Professional status: manageable workload

The NUT has argued consistently that teachers should be afforded professional status and given the opportunity to exercise their professional judgement. We have also campaigned for a good work/life balance for teachers. This school year, we’ll be stepping up our efforts to ensure that you get the professional respect and quality of life you deserve. Below are just some of the issues on which we will be campaigning.

Assessment and workload

The NUT is concerned that any new assessment initiatives should not increase teachers’ overall workload. All initiatives are likely to generate additional workload, and Assessing Pupils’ Progress (APP) is no exception.

At a recent NUT conference, Sue Horner of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) made it clear that APP is meant to replace, and not be in addition to, other assessment initiatives. Sue also said that “there is not a lot of point in assessment which is just to feed the data machine”.

The NUT continues to advise members that the use of APP is voluntary not statutory and should be determined by the professional judgement of teachers.

End SATs and league tables

We are campaigning for assessment reform to end the narrowing of the curriculum and the tyranny of league tables.

No licensing without fully funded CPD

The NUT has made clear to the government that its proposals to introduce a teacher re-licensing scheme from September 2010 risk damaging morale rather than raising the status of the teaching profession.

The NUT believes that the government should provide a minimum annual funded entitlement for teachers to receive regular, high quality CPD. Funding for this must be in place before further consideration is given to a licensing scheme.

We will be pressing for full, inclusive discussions between the government and the whole teaching profession on the issue of teacher licensing.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said:

“The NUT is the teaching union that campaigns on the issues that matter to you. We’re the only organisation campaigning consistently for professional unity. We’re also the only union that recruits only qualified teachers, or those who are on courses or in posts that will lead to teacher qualification.We firmly believe that every class should have a qualified teacher. If you’re not yet a member of the NUT, there’s never been a better time to join us.”