

The latest ONS Coronavirus survey figures should be very worrying to the Government - especially in the run up to Christmas. They show that cases are again rising in secondary and primary schools. 

Testing in Schools

Rolling out testing in these two areas is a start, but the Prime Minister needs to urgently address those other parts of the country where infection rates remain high.  

NEU Cymru comment on Estyn Annual Report

NEU Cymru welcome that Estyn’s Annual Report provides acknowledgement of what a challenging year this has been for everyone in education in Wales.

Attendance Figures

The latest figures from the last week of national lockdown are deeply depressing. One in five secondary pupils and one in ten primary pupils were absent last week

COVID Map - Welsh Schools Update

NEU Cymru are today are launching an interactive Covid Map for schools in Wales.

NFER on School Funding and Covid-19

The NFER report has confirmed what the education world already knew. Schools are struggling to cope with the extra costs of Covid-19.

Joint unions express outrage at pay offer

Trade unions representing staff in English further education colleges have today (Thursday) slammed the decision by the Association of Colleges (AoC) to offer a 1% pay increase and demanded to know what additional Government funding had been spent on.

Latest DfE figures for trainee teachers

General increase is welcome but subject shortages and retention are a challenge.

DfE package of measures - 2021 examinations

The Westminster Government’s slow decision-making process on secondary exams and qualifications is better than nothing, but far less helpful than it could have been if it had been made sooner.

DfE on Primary Assessment

Teachers require an assurance that the results of key stage 2 tests in 2021, which cannot possibly be a measure of the quality of a school, will not be used as a measure of accountability.

Imperial College REACT-1 Survey

We are deeply concerned by the results of the REACT-1 coronavirus survey which show that over the lockdown coronavirus has continued to increase amongst school age children

Latest Attendance Figures

The only way to improve school attendance is for the Government to act to bring down coronavirus infection rates in schools. 

Ofsted Annual Report

The best thing Ofsted could do would be to announce that their routine inspections will not begin again this academic year.

Labour on exams

Labour is right to point to huge deficiencies in what the Government has so far said about exams for next summer.

Clinically extremely vulnerable staff

NEU demand that clinically extremely vulnerable staff should work from home after lockdown.

Independent SAGE

This is a welcome intervention by Independent SAGE, which once again exposes the enormous blind-spot that Government has towards schools.

Aid Budget

258 million children were out of school before the Covid pandemic and millions more now stand to never return.

Spending Review 2020

Pay freeze is a body blow to education workers

UCL research on Teacher Workload

Evidence from report shows teachers are still working amongst the longest hours in Europe.

Attendance figures update

School attendance continues to fall in the face of the pandemic.

Phonics research

More Than a Score research on Phonics

NEU Cymru welcomes face coverings ‘should’ be worn in school communal areas

We can see now that the virus is spreading in schools. We have more and more information all the time, and our priority must be keeping both learners and staff as safe as possible.

Independent School conference survey

NEU survey of independent school staff finds support for measures to minimise Covid risk but more needs to be done.

Latest ONS school infection rate figures

As rates rise lockdown seems to have done nothing to slow the increase in infection amongst school age pupils

Public Sector Pay

The Government will argue this is about holding down public sector pay because private sector pay has gone down, but it makes no sense economically.

Belonging, behaviour, and learning outcomes

NEU launches research on 'a sense of belonging' and its role in positive learning and behaviour

Post-Qualification University Admissions

Government proposal to use real rather than predicted A level grades for higher education places.

ONS data finds infection rates highest amongst secondary aged pupils

The Office for National Statistics' latest infection survey shows that secondary-age pupils now have the highest rate of infection of any age group and, whilst it has fallen a little as a result of the half-term holiday, it is likely to carry on increasing. 

Education Committee on Exams

The National Education Union agrees with the Education Select Committee’s conclusion that exams for 2021 must take account of the differential impacts of access to education across the country.

Latest school attendance figures - November

Attendance data from England and Wales confirm the significant role that schools play in virus transmission

Wales exams

Clear decisions of Welsh Government on 2021 exams shows England lagging behind.

NEU urge education minister to let go of GCSEs

The National Education Union has urged the Minister of Education to “let go” of GCSEs as a means of coping with the pandemic and as a way of de-stressing schools from relentless and obsessive testing, tracking, monitoring and assessment.

