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Press Release

Banding system will be distorted and manipulated to rank schools

8 December 2011

Commenting on secondary schools now being able to access their own school-banding information on the Welsh Assembly Government website, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union in Wales and the UK, said:

“Assessing schools so that resources and support can be targeted to areas of greatest need has some merit and could help to address some of the inadequacies of the current funding system.

“However, the fact that in order to do this schools will be 'banded' and that the information will be published casts grave doubt on the integrity and purpose of the process.

“At the NASUWT Cymru Conference held last weekend, the Minister admitted that he would not be able to stop league tables being created on the basis of this information.

“The result will, therefore, be that a system designed to support schools will be distorted and manipulated to rank schools, branding some as 'failures'.

“Teachers and school leaders are already overworked and demoralised. This will just add to their burdens and do nothing to support them in continuing to raise standards.

“The Government should be supporting the NASUWT National Action, which is supporting teachers in standing up for standards rather than creating more opportunities for dedicated and committed staff to be denigrated.”

Rex Phillips, NASUWT Wales Organiser, said:

“The bad situation created by the 'league tables' is set to be made worse by the system to access and deliver 'support' for schools in the lower bands.

“Discussions are under way to divide Wales into four areas, or consortia, in terms of school support services.

“It is becoming increasingly evident that the schools will be expected to buy in the support and that this support will amount to little more than increased surveillance of teachers.

“Fortunately, the NASUWT National Action instructions already in place will protect NASUWT members from this unnecessary, excessive and debilitating monitoring.”



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