Month: May 2013

Just for the record, on Saturday we held a good leaflet and petitioning session outside the old Central Library, informing people about Birmingham Labour’s plans to privatise the running of this £188 million public asset. To say that there was surprise and concern about this would be an understatement. Not one person we met supported what Labour intends to do. Hundreds of people have already signed up to our petition opposing their plans, but the campaign must go on. The public halting of the tendering process, the day after we publicised what was happening, is temporary; the overall plans have not yet been shelved. If you have not signed yet, go to the online petition below (see the post on 26th April), or print off a hard copy. Get it filled in and return it to us.

And on Sunday, there was a protest at ASDA’s in Kings Heath. This was about the…

Below is a link to download the Pay Policy Checklist issued by The NASUWT & NUT.

Despite attempts by the Secretary of State to claim that aspects of the joint checklist are unlawful, The NASUWT have rebutted his claims and stay on course to reach agreement and implement pay policies which meet all the requirements of the checklist.

After the Secretary of State’s third conference mauling, and another vote of no confidence, will we see some u-turns?

Pay Policy Checklist

Related articles

• Headteachers pass vote of no confidence in Government’s education policies (standard.co.uk)
• Michael Gove jeered and heckled by head teachers at hostile conference (mirror.co.uk)
• Teachers unite to challenge Gove (gogwit.wordpress.com)

Commenting on the publication of Ofsted’s framework for the inspection of local authority services, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“The starting point for the introduction of this framework appears to be based on an assumption that local authorities are underperforming.

“There is real risk of repeating the punitive and destructive inspection system we already have in schools which does little to support genuine improvement in our education system.

“The introduction of this inspection framework confirms what has been increasingly apparent over the last two years, that Ofsted is no longer an independent body operating in the public interest. It is now merely the Secretary of State’s hit squad.

“It would be understandable if the conclusion was drawn that Ofsted is now being used by the Secretary of State to settle political scores against those who have had the temerity to challenge or criticise his policies.

“This…

(satire – or is it?)

As loons – especially swivel-eyed ones – are in the news at the moment, I thought I’d give you some interesting facts – completely true I promise you – about the habitat and breeding habits of the bird known as the Common Loon.

• Loons are extremely territorial and will aggressively defend their territory sometimes to the death.

• Common Loons often make wailing or moaning noises but can yodel when defending their territory.

• Most Loons have grey heads and white bellies.

• Loons are slow to take off but once they get going their considerable stamina means they can fly for considerable distances.

• Loons prefer to build their nests on small islands surrounded by water where they are completely cut off from other inhabitants.

• The word ‘Loon’ comes from the Old Norse word lōmr, which means ‘to moan’.

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Looks like Cameron’s mate was more spot-on than…

It’s been quite a day for education. To begin with, a heart-warming and brain-stimulating article by Sir Ken Robinson in the Guardian, on the Comment and Debate pages:

Gove extols creativity, but he has no idea what it is

On the Guardian website this appeared as

To encourage creativity, Mr Gove, you must first understand what it is

The education secretary’s new national curriculum is a dead hand on the creative pulse of teachers and students alike

Creativity is essential to the success and fulfilment of young people, to the vitality of our communities and to the long-term health of the economy. The trouble is that his current plans for the national curriculum seem likely to stifle the creativity of students and teachers alike. Consequently, anyone with a serious interest in student achievement, cultural vitality and economic sustainability should be deeply concerned.

We shouldn’t be surprised when a politician says…

Saturn Is Shaking Its Rings: Scientific American.

 

“Einstein’s planet” becomes first exoplanet discovered using new detection method.

Melissa Benn, education journalist and author of ‘School Wars’, will be speaking at the next
Birmingham CASE (Campaign for State Education) public meeting on Tuesday 11 June 7.15 at the T&G Offices, Broad St, Birmingham (opposite Novotel).

7:15pm
Tuesday 11th June
T&G / Unite offices, Broad Street, B15 1AY

Unite building is accessible with a manual wheelchair but unfortunately the lift is too small for motorised wheelchairs. Accessible toilets are available at the venue.

Female genital mutilation is an abhorrence, yet little to stop it has been done even in countries like Britain.  With the summer ‘cutting season’ upon us, there is an urgent need to move beyond moralising, to finding real, practical ways to eradicate FGM.  One approach would be to have a single-number national phone-line, co-ordinated to cover all aspects of FGM and similar abuse, as the first point of call for everyone whether concerned professionals or neighbours, family friends and neighbours, and even (older) children themselves.

Since this article was written the NSPCC have introduced a free FGM hotline which can be used by anyone, anonymously or by name as preferred:

0800 028 3550, or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk