The Live Wire



Press Release

Education Bill

10 May 2011

Commenting ahead of the Report Stage of the Education Bill in the House of Commons tomorrow (11th May), Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said;

"This Government has shown with their proposed reforms to the NHS that they are prepared to pause and listen when it has been made clear that their plans are unpopular and badly thought through. I sincerely hope that they show similar respect to pupils, parents and teachers in schools and colleges and delay the Education Bill to allow their voices to be heard.

"Despite the serious concerns expressed by school staff, governors and parents about the Bill which led to over 200 amendments being tabled during the Bill’s Committee Stage, the Government made no changes.

"In the space of just four days, over 1,600 people have emailed their MP via the NUT website (1) in support of amendments to the Bill.

"The Union strongly supports amendments that would:

· Place a requirement on all publicly funded schools (including free schools) to employ only teachers with qualified teacher status

· Protect enrichment funding in post-16 education

· Reinstate a system of financial support for 16 to 18 year olds – similar to the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

· Strengthen the admissions system to ensure all pupils have fair access to educational provision.

· Ensure that career services are subject to national standards.

"Without these amendments, the legacy of the Bill will be a school system that favours an elite few and disenfranchises the many."




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National Union of Teachers

National Union of Teachers

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