Government Micro-Management Devalues Teachers

Micro-management by the government, which is churning out too many education policies, is making teachers feel devalued, according to our AMiE partner, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

This leads to teachers being demotivated, fearing to trust their own judgement about how best to teach their pupils, and ultimately means pupils suffer because they do not do as well as they could. This is the conclusion of ATL in its submission to the House of Lords Select Committee inquiry into the cumulative impact of statutory instruments on schools.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: “The government is trying to micro-manage what goes on in schools through a plethora of detailed and over-prescriptive regulations. It shows a lack of trust in teachers and a failure to understand the complexity of teaching. This is damaging teachers’ professionalism and means many are afraid to teach in the way they know from experience would best suit the children in their class.”

ATL says problems arise because of the number and rate of government interventions, the number of agencies and departments involved, and difficulties translating policies into the classroo. Dr Bousted said: “Even the government’s attempt to set out a vision for children in the Children’s Plan has become more like a list of interventions.”

Statutory Compensation Limits To Rise

The limit on a week’s pay is increasing on 1 February from the current £330 to £350. It is used in statutory redundancy pay calculations and basic tribunal awards, . This means that the maximum statutory redundancy pay that anyone can receive will be £10,500.

When the Redundancy Payments Scheme was introduced in 1965, the statutory limit on a week’s pay was £40. That was twice the average pay packet of the time. If it has been uprated in line with earnings it would today stand at over £1000.

The maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal is also increasing on 1st February, and will rise from £63,000 to £66,200. In reality though, compensation awarded by tribunals is considerably less than this with an average for unfair dismissal of just £7,974 in 2007, and half of all awards coming in below £3800.

End Discrimination Call at Holocaust Commemoration

The TUC  called for an end to discrimination and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people (LGBT) at the Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) national commemoration event that took place in Coventry yesterday.

HMD itself is on Tuesday (27 January), on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, where 1.6 million men, women and children were killed in the holocaust.

HMD aims to prevent the holocaust being forgotten or repeated, and serves to remind people of the crimes and racism of both the holocaust and of more recent genocides across the world.

Alongside the six million Jewish victims of Nazi persecution, hundreds of thousands of others were targeted by Hitler’s regime – including union members and LGBT people.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Unions have always stood up to the kind of discrimination, prejudice and hatred that led to the Nazi holocaust.

“LGBT people were among the millions of victims of Hitler’s brutal regime, and today LGBT communities are a vital part of the resistance to modern versions of this hatred.”

At the commemoration  local people stood side by side with national leaders and survivors of genocide and conflict, as well as international survivors of Nazi persecution.

UK Sick Rates Well Below European Average

UK sickness absence rates are the second lowest in Europe according to new research, belying fears that absenteeism is prevalent in the UK.

A survey by HR consultancy Mercer found that UK employees took an average of 5.5 days off work a year – significantly below the European average of 7.4. You can read more on the CIPD website.

Growing Ease With Diversity

Ten years on from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry a new Ipsos MORI survey for the Equlaity and Human Rights Commission shows British people are increasingly at ease with racial diversity but lack faith in our institutions to represent all groups or treat them fairly.

About half (49%) of the general public are optimistic Britain will be a more tolerant society in ten years time.  This figure increases for members of ethnic minorities with 58% optimistic about the future.

The survey also shows that there are relatively high levels of social interaction between races.  The majority of the general public (70%) is comfortable for their children to choose a partner of a different race or faith.

And in the week that the United States gets its first African American president, just over half of the general public in this country (56%) think it is likely Britain will have a Black, Asian or mixed race Prime Minister in the next 10 to 20 years.

But the picture is not wholly positive. Ten years after Sir William Macpherson’s inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence the survey also reveals scepticism about the police and race among ethnic minority groups.  When asked to consider the police investigation into Stephen’s murder over half (53%) of ethnic minority groups think there would be similar failings today if the police were to investigate such a crime.

The study also shows that faith and belief may be a more significant source of division in Britain than race today.  Three in five (60%) of the general population and two in three (66%) of those in ethnic minority groups think religion is more divisive than race.

Commenting on the survey, Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Commission said,  “This survey reinforces my faith in the basic decency of the British people. At this historic moment, when America has chosen its first black leader, it is heartening to recognise that here in Britain we have a sophisticated sense of our own identity and an appreciation and interest in difference.

“But we can’t be complacent.  The survey points to emerging religious divisions and as we mark a darker moment in our own history, the tenth anniversary of the inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, it is clear the police still have work to do to convince our ethnic minority communities they deserve their trust.

“I believe the police are sincere about change but they, and other British institutions, need to work harder to keep up with an Obama generation so positive about the future and the diversity of Britain.”

Two Thirds Of HR Managers Not Fully Trained

Two-thirds of HR managers feel that they are not fully trained for their job, according to recent research.

The survey of 280 HR managers, and reported in Personnel Today, also showed that more than six in 10 feel they do not have the necessary training or support to help their companies in the current economic climate. Read more here.

LLUk Issue ESOL Standards Guide

Lifelong Learning UK has issued a companion guide to the Application of the Professional Standards for Teachers of English (literacy and ESOL) in the Lifelong Learning Sector (LLUK, 2007).  The companion guide for Literacy and ESOL – shared and distinctive knowledge, understanding and professional practice supports the professional development of teachers of literacy and ESOL in further education in England. The guide provides teacher educators, teacher trainees and teachers with a discussion of the similarities and differences between the two disciplines, accompanied by a range of resources.

Light A Virtual Candle In Support Of Holocaust Memorial Day

Tuesday 27th January is Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is the international day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and of other genocides. The aim is to commemorate victims, honour survivors and commit to tackling prejudice, discrimination and racism in the present day.

The theme of this year’s day is Stand Up to Hatred. It urges all of us to look at our behaviour to others; to understand how hate is directed against different minorities in Britain today; and to explore how each of us can help make our communities stronger and safer.

One way people are being asked to show support is to light up a virtual candle at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website. The Trust also provides a range of free resources that can be used by schools and colleges. A leaflet (pdf) about the Holocaust Memorial Day can be downloaded here.

College Backs Off After AMiE Strike Threat

AMiE members at an FE college in the north east have successfully blocked moves that would have led to an increase in their workloads.

The college had wanted to make managers undertake certain co-ordinating roles that had previously been performed by lecturing staff. Members were very unhappy at the proposal and following unsuccessful negotiations, they lodged a collective grievance. However, the college refused to compromise and at a further meeting with AMiE regional officer Pauline Rodmell, members made it clear they were prepared to strike if necessary.

In the face of a strike threat from a united membership, the college agreed to back down. Following this successful outcome five more managers joined AMiE.

Pauline said, “This shows what can be achieved when you have a determined membership.”

New Push For Safer Schools Partnerships

Schools, police and local agencies are being encouraged to sign up to Safer School Partnerships and work more closely together to keep schools and pupils safe and reduce anti-social behaviour.

As part of the Youth Crime Action Plan, published in July this year, the Government committed itself to making Safer School Partnerships (SSP’s) the norm rather than the exception in schools. To give local areas help and information about safer school partnerships the DCSF will be holding a series of conferences which continue in the New Year. So far 5000 schools have signed up to SSP but more schools across the country are being encouraged to get on board.

According to Department, SSPs are a structured way for schools and police to work with one another, and with other local partners. They may involve having a police officer based in a school or police working with groups of schools. They help engage young people, keep schools safe and reduce anti-social behaviour in the wider community. They also help to nurture a better relationship between young people and the police.

Evaluations, say ther DCSF, have shown that SSP’s are proving effective in improving behaviour and attendance, and they can really help reduce the risk of pupils getting drawn into crime or antisocial behaviour either as perpetrators or victims.