
Annual Conference 2021
The NEU Annual Conference will be held on 7-9 April.
The NEU Annual Conference will be held on 7-9 April.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 NEU Annual Conference, the NEU held a Zoom Special Conference on 3 October.
Annual Conference Committee election results
Speech to National Education Union Annual Conference, Liverpool
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.
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.
All the news from the first NEU Annual Conference, held in Liverpool
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.
Covid has exposed the fault lines in our current system of assessment and accountability.
The legacy of the Covid-19 crisis must be that conditions in schools and colleges become better not worse for all of our colleagues.
Everything that can be done must be done to ensure that schools and colleges remain open wherever possible.
NEU survey shows a complete lack of trust in Government to keep schools open and safe through Covid
Today the NEU’s National Officers have made the decision to cancel annual conference, due to take place in Bournemouth 6-9 April.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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+.
This year’s Fred & Anne Jarvis Award has been given to campaigner Madeleine Holt.
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".
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Liz Mills is the winner of this year’s Nikki Simpson Award for Learning.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Mental health problems amongst young people hit “crisis point”, according to findings of NEU survey
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
Kauser Jan is the winner of this year’s Blair Peach Award.
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.
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.
A new report from UK civil society organisation Global Justice Now and the National Education Union, the largest education union in Europe, launches today.
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.
Survey of NEU members shows workload is out of control and driving people out of profession.
Increased concern about worsening levels of child poverty and its impact on learning, according to survey of NEU members.
Special needs provision in England has lost out on £1.2bn because of shortfalls in funding increases from central government since 2015.