NUT News 1:

Happy New Year

Published: Tuesday December 23 2003

My New Year's Resolution: to become better known (Rt. Hon. Charles Clarke MP Secretary of State for Education and Skills) By:

abandoning the proposals to raise the retirement age for teachers;

scrapping the decision to introduce multi-year pay settlements;

ending performance related pay, payment by results;

funding schools properly so that no class is over 30;

providing the resources necessary to ensure upper pay scale progress for all teachers;

commissioning an independent review of National Curriculum assessment arrangements;

bringing back regulations to ensure that only qualified teachers can teach;

telling OFSTED inspectors that “satisfactory” really is satisfactory; and

talking to the union that really represents teachers, the NUT.

General Secretary, Doug McAvoy, said: “Charles Clarke could become the best known Education Secretary ever by making this New Year’s resolution and taking these simple steps. Whatever happens, the NUT will lead the defence of the teaching profession – the teachers’ union, not the Government’s union. HAPPY NEW YEAR! ”