The extremely serious issue of asbestos in schools was debated today (Tuesday) at the NUT’s conference in Liverpool, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers union said;

“The NUT was the first teachers union to campaign to have asbestos removed from schools and yet despite the problem being brought to the attention of successive governments it is still the case that asbestos remains in most schools.

Delegates at the NUT Annual Conference in Liverpool will be debating the motion on aspiring teachers today (Tuesday). Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers the largest teachers union said;

“The NUT is a union for qualified teachers. We are also a union which believes passionately in professional unity.

Delegates at the NUT conference in Liverpool today (Tuesday) are discussing special schools. Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

“Teachers in special schools do a great job. Such schools represent a concentration of expertise and good practice, which teachers in those schools also use to help mainstream schools.

Commenting on the announcement of the general election, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said;

“I am seriously concerned that politicians are not on the same page as parents and teachers.

“The NUT is not affiliated to any political party. What we stand for is ensuring the best possible education system for our children and young people is in place.

Delegates at the NUT conference in Liverpool will today (Monday) discuss issues affecting young teachers. Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers the largest teachers union said;

“The NUT is at the forefront of recruiting young teachers and the union is rightly proud of its young teacher members. This is a thriving and growing section of our membership.

The National Union of Teachers Conference in Liverpool will today (Monday) debate education funding, public sector pay and teachers’ pensions after the general election. Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

“The YouGov poll commissioned by the NUT found that teachers regard Labour’s increases in education funding as the biggest single improvement in education over the last decade. Despite these funding improvements, the UK system is still not as well-funded comparative to many other countries.

Commenting on Ed Balls’ remarks today (Monday), Christine Blower General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers the largest teachers’ union said;

“While Ed Balls is right to say there is a big choice for parents and teachers at this election, there is also a big choice for government. Education is a public service. It is absolutely vital to the future social and economic health of this country. Tough decisions should mean supporting and reinforcing the number of qualified teachers and the quality of school buildings, not taking decisions which erode the quality of state education.

Delegates at the NUT conference in Liverpool will today (Monday) be debating pensions.

Delegates will today (Monday) debate at the National Union of Teachers’ Conference in Liverpool the issue of malicious or unfounded information being disclosed to employers. Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers union said;

“It is of great concern that the Government has continued to allow the disclosure of unproven ‘soft information’ to employers as part of the Criminal Record Bureau checks even though the same disclosures will now be considered by the ISA in assessing whether staff should be cleared for registration.

Delegates at the NUT conference in Liverpool will today (Monday) debate the issue of supply teachers. Christine Blower General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers the largest teachers’ union said;

“The NUT has always been concerned that the inappropriate implementation of rarely cover would lead to the increased use of non teacher qualified staff as cover supervisors. As a consequence there has been a significant drop in the employment of supply teachers.

Commenting on motion 41 on international work, to be debated at the NUT conference today (Sunday), Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said:

“Education is central to the fight against poverty for all our children. That 72 million children across the world still do not have access to a primary education is a global disgrace. The NUT is deeply committed to ensuring that leaders across the world meet their commitment to deliver, by 2015, a primary education for every child in the world. While much progress has been made over the last decade, universal primary education will not be achieved in the next 100 years, let alone the next five, without urgent action.

Delegates at the NUT conference in Liverpool today (Sunday) debated the issue of selection at 14. Christine Blower, General Secretary for the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

“It is not acceptable that, at the age of 14, pupils may be forced into specific learning routes which could restrict their future education or career choices.

Commenting on motion 39, which seeks to tackle the prevalence of homophobia and transphobia in schools and colleges, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

Commenting on motion 38, which seeks to challenge limited access to the teaching profession for disabled people, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

“It is a great sadness for the teaching profession that so many talented, disabled people are effectively excluded from it. The NUT agrees with the GTC that it is high time for the Medical Fitness Regulations to finally be removed from the equation. Teachers are sufficiently vetted without them.

Commenting on motion 37, which calls for greater support for black teachers, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

“What the NUT has heard loud and clear from delegates at our annual Black Teachers’ Conference are the challenges facing black and minority ethnic (BME) members when seeking leadership roles. Their under-representation at senior staff levels is endemic and must be challenged with concrete efforts to correct this imbalance.