Neu Northern Ireland

who knew?

NEU working with UTU and INTO colleagues highlighting the devastating impact of cuts to school budgets. Watch this space for the NI School Cuts website going live.

NEU (ATL Section) all members' Branch Meeting to launch the School-Cuts website for Northern Ireland (see the link to main site at https://schoolcuts.org.uk/#!/ ) and a discussion on School Funding Cuts
Our NEU Branch Meeting is open to all NEU members - please share this invite with colleagues:
• When? Wednesday 7th November at 7.00pm ... • Where? National Education Union Office
We hope that the event will provoke discussion on school funding and the difficulties experienced by teachers, and school leaders, as a result of ongoing austerity education budget cuts.
We will also provide an opportunity for members to share experiences, and to develop thoughts, on how we can provide a quality education service in challenging times.
The Panel will be, Gerry Murphy INTO, Jacquie White UTU, and Mark Langhammer NEU
This event will also see the launch of the schools-cuts website for Northern Ireland (see www.schoolcuts.org.uk)
For more information, and to book your place, please phone 028 9078 2020.
See More

Good advice form our colleagues in Early Years

We want to help you to develop professionally and personally throughout your career. CPD and learning should be effective and impact on your practice. Our brochure will provide you with all the information advice and guidance you need to develop in one place.

NEU is concerned about increasing number of calls from School Reps in our Post Primary Schools that school Principals and employers are deliberately flouting the law in relation to class sizes in practical subjects.
The law is clear on this matter. No school in Northern Ireland can have more than 20 pupils in a practical subject unless a risk assessment deems the classroom large enough to safely accommodate the activities. There are stringent criteria for increasing class siz...es in practical activities and Governors must explicitly approve risk assessments. The Building Handbook for schools clearly states that 20 is the maximum allowed in a Home Economics or Technology classroom built to standard size. And Governors should be aware that the Education Authority may not indemnify a governing body in the event of litigation’, where class size was a contributory factor.
NEU regional Secretary, Mark Langhammer commented:
“The change wrought be the Department of Education’s 2016 Circular is bad policy, period. It was issued at the behest of a lobby by a small sub-set of mostly Grammar school Principals, and without adequate consultation with schools or teachers’ and staff unions. We take Health and Safety issues very seriously and are concerned that some school Principals are seeking to oblige teachers of practical subjects to carry out practical work where the subject leader has concerns about safety.
The Department’s ‘quick and dirty’ policy-making has created problems in schools on matters which were never problematic. They are playing ‘fast and loose’ with the safety of pupils, as well as undermining the quality of the educational offer. We see Principals, under budgetary pressures, paying what can only be termed ‘fly-by-night’ consultants to produce lightweight risk assessment ‘cover’ that make a mockery of serious health and safety issues precautions. We will report further breaches directly to the Health and Safety Executive.”
School Reps, or members, with concerns about practical class sizes are asked to contact the NEU for advice as a matter of urgency via Alastair.Donaghy@neu.org.uk or by phoning on 028 9078 2020
See More

Trainees and students join for free Newly qualified teachers join for just £1 New members receive 75% off your first year's full subscription if you join before 31 December 2018

Industrial Action in teacher's pay dispute continues - and will escalate - see website for details and our guidance for members.

Great work being done by Early Years

'no idea what other education provision is being cut to pay this award'

NEU leader responds “Universities have a weak case for additional funds”
In response to the call from new Vice Chancellor, Professor Ian Greer for an incoming Minister for tertiary education to provide sustainable funding for Universities, Mark Langhammer, Regional Secretary of the National Education Union, the UK’s largest education union (whose leadership section, AMiE, the Association of Managers in Education, represent senior and middle managers in Further Education), sta...ted:
“The skills gaps in our economy are at technician and associate professional level (Level 3 and 4). There is no shortage of graduates. We send close to 50% of our young people to University within an economy that has, at best, 18-20% of graduate jobs. The CIPD has pointed out for some years that graduate skills are poorly utilised in the economy, and that many jobs requiring graduate qualifications, don’t actually require graduate skills (more information below).
Whilst the student experience is, no doubt, socially valuable, the graduate skills premium, if it exists at all, is routinely wasted. This situation is unsustainable when Government estimates that 45% of university graduates will not earn enough to repay their student loans.
At a time of gross underfunding of early-years education, highly challenging schools’ budgets, and severe cuts in the Further Education sector, Universities’ case for a better deal is weak and tenuous.
Future Ministers, should we ever get one, should follow the research.
https://www.cipd.co.uk/…/over-qualifica tion-and-skills-mism…
We know Ministers tend to treat University funding as ‘sacred cow’ territory. No politician wants to be seen to restrict the aspirations of our young people. However, there is academic consensus that the more we invest, the earlier, the better.
Given scarce resources and hard choices, Ministers should resist the call of Universities and front-load funding on the early-years provision and foundation stage in primary schools. This will have most effect, and most “bang for buck”. And at tertiary level, proper resourcing of Further Education and backing of Stephen Farry’s excellent new technical apprenticeships framework trump the need for more resources to Universities, every day of the week.”
The Association of Managers in Education (AMiE) is the NEU’s leadership section. AMiE represents Directors, Deputies and middle managers within further education.
See More

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee launches inquiry into education funding in Northern Ireland. The inquiry follows the passage of the Government’s Northern Ireland Budget Act, which set out funding for NI departments, including education, up until 31 March 2019.
The inquiry will examine whether the levels of funding allocated to education in the Northern Ireland Budget are sufficient to meet the challenges facing the sector, and what the spending priorities should be for... the monies allocated to the NI Department of Education. Formal evidence sessions are expected to take place when Parliament returns in the Autumn.
Dr Andrew Murrison MP, Chair of the Committee, commented
"Education has been a victim of the uncertainty and inability to plan that has been common throughout the public sector in Northern Ireland since the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed. Now that the UK Government has set a Budget for the Department of Education, it is important that we scrutinise the priorities implied and whether the funding allocated is sufficient to secure the outcomes anticipated. We will be looking at how the money allocated to the Department for Education is to be spent and who will be responsible for taking difficult, potentially challengeable, spending decisions."
The Committee invites written evidence on the following issues:
* Are the funds allocated to the Department of Education in the Northern Ireland Budget Act 2018 sufficient to improve educational outcomes in Northern Ireland?
* How should the UK Government manage additional funding earmarked for education as part of the confidence and supply arrangement?
* Are levels of capital funding sufficient to support investment in improvements to Northern Ireland’s schools?
* What are the areas of greatest need in the education sector in Northern Ireland?
* How can funding be best deployed to ensure value for money in education spending?
* How can funding be used to support the different school sectors in Northern Ireland, including schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities?
Closing date for written submissions: Friday 31 August 2018.
Send a written submission to the Education funding in Northern Ