The 85th edition for ALL Plymouth Teachers May 2009
SATs—UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR BOYCOTT
The big news from NUT
conference this year
was the unanimous
vote for a boycott of
KS1 & 2 tests, unless
they are abolished by
the government before
next year. There was a
standing ovation and
plenty of cheering after
the vote was taken.
During the debate speaker
after speaker pointed to the
damaging effects of these
discredited tests. Sara
Tomlinson, a primary school
teacher from Lambeth NUT,
was cheered when she said,
“The government calls us
irresponsible for wanting to
abolish SATs, but it is the
government that is
irresponsible for wanting to
keep them.”
We know and agree that
children must be assessed,
but it must be done in a way
which informs teaching and
learning.
At the NAHT conference head
teachers voted to ballot its
members to boycott next
year’s SATs by a majority of
94%. Together our joint action
will have an effect.
Salaries Motion
Conference instructed the
National Executive to continue
the pay campaign. The
problems facing young
teachers on a teacher’s start-
ing salary was illustrated by
Gemma, a dance teacher from
Ilfracombe Arts College. She
spoke at the 24th April strike
rally last year in Exeter about
why she was leaving teaching.
Clearly enthusiasm and
creativity are not enough to
pay the rent.
Conference voted, almost
unanimously, for the amended
motion, which resolved that
should the government renege
on the three-year pay deal
then the NUT will ballot the
membership for strike action.
Unity with other unions is
now vital in opposing the
government attacks on
public and private sector
pay and pensions.
We, like all public and private
sector workers, should not be
made to feel guilty for this
crisis; neither should we pay
for it.
Plymouth People Against Academies
and Trust Schools
Fight Against
Cuts in
Education
FACE
Is your school facing cutbacks?
Is the education of your pupils
suffering?
Do your colleagues want to
take a stand?
For support and advice contact
FACE
biface@btconnect.com
Christine Blower has
been confirmed as our
new General Secretary.
Plymouth NUT
nominated Christine for
GS and will invite her to
visit Plymouth teachers during the
year—CONGRATULATIONS!
 Easter Conference at Cardiff New President Rob Barratt
You will no doubt have seen press coverage of the annual presents Stephanie Steer with
Conference over the Easter period. Apart from the SATs and pay her past-President’s badge at
motions many other topics were discussed, and voted upon. Some Plymouth NUT’s AGM
members have expressed their opinion that in the press it looked
as if we were going to strike over everything. This is of course
totally untrue. Many motions do include the phrase “up to and
including strike action” but obviously this is a last resort for any
Union.
As usual, the media picked upon and sensationalised certain
motions, totally ignoring others.
A full report of the Conference will be placed on the NUT
national website and in the TEACHER magazine

Meetings/Courses. Conference coverage

We wish to ensure that all continues next month
members of the NUT are
able to take part fully in all
Tavistock Road Wednesday 10th June from 1830

Union activities.
If there is any facility we
can provide, to enable you
to attend meetings, or go on
PENSION’S SEMINAR Future Inn

NUT courses etc, please

contact the Secretary with
your requests.
Exclusive to NUT members

Care responsibilities,
disabled access — in fact
anything that members see
as an impediment to their
Refreshments

attendance can be
addressed.
Plymouth Division:
plymnut@teacher.clara.co.uk
01503 240527
Regional Office:
south.west@nut.org,uk
01392 258028