Education News May – SATs Boycott
ERAGB view? This a polarising national dispute. We advise that all governors should form their own opinions within this debate and through discussion with their governor colleagues and school heads make decisions appropriate for their own school.
The links that follow together with the latest news from the right hand panel may help governors formulate their views.
NAHT – advice/comments are locked to members only – click here
NUT – read their views – click here
BBC – Heads ballot backs boycott – click here
Hull and East Riding schools join the boycott – click here
National Governors Association view – click here
TimesOnline – Heads face legal action - click here
Guardian – Three main parties against boycott – click here
Legal view Are teachers individually accountable if they take industrial action on the advice of their Trade Union? – The national STPCD (School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2009) states in Section 1 Paragraph 15: “Nothing in the professional standards militates against teachers taking lawful industrial action”. This indicates that each relevant Union is accountable to DCSF in asking its members to potentially be in breach of their contract of employment and not the individual members. click here for STCPD on TeacherNet
The UK is NOT alone. Australian teaching unions are also boycotting their national tests claiming the results are used mainly to feed “league tables”. The Sydney Morning Herald today (6th May) claim that both sides are using bully boy tactics. Sounds familiar? – click here
