PRESS RELEASE
From: Martin Goold, Division Secretary
NUT welcomes about-turn
Suffolk NUT welcomed today’s government announcement that schools could permanently exclude pupils who bully or who use violent behaviour against adults or children.
"This is a long over-due change of heart from the Government", said Martin Goold, NUT Secretary for Suffolk. "Up to now, schools have been expected to contain violent pupils. The regulations have protected the rights of the offender more than the rights of the rest of the school community and schools have had to take back pupils when parents appeal."
However, Martin Goold is warning that Suffolk is now ill-equipped to find places for excluded pupils in referral units. "When Suffolk closed Oakwood school we lost 58 places for children with behavioural difficulties, which have still not been replaced. They ignored our protest that our schools could not cope."
The NUT welcomes Suffolk LEA’s plans for new referral units but points out that they are way behind schedule and only one Unit (15 places) has been set up since Oakwood closed. The NUT claims that the much heralded plans for new referral units are simply not materialising.
"Even if the new Units are eventually set up some time in the future", said Mr Goold, "Suffolk pays referral unit staff less than is paid in surrounding Authorities, where their specialist status is valued more highly. We have great difficulty recruiting to these very demanding and specialist posts."
The teachers’ unions have now put in a pay claim for teachers in Suffolk’s referral units, seeking parity with staff elsewhere.
Contact: Martin Goold, 01284 763980 (Phone and FAX); Mobile: 07850 221051; martingoold@suffolknut.org.uk