Joint General Secretaries' Address to National Education Union Annual Conference 2021
Kevin Courtney and Dr Mary Bousted's speech to #NEU21
NEU President Robin Bevan addresses the National Education Union Annual Conference 2021
Speech by the NEU President Robin Bevan to #NEU21
The State of Education: Staff Workload, Wellbeing and Retention
Survey of NEU members on their working lives over the past year, and how they view it in the months and years to come.
Annual Conference 2021
The NEU Annual Conference scheduled to be held in Manchester is being held virtually from 7-9 April.
Zoom Special Conference, 3 October
Following the cancellation of the 2020 NEU Annual Conference, the NEU held a Zoom Special Conference on 3 October.
Annual Conference Committee election results
Annual Conference Committee election results
Joint General Secretaries’ speech
Speech to National Education Union Annual Conference, Liverpool
Support Staff within the NEU and beyond
Commenting on the passing of Motion 14 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Support staff play an invaluable role in the classroom, yet the terms and conditions and pay for this work has been increasingly eroded.
Layla Moran’s speech
Commenting on the speech by Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, to the NEU Conference in Liverpool, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The alternative vision for education set out by Layla Moran will be music to the ears of many education professionals.
Annual Conference 2019
All the news from the first NEU Annual Conference, held in Liverpool
Blog
An historic week for primary education
Two of our major political parties have made clear that the assessment and accountability system under which schools have laboured for nearly 30 years can no longer be tolerated.
Press release
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The State of Education: Poverty, the Pandemic and Recovery
Survey of members on how best to steer a course for education out of Covid.
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
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.
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.
Post-16 colleges
Commenting on the passing of Motion 36 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “NEU members are calling on politicians and the public to recognise the weakened and fragmented state of the post-16 sector.
Challenging stereotypes and empowering young people
Commenting on the passing of Motion 10 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Alongside everything we need education to achieve, we need it to give children the confidence to follow their own individual interests.
Supply teachers
Commenting on the passing of Motions 20 and 22 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “NEU members have supported two motions calling for urgent action to stop the exploitation of supply teachers and schools by employment agencies.
Accountability and Assessment
Commenting on the passing of Motion 30 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The resolution demonstrates the conviction of those who work in English education that our system of assessment and accountability is not fit for purpose".
Abolish the anti-union laws
Commenting on the passing of Motion 37 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The 2016 Trade Union Act was a blatant attempt by the Conservative Government to weaken the ability of trade unionists to take action to defend their jobs, pay and working conditions.
Valid assessment for all
Commenting on the passing of Motion 35 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “With this resolution, the Union adds its voice to the rising concern about the effects and educational value of exams at 16+.
The Fred & Anne Jarvis award
This year’s Fred & Anne Jarvis Award has been given to campaigner Madeleine Holt.
EPI on Offrolling
Commenting on Unexplained Pupil Exits From Schools: A Growing Problem?, the Education Policy Institute (EPI)’s major new analysis, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The issue of 'offrolling' is rising up the political agenda. NEU members' concerns about offrolling led the Union to sponsor this EPI research into informal exclusions".
Change needs to come from within
Commenting on the passing of Motion 32 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "Progress against racism in workplaces is far too slow.
Disability Discrimination
Commenting on the passing of Motion 33 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Disabled teachers are undervalued for the contribution they make to their schools and colleges.
The Steve Sinnott International Solidarity Award
The winner of the 2019 Steve Sinnott International Solidarity Award is Dave Harvey, of Croydon NEU and ex-chair of the union’s International Solidarity Sub-Committee.
Mental health in exam factories
Commenting on the passing of Motion 29 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The current draconian approach to the education of children and young people is turning our schools into Exam Factories and squeezing the joy and creativity out of the classroom.
A national education service
Commenting on the passing of Motion 28 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “All children and young people have a right to a high-quality education in a good local school.
The Nikki Simpson Award for Learning
Liz Mills is the winner of this year’s Nikki Simpson Award for Learning.
NEU Representative and Officer of the Year Awards
Today the Joint General Secretaries of the NEU today presented awards to the Representative and Officer of the Year for 2018/19. These awards recognise the hard work of reps and officers in the Union.
Supporting Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Commenting on the passing of Motion 23 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The NEU is appalled at the continued off-rolling and illegal exclusion of too many SEND pupils and wants the government to address the underlying pressures which lead schools to take such action.
Jeremy Corbyn's speech
Commenting on Jeremy Corbyn’s speech at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union in Liverpool, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is good to hear a politician who understands the depth of the educational crisis, and the urgency of finding solutions to it.
Fair pay for teachers
NEU members have voted to reject the Government’s policy on teachers’ pay, including its unprecedented decision to reject the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) on the 2018 pay increase
LGBT+ Rights
Commenting on the passing of an urgency motion on LGBT+ rights at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is crucial that every young person can feel happy and safe at school but too many LGBT+ young people still don't feel they can be themselves at school.
Workload and Pedagogy
Commenting on the passing of Motion 19 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Workload in schools remains a significant problem, posing a major threat to schools’ effectiveness and pupils’ learning and is driving the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.
Devolution of pay and conditions to Wales
Commenting on the passing of Motion 18 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We are entering unchartered waters in Wales following the devolution of pay and conditions for school teachers in September 2018.
The State of Education: Young People’s Mental Health
Mental health problems amongst young people hit “crisis point”, according to findings of NEU survey
Boycott High Stakes Summative Testing in Primary Schools
Commenting on the passing of Motion 16 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Funding for Nursery Schools
Commenting on the passing of Motion 15 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
T-Levels
Commenting on the passing of Motion 13 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is vital for both young people and the economy that technical qualifications have parity of esteem with academic ones.
Non-Pensionable Allowances
Commenting on the passing of Motion 12 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The National Education Union is extremely concerned about the threat to teachers’ pensions in independent schools.
Anti-racism
Commenting on the passing of Motion 9 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Racism is a pernicious thread that runs through society both at home and abroad.
The Blair Peach award
Kauser Jan is the winner of this year’s Blair Peach Award.
Climate change
Commenting on the passing of Motion 8 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Climate change is a public health emergency and NEU members and the children they teach are at the forefront of this crisis.
End of privatisation of education
Commenting on the passing of Motion 7 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “After nine years of the academy programme, there is still no evidence to suggest that turning a school into an academy raises standards of education or brings any benefit whatsoever.
Launch of new report ‘In whose interest? The UK's role in privatising education around the world'
A new report from UK civil society organisation Global Justice Now and the National Education Union, the largest education union in Europe, launches today.
School funding
Commenting on the passing of Motion 6 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The outcry about the state of school and sixth form college funding continues.
The state of education: workload
Survey of NEU members shows workload is out of control and driving people out of profession.
The State of Education: Child Poverty
Increased concern about worsening levels of child poverty and its impact on learning, according to survey of NEU members.
SEND Provision
Special needs provision in England has lost out on £1.2bn because of shortfalls in funding increases from central government since 2015.