Teacher Issue 58, Autumn Term 2015 Northern

O n 31 August we bade farewell to Ian Donnachie, Regional Officer, after 36

years with the Union. Respectful of Ian’s wishes we had a low key office party. Ian has retired to spend more time with his family and beloved Newcastle United—well, one out of two isn't too bad.

Ian said: “I very much enjoyed working for the Union and always appreciated the commitment, expertise and work

undertaken by local association officers .

“The Union could not function without their support .

“I was delighted to be a member of the Regional Office team and had the privilege of working alongside excellent colleagues and friends for more than 36 years.

“My thanks and good wishes to you and the “team”.

“I would contend that the

Union provides the most credible opposition to the Department for Education.

“I wish the Union every success in the future. “

Elaine Ward has replaced Ian as Regional Officer, taking over his patch, while her Casework Support Officer role has been filled by Joe Waddle, previously North Tyneside Division Secretary. Congratulations to them both and a long and happy retirement to Ian.

O ne of the highlights of our Northern calendar, the Regional Training

Weekend has grown over recent years from a briefing for experienced local officers to an event that reaches a wider audience and fulfils several functions.

Over the years the content and structure have evolved too, while managing to remain reassuringly

familiar. The most recent event, in June, saw a new approach adopted, with participants spending an entire half day session discussing responses to the educational landscape predicted following the election of a new Conservative government.

The organisers of this year’s event have acknowledged the positive feedback this session received and are planning

something similar; this time, a series of activities aimed at making us think more widely about how we can make the best possible use of our available resources. Be it people, time, IT, Union support functions or anything else, we need to ensure that they are put to use effectively in the interests of improving our members’ working experience.

Training will be held over the (Continued on page 3)

Page 2 Issue 58, Autumn Term 2015

T his is an exciting opportunity to train as an NUT school rep!

The three day course has been developed specifically to reflect the changing context in which you will be operating as the workplace rep, and represents the first part of a ten-day training entitlement currently being developed for NUT Reps.

This course will enable you to: Develop the NUT presence in

your workplace Understand the challenges

facing teachers and the NUT

Know your rights and the support available to you as a representative

Represent members individually and collectively

Negotiate with and influence management

Build campaigns in your workplace and communities

Act as local NUT leaders in your workplace Where? Courses are delivered

close to where you live or work. Normally this will be within your region but you could consider applying for the course geographically closest to you if this is more convenient.

How much? FREE with travel expenses reimbursed.

If you are the school rep, or are thinking about it then check out www.teachers.org.uk/nutreps for information on your next, nearest course!

Previous participants on the course have said:

“Valuable, informative and

supportive course.” “Excellent course, well

managed and led in a lovely environment. Eye opener and

reinforced my belief in becoming a strong representative for my members.”

“Excellent course – very well

planned, effective structure,

useful resources, very

knowledgeable, friendly and helpful NUT staff.”

“I feel I have more

information to enable me to have the confidence to recruit members.”

“You found a way of

improving my confidence to represent individual members.”

“Lots of valuable information.”

Already done the Foundation course? Then why not check out our Advanced Course? Designed to develop the talents of more experienced reps this course is tailor made for those wanting to develop their role. Find out more at www.teachers.org.uk/advanced

N orthern Region NUT is proud to have supported the filming of, and

sponsored the premiere of Show

Racism the Red Card’s educational film ‘Immigration: what’s the story?’ at Sunderland Civic Centre on 29 October. The issue of immigration is

never far from the headlines; commentary is often misleading, dangerously simplistic and feeds into a worrying narrative of anti-

immigration sentiment. Anti-racism Education Workers

have noticed this trend in their workshops and are increasingly hearing racist ideas and attitudes expressed towards migrant communities.

SRtRC’s response was to develop an educational film, elevating the voices of people who have moved from one country to another, to try and dispel some of the popular myths and provide an alternative view.

Gary Bennett, Mike McDonald, Vera Baird, Cllr Henry Trueman & John Ameobi at the premiere of Immigration: what’s the story?

Page 3 Issue 58, Autumn Term 2015

weekend of 14 and 15 May 2016 and all colleagues who are interested in attending should speak to their division secretary.

One of the real strengths of Regional Training is the blend of experienced officers and newer activists, often with fresh ideas, who are able to learn from one another. This means anyone who is interested should really consider joining us for a weekend built on learning and sharing.

We look forward to seeing you in Kendal next May!

(Continued from page 1)

T here are various opportunities for you to lobby your MP this term. On

the national lobby days we want a strong presence in Parliament – with a delegation attending from every MP’s constituency! Lobbying is a great way to get involved with the democratic process and to tell your MP exactly what it is like to be a teacher in the Northern Region.

