Roy Leach (NUT Executive, personal capacity) THIS YEAR'S NUT conference will act as the first barometer of the extent to which disillusionment with the Labour Government has established itself, not just amongst teachers but organised labour in general. Delays in publishing the 'Fairness at work' White Paper and strong hints that Blair is leaning towards the CBI view of what a "majority in the workplace' actually means, have set the alarm bells ringing amongst even the previously staunch loyalists Edmonds and Morris. For NUT General Secretary Doug McAvoy and the 'Broad Left' majority on the Union's executive, worries about the direction New Labour has taken have grown almost since the moment they took office.
Blunkett's decision to 'name & shame' the so-called worst 'failing schools' was firmly in the mould of his Tory predecessors whilst the 'Standards & Frame-. work' education bill does little to undo the damage of 18 years. of Tory education reforms and, in some respects, extends them into territory they appeared to baulk at entering.
Crumbs
There have been some crumbs from the table which McAvoy has eagerly seized: additional capital has been allocated to do away once and for all with outside school toilets; nursery vouchers. have been scrapped - but they haven't been replaced with quality nursery places for 4 year olds, and in many areas provision for 3 year olds has all but disappeared as LEAs pack 4 year olds into classrooms to improve their under-5s funding (as part of the SSA mechanism). The phased abolition of the Assisted Places Scheme has allowed for the reallocation of the savings to reduce class sizes for 5,6 & 7 year olds but despite this about 20 per cent of Chief Education Officers responding to a FACE. questionnaire still believe that the proportion of pupils in classes of over thirty will increase.
However, on other substantial issues there have been few if any Concessions Blunkett has backtracked on his "read my lips- no more selection"
STO promise by nailing New Labour's colours to the mast of 'specialist schools' which receive additional funding and can select part of their intake on the basis of aptitude Nursery (i.e. ability). Grammar vouchers have been schools are to scrapped - but they continue and the current haven't been replaced minority of with quality nursery opted out Grant Mainplaces for 4 year tained schools -Holds many of which operate covert (and not so covert) selection will be given a new privileged status of 'Foundation' schools to distinguish them from LEA 'Community' schools. The issues at NUT conference which are likely to produce the sharpest debates are those with the potential to align the Union in clear opposition to the Government, something which McAvoy defend education (left) has studiously sought to avoid in preference to Mr be logue. 'constructive diaThe single biggest Y CUTS to. the Union (and NUT members fought cuts under the Tories (above) - and must stand their ground now, ready to fight alongside parents to This has backfired with the Union's position being seen a s the green light for LEAs to put in bids with the 'blessing' of the NUT. The number of bids now far exceeds the original target of 5 for September 1998 and a further 20 which you know instinctively are utter rubbish.
The recent government and media panic on the so called under achievement of boys is one such event. Those statistics together with the shocking revelation that there are not many male primary school teachers is all it takes to put two and two together and come up the conclusion that more men will make all the difference."
SO STARTS Carole Regan's article in the latest edition of Socialist tions than boys is nothing new - and most pertinently to ask why the class gap.
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