NEU Cymru welcomes Education Minister’s exam announcement

It is critical that we don’t have a repeat of what happened this summer, which was exceptionally difficult for those who should have been taking exams.

Ofsted Report: November

Chief Inspector recognises the work of school leaders in the face of the pandemic but needs to go further to best stand up for schools.

EPI on Exams in 2021

Education Policy Institute say Gavin Williamson really should have listened sooner on exams next year.

Infection Rates in Schools and Colleges

Drop in rate over half term shows role of schools in transmission.

Petitions Committee: Black history

NEU to speak at Petitions Committee hearing on Black history and the curriculum

New national restrictions for schools

Much of this Government guidance is welcome but more needs to be done to make schools and colleges safe.

National Tutoring Programme

DfE has opted for a cut price tuition scheme on the cheap.

NEU Cymru comments on the end of the half-term break

As schools and colleges reopen after half term, health and safety remains the top priority.

Fair Grade 2021 petition hand-in

NEU hands in petition calling for Government action to ensure fairness in 2021 exams

150,000+ support our campaign to close schools and colleges

150,000+ teachers and support staff back the NEU, as we call for Parliament lockdown bill to include schools and colleges

Close schools in national lockdown

NEU calls for schools and colleges to be closed during 4 week national lockdown

GCSEs and A-Levels: October

The Government's current approach to exams in England is increasingly untenable.

EPI on School attendance rates

With high numbers of pupils and staff having to isolate as a result of Covid cases in their school, Govt decisions are doubling the difficulties faced by disadvantaged children and young people.

NEU calls for an end to holiday hunger

The National Education Union is asking people to support and sign an open letter to the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, calling upon him to eradicate holiday hunger by providing Free School Meals (FSM) to all children who need them over the school holidays.

Latest Attendance Figures

The latest figures on school absence add to an ever-more compelling argument that Government needs to be vastly more assertive in its efforts to futureproof schools against the effects of Covid outbreaks.

Refusal to Commit to Free School Meals over Holidays

Boris Johnson continues to refuse to commit to Free School Meals in school holidays.

Secondary Schools Moving to a Rota System

NEU asks Gavin Williamson to explore potential of secondary schools moving to a rota system

Free School Meal provision over holidays

Opposition Motion on Free School Meal provision over school holidays

Latest school attendance figures

Latest attendance figures show that the Government urgently needs to look at ways of reducing transmission in schools.

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.

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.

Covid-19 impact on primary schools

UCL research into impact of COVID-19 on primary schools

Education policy responses to pandemic

EPI report shows disadvantaged children hardest hit by UKs education response to COVID-19

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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: Maintained Nursery School Funding

Education experts call for Downing Street to prioritise Maintained Nursery School funding.

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: 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: Baseline assessment delay

The National Education Union welcomes the decision not to implement reception baseline assessment in September.

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 - 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Over 1000 councillors write to Gavin Williamson

1,173 local authority councillors from across England have signed the NEU Councillors letter to Gavin Williamson.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Press release - 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.

Coronavirus school closure update

NEU calling for school closures "at least for some time and at least in some areas"

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.

OFSTED should cease inspections

As COVID-19 spreads, schools need to focus on what is important.

Coronavirus - school closure policy

Why aren’t schools closing if mass gatherings are to be suspended?

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.

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.

Spread of 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.

School Admissions

Sutton Trust research on school admissions finds social segregation has lasting effects and is letting down pupils and communities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

More Than A Score assessment survey

More Than A Score /YouGov publishes survey findings of parents' views on too much testing in schools.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Free schools policy

NEU research reveals staggering cost and failure rate of the free schools policy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Liberal Democrats Education Pledges

The NEU welcomes the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to reverse school cuts and the recognition that teachers’ pay needs to rise.

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.

Government Fire Safety

Government’s “shameful” record on fire safety must end, says joint unions' letter

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

Constituency school funding

Underfunding of schools in England, listed by constituency.

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.

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.

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.

Unexplained Pupil Exits

Sixty-nine thousand unexplained pupil exits from schools is a shocking figure and one which the Government needs to address.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Starting salaries

Government announces a raise in starting salaries for teacher.

Young People’s Mental Health

Young Minds survey shows that academic pressure has significant impact on students mental health.

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.

16-19 Funding

Funding announcement for further education and sixth form colleges is nowhere near to closing the £1.1bn gap.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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