NUT News 22

Classes of 80

* The Government's National Agreement, signed by the other teachers' unionsin England and Wales, advocated the doubling up of classes.

* Those who signed up to the Agreement then signed up to a nationaladvertisement and school staff room notice saying that:

"The Agreement will not result in:

EUR double-sized classes;

EURteaching assistants taking over the role of qualified teachers."

* Now, the person appointed by the signatories as director of the teamoverseeing the introduction of PPA and limits to cover, proposes classes of80 pupils; as many as four classes in the same age group could be merged tobe taught by a single teacher.

* The NASUWT is prepared to accept this principle, objecting only that, "Itis hard to see how it would work. It simply won't be a runner in hundreds ofsecondary schools".

* The NUT didn't sign the Agreement. It couldn't sign up to doubled-upclasses, let alone redoubled classes. It will not accept Victorian classsizes in secondary schools or in primary schools.

General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, said:

"It has been six months since the signing ceremony. Week by week the NUT hasbeen proved right not to sign and right to warn teachers of what wasintended. The NUT will give full support, if necessary through action, toany NUT member expected to teach merged or amalgamated classes whatever thepretext."