August Executive NEUs

Joint General Secretaries’ Report

Mary reported on the exam fiasco:

• Biggest contributing factor was Gawain Williamson’s instruction to Ofqual that there should be no grade inflation; leading to the scandal that the majority of pupils received grades that neither reflected ability or CAG;
• At JGSs’ meeting with Ofqual on 22 June, it was not made clear that under the algorithm, the CAG would play no part in determining results of cohorts larger than 15 pupils – artificially depressing large cohorts from state schools and 6FCs and favouring the independent sector with a 4.3% grade inflation;
• The fiasco has laid bare the fault-lines in the current award system introduced by Michael Gove six years ago and exposed the casual acknowledgement (within algorithm) that 40% of pupils will underperform ‘on the exam day’
• The JGSs had written to GW with a number of demands including reduction of content across all exams in 2022; a full review of grade assessment process and a commitment to work with the profession on robust moderation of CAG   petition launched and attracted 8K signatures within first day
• Proposed Executive motion to Special Conference called for secondary assessment commission – the Union to continue to lead the way for the profession.

Kevin reported on schools/colleges re-opening,

• Continue to be proud that the Union has kept pupils and members safe;
• The autumn term would undoubtedly be challenging;
• A suite of documents to be published in the next week , jointly with Unison and GMB; different emphasis; focus on keeping schools/colleges open but calling for robust escalation procedures (plan B) in the event of rising R rates/cases on local basis;
• Demands to Government on safe reopening (continual test/track/trace; demands for data; 10-point recovery plan; action in other parts of the economy in the event of local infection spikes)
• Updated advice for members in vulnerable/at risk categories;
• Monitoring queries to Advice Line to inform all updates to guidance documents;
• Liaising closely with EIS to monitor experience as Scottish schools re-open.

And Pay

• The Union has agreed a model pay spine incorporating the pay rise announced at the end of July – agreed with ASCL and NAHT
• Will be sent to all schools
• Schools to immediately implement pay spine and if rates are above individual spine points, teachers to be awarded percentage increase;
• Planned activities for reps and members to build on last year’s strategy
• Welcome evidence that a number of MATs, including Elliot, dropping PRP.

And Supply members

• Welcome confirmation from HMRC that schools/umbrella companies and agencies could furlough at over minimum wage over the summer
• Still not legally mandatory but helpful and will inform briefing by staff in HQ and regions for supply members.

Interim Standing Orders

The Executive agreed the Interim Standing Orders to operate whilst the Executive met via zoom.  It was agreed that proposed arrangements for dealing with revisions to urgent reports from strategy committees and proposals under the JGS report be brought back to the Executive for consideration.  It was confirmed that Policy Committees would not meet during the autumn term; chairs and secretaries would continue to liaise over any urgent matters with any decisions referred to the OSG and onto the Executive.

Arrangements for the Special Conference

The Executive agreed the arrangements for Special Conference in relation to timetable, delegate and speaker arrangements, motions and amendments. A budget of £32k was agreed for a delegate voting system (which could operate for future online events).   And the Executive agreed the following process for when weighted voting would apply:

The weighting is completed based on everyone logged into the call at a pre-determined time after the start time. This method does mean anyone logging on late will have had their votes redistributed across the others from their delegation.

Draft Executive motions

The Executive agreed that the topic of the three motions to Special Conference would be:

• Building a Fair Education System after Covid-19
• Covid-19 and a Safe Return
• Winning in the Workplace after Covid-19

Any revisions to the draft text were to be emailed to Rachel (rachel.baxter@neu.org.uk) by close of play on Wednesday, 27 August.  The resulting draft motions would then be circulated with the agenda for the Executive meeting on 5 September for final agreement.

The Joint General Secretaries led tributes to Kim Knappett and Kiri Tunks at their last Executive meeting and to Amanda Martin for her skilful chairing of the Executive during a challenging year.