NUT News 17: 31 October 2002

Survey of members' views - we ask what you think!

Do you agree with the government?

The Government is consulting on its proposals for 'Reforming the school workforce'. Before the NUT responds we need to know what members think. The proposed changes to the roles of support staff would affect all teachers in schools throughout the maintained sector.

New roles

The Government says,"these new roles will require a degree of interaction with pupils which can be properly described as teaching activity". The Government proposes a new type of "Higher-level teaching assistant taking on new roles in the classroom and support staff helping to provide cover when teachers are absent". The Government describes "teaching work" which can be carried out by qualified teachers or by "a range of adults without QTS subject to a system of supervision".

More appropriate than supply teachers?

The Government believes that "well trained and experienced support staff" who know the pupils and the school can be "a more appropriate choice to undertake cover than another qualified teacher from the school or a supply teacher".

Far-reaching

These proposals are far-reaching and profound. Before the NUT responds, we need your views. NUT members affected by the Government 's plans will receive at their home addresses a detailed survey to complete and return. General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, said: "Only the NUT is consulting all its members on the Government's proposals. To tell the Government what teachers think we need to know what you think. Complete the survey. Post it without delay. It's in your interests."