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eteach.comSTRIKE THREAT OVER ACADEMY PLAN (9/5/08)
BBC; 9 May 2008
Ministers expect to exceed their academies target Teachers at a school in Derby are threatening to take strike action over plans to turn it into an academy. Members of the NASUWT teachers' union are planning to stage a protest at the Sinfin Community School on 21 May. The union is against academies, known as "independent state schools", which often have private sponsors and set their own pay and conditions for staff. Ministers plan to have 200 academies open or in the pipeline by 2010, seeing them as a key way of improving schools. They aim ultimately to have 400 of the schools in England. The creation of academies is a key plank of the government's drive to improve struggling schools, particularly in challenging inner city areas. Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “The NASUWT is categorically opposed to the government's academy programme. "Too many schools are now being identified to be turned into academies as a first, rather than last resort simply to meet the government's target of 400academies. “Establishing an academy school means handing over previously public assets to private sponsors, removing the school from the democratic accountability all state schools should have. This fragments and breaks up the state education system. “Of major concern to the NASUWT is the threat to pay and conditions of service of teachers and other staff who will be employed in the academy. The NASUWT is committed to maintaining a national framework of pay and conditions of service for all teachers in state funded schools.” BBC
UNIONS RALLY BEHIND PROTEST (9/5/08)
The TES; 9 May
Action over 2.5 per cent pay offer could be stepped up if demands for parity with schoolteachers are not met. A day of protest will be held across the country as lecturers press for equal pay with schoolteachers. With further talks scheduled for June 5, the University and College Union (UCU) said the protests would take place outside colleges the previous day – but it will stop short of taking industrial action until further discussions have taken place with employers. The Association of Colleges (AoC) has offered a pay rise of 2.5 per cent – a higher initial offer than in previous years – but the UCU said it was in a strong position to press for more, with other unions prepared to offer support in a national day of demonstrations. The Association for College Management, Unison, Unite, the GMB and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers are all demanding a better deal for lecturers and non-teaching staff in colleges. Barry Lovejoy, head of colleges at the UCU, said details of the protests, which could take place during the lunch hour, are still to be worked out, but the aim will be to bring the FE pay issue to the attention of the wider public. “I think it is significant that the unions are coming together on this,” he said. “I know we have the support of the students, and I am sure most of the colleges will take part – most of them having taken part in the strike.” While the other unions have not voted for industrial action, the UCU held a one-day strike which coincided with the action of the National Union of Teachers on April 24.
MATHS TEACHER GAP 'TO WORSEN' (8/5/08)
BBC 7 May
The shortage of qualified maths teachers in England and Wales is to worsen, a survey suggests. Analysis of advertised teacher vacancies and numbers of trained teachers suggests there will be a shortfall in the next academic year. Professor John Howson says the overall picture is one of a north-south divide, with the south struggling the most. The Training and Development Agency for Schools says overall, the proportion of trainee teachers accepted is on target. Professor Howson, from Education Data Surveys, said only about 2,000 maths teachers were likely to be trained this year, with even fewer next year. But secondary schools across England and Wales have advertised 1,650 vacancies for maths teachers already this year. This represented about 75% of the likely total number of maths trainees qualifying this yearBBC.