Other NUT colleagues may be able to cover your classes to allow you to attend on their behalf – so get together with other NUT members to decide which one of

you will lobby from your school. If you are interested in attending you can sign up here www.teachers.org.uk/campaigns/standup#funding and find out everything you need to know about how to lobby and the points we would like you to make to your MP. If you’re going to attend, remember to let your NUT Division Secretary know so they can put you in touch with other lobbyists from your area.

See the following links: School funding lobby, 18 November www.teachers.org.uk/campaigns/funding

You can email your MP about the new Education and Adoption Bill. More information and the link to email MPs is available here www.teachers.org.uk/campaigns/edbill.

The NUT is also backing the TUC campaign against the Trade Union Bill – more details are available at: www.tuc.org.uk/tubill

All these issues have been drawn together in an NUT campaign video – https://youtu.be/ATBJw_uGGs0.

T he NUT is continuing to campaign against the introduction of Baseline

Assessment, which was brought into primary schools from September 2015. The Baseline Assessment is a 1:1 formal test that takes place within a few weeks of reception pupils starting school, and the results will form a ‘baseline’ against which progress is measured at KS1 and KS2.

Baseline Assessment has been widely criticised, and the NUT opposes its introduction for a number of reasons: It undermines the professional

judgement of teachers in

determining how to best support the pupils they teach

1:1 test will be time consuming and further add to the unmanageable workload of teachers

Formal testing at such a young age is likely to be damaging to children’s wellbeing, and will affect their engagement and attitudes to learning.

What you can do Sign the petition to tell the

Government to scrap the new system:www.betterwithoutbaseline.org.uk

Talk to head teachers, governors and the media. Write

to your MP Organise a meeting: get in

contact with your local campaign group organised by teachers and early years specialists: www.betterwithoutbaseline.org.uk

For more information, and for campaign resources and materials, please see the NUT website at:www.teachers.org.uk/baseline

The National Union of Teachers is both a professional association and a trade union. It is the largest and most influential teachers' organisation in Europe, recruiting only qualified teachers, or those who are on courses or in posts that will lead to teacher qualification. Complete Protection. Being a member of the NUT brings access to the very best legal and professional protection. It gives you a service unrivalled in the teaching profession. Support and Advice. The NUT has a network of regional offices in England and NUT Cymru in Wales. Each office has experienced casework officers and solicitors, as well as other expert staff to give confidential advice, information or assistance on employment rights and other matters relating to your professional life. Campaigning. The NUT campaigns for a reduction in working hours, the removal of excessive workload, and a better work-life balance. We also campaign for fair pay and reform of the assessment system. Experts in Education. We work on curriculum issues as well as pay and conditions of service. Continuing Professional Development. Our continuing professional development programme is recognised as one of the best in the country. Benefits and Services. We offer a wide range of membership benefits and services. Our members save hundreds of pounds a year by accessing discounts available through their membership. Equal Opportunities. Our groundbreaking policy work on equalities issues has been adopted by schools, local authorities and other government institutions. Young Teachers. We have a thriving young teachers’ section for all full members under 36. To find out more, visit our website www.teachers.org.uk. One Union for all Teachers. The NUT campaigns consistently for professional unity in the teaching profession. We believe that a single professional body, articulating the views of the profession, would benefit both children and teachers. Education for All. We campaign for a good local school for every child and for every community. We are also a member of the Global Campaign for Education, working for every child in the world to have a primary school education by 2015.

NUT Northern Region 3 McMillan Close, Saltwell Business Park, GATESHEAD, NE9 5BF AdviceLine: 0203 0066 266 nutadviceline@nut.org.uk @NUTnorthern

T he Northern Region is very much at the forefront when it comes to nurturing new

talent. For many years we have run the ever successful Regional Early Career Teachers’ Weekend (RECT), offering a blend of socialising, CPD and Union training. This year will of course be no different with plans well underway for RECT 2016 on the weekend of 29 – 31

January. There are limited places available, so if you know anyone eligible to apply (those under 35 and/or in their first two years of

teaching) then they’d best visit www.rect.org.uk very soon before those last few places are snapped up.

For the last two years we have also run the Getting Active in the NUT (GAIN) programme. Seen very much as a bridge between RECT and other local activity this has been a fantastic success. This project based training allows individuals to develop their own talents supported primarily by those who have previously completed the programme.

Almost all participants in the programme have gone on to be local officers, including two division secretaries, a number of assistant and local association secretaries and any amount of Young Teacher Officers; two have even got married (to one another!). GAIN ‘graduates’ are now taking an active role in shaping, for instance, our Regional Training weekend and are becoming increasingly visible at all levels within our regional work.