October NEU’s

Joint General Secretaries’ report

Mary began the report by highlighting the disturbing findings of the EPI research commissioned by the Union:

• 24,000 pupils are off-rolled before Y10;
• 7 in ten of pupils who are off-rolled to an unknown destination never return to a state-funded school by the spring term of year 11;
• 75% of the cohort are classified as vulnerable; a third are ‘looked after’;
• No differential between LA and MAT statistics except in the case of MATs with 10+ secondaries where the rate is higher;
• Clear consequence of commodification of pupils;
• Those pupils most in need of secure schooling are least likely to access it;
• Noted the coruscating report from the NAO on the ‘financially unsustainable’ SEND system – following the Government’s reforms in 2014;
• Considering NEU public-facing document combining the EPI, NAO and OFSTED research/evidence to promote the Union’s vision. 

Sixth Form College ballot

• Successful Rally in central London on 17 October; 25 colleges on strike joined by members from Leicestershire on their half term holiday;
• Re-balloting in 17 colleges;
• the next day of action on 5 November – timed for the day before the budget;
• JGSs met the FE minister who claimed that the strikes would harm students; JGSs countered that the 20% cuts in funding harming students.
• The Executive also agreed to endorse rejection of the current 1.5% pay offer and authorised the JGSs to call further days of strike action before the December Executive if necessary.

Consultation on Assessment

• The national Executive agreed that we should consult with 17 districts that passed the ballot thresholds in the electronic indicative ballot on high stakes testing in primary schools to ascertain their views on:
• successfully winning a formal ballot in their area in the event that only some areas were balloted.
• successfully carrying out the boycott if a formal ballot was successful.
• If there are other ways of continuing to develop the campaign in their area – for example getting local councils, governing bodies to call for SATs to end in their Town/borough etc.

The JGSs reported that there were responses from 8 secretaries of which only one felt there was the prospect of a successful ballot for a boycott. There would now be further consultation with that district with a meeting of primary reps called and attended by the JGS to ascertain levels of support for a ballot.

Winning the Pay Award for teacher members

• Just before half term, teacher members emailed and asked to check their pay spine position.  Follow up contact with members in November, when we expect most teachers to receive their backdated 1 September pay increase, asking members to check their pay further and to follow up with workplace reps. 
• 53% click through to website following email to teacher members;
• Pay implementation project also embedding a method of union activity/engagement
• Activity at school level supported by branch/districts – set up on ‘Callhub’ to contact secondary reps;
• Method could be replicated for any campaign priority such as workload.

Agreed to provide Executive members details of branch secretaries within their electoral districts who had yet to respond to the call round; and for them to be registered on ‘Callhub’ so they can demonstrate the simplicity of the system. Pay calculator to be more prominent on the website.

Efficient Working of the Executive – At their meeting on 3 October, the OSG thought it would be useful to get a ‘temperature check’ on the proposals discussed in September.  The resulting survey indicated support for a two-stage process, with the first phase reducing the multi-member seats in England by one from 2021.  Further discussion will take place at the December meeting before any decisions are taken.

Annual Conference – Jerry Glazier, Philipa Harvey, Kim Knappett, Louise Regan, Sheena Wheatley and Iain Windeatt were elected to serve on the Conference Committee.  Revised Standing Orders were also agreed and the Executive endorsed the recommendation that Bournemouth and Harrogate should be the venues for NEU Conference 2022-2025, taking advantage of multi-year deals.  Conference motions on the following topics were agreed;Ofsted, Child poverty & disadvantage, Vision for State Education, Teacher and Support Staff pensions and Supporting Members

The Executive agreed to nominate Heather McKenzie to the TPS Board and support the ASCL/NAHT candidate as part of the teachers’ side slate.

The Executive agreed the Union’s Bargaining Strategy and to recommend inclusion of more information on local bargaining issues & successes in the NEU Bargainers’ Bulletin. The proposed framework for evidence to the STRB was agreed, including the need for an initial increase of at least 7% to start the process of restoring pay. 

The Executive agreed that pooling and averaging travel costs for all centrally run events and conferences be introduced from January 2020, other than for annual conference. Guidance on promotion of nominated candidates in national elections by district secretaries to their members was adopted. The composition of delegation to TUC Conferences (equality and young workers’ events) was agreed – delegates to be drawn from the relevant OF or NC and the Executive.

Donations to Lift the Ban (£1,000) and the Robin Hood Tax campaign (£2,000) were agreed.

Members of the NAC/NDC review group considering the interim disciplinary procedures reported back that the Group had met and has consulted with others including NDC/NAC members and those with experience of disciplinary procedures and equality seat members. The Group was not presently ready to recommend major changes to the disciplinary rules in time for the December Executive and inclusion in the Annual Report to Conference.

The Union Strength and Member Defence strategy committees held a joint discussion about a Code of Behaviour for NEU events and agreed an allocation of elements for each committee to give the matter more detailed consideration at their December meetings to inform concrete proposals to the Executive early in 2020 as part of the wider review of NEU events. 

The Executive ratified the regional/Wales council levies (all bar SE RC which will be set this term). As part of this exercise, SC:US reviewed current Regional/Wales Council activity plans and agreed to more detailed consideration at a future meeting with a view to providing further guidance to Regional/Wales Councils on content of plans. It was agreed to amend the Activity Grant Regulations to stipulate that applications must come from quorate general or committee meetings.

The Executive congratulated Philipa Harvey on her election as Chair of the TUC Women’s Committee.