There is a vast range of legislation on health and safety matters which applies in whole, or in part, to schools in Wales. This briefing identifies those which will be most relevant and the areas which they cover.
Advice on the heating levels in schools and classrooms in Wales, and how to deal with the various types of heating problems which are commonly encountered during cold weather and snow.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Wales’s largest education union has responded to the National Assembly’s Children, Young People and Education Committee Report into School funding in Wales.
Speaking ahead of the Education Minister's statement on Adult Learners' Week, David Evans, Wales secretary NEU Cymru, said: "We need to value our adult learners and make sure the FE and adult learning sectors are properly planned for and funded."
Welcoming the Education Minister's statement today, David Evans, Wales secretary NEU Cymru said: "Workload is an extremely important issue to education professionals here in Wales and it is welcome that the Minister has committed to looking at this."
Reacting to the debate on "Tackling Poverty" in the Assembly yesterday, David Evans, Wales secretary NEU Cymru said: "NEU Cymru members are clear - tackling poverty is a critical issue for education professionals in Wales, and key to improving schools and colleges for learners"
David Evans, secretary NEU Cymru comments on today’s decision by First Minister Mark Drakeford to scrap plans to build the £1.4bn M4 relief road around Newport, Wales.
Commenting on Child Poverty figures released today, David Evans, Wales Secretary for the National Education Union said: "Rates of poverty in Wales have risen when compared to other parts of the UK is shocking - but it is not a shock."
Commenting on Conservative plans to scrap the Welsh Bacc, David Evans, Wales Secretary for National Education Union Cymru, said: "We are broadly supportive of the Welsh Bacc, but believe it has had some problems which mean it has less value than originally intended."
A recent Freedom of Information Request to local authorities by NEU Cymru has shown that almost £114 million has been spent on staff from private supply teacher agencies in the three academic years to August 2018.
Speaking ahead of the Plaid Cymru debate on workers’ rights, NEU Cymru’s Wales Secretary David Evans said: “We would welcome a 'collective bargaining' approach to School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions negotiations here in Wales.
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.
Responding to a Welsh Government statement on a report by Professor Mick Waters, Teaching: A valued profession, David Evans, Wales Secretary for the NEU Cymru said:
National Education Union Cymru, notes Education Minister Kirsty Williams' commitment to lifelong learning, during Education Minister's Questions today.
David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union Cymru, welcomes Education Minister's reiteration that wellbeing of staff is as important as wellbeing of learners, during Education Minister's questions today.
David Evans, Secretary of NEU Cymru Wales, notes that this year's results of the Categorisation system in Wales show that schools in Wales remain 'stable', in terms of their "improvement" category.
Pay and conditions for supply teachers is an emotive issue for our members. New Framework Agreement is welcomed but a return to direct employment of supply teachers is needed.
This course is aimed at workplace reps or anyone interested in becoming a workplace rep within Torfaen and will help you to develop the skills and confidence to support and represent members in a range of situations.
This one-day course is designed to ensure that NEU reps and local officers are briefed and up-to-date on issues surrounding the imposition of performance related pay on teachers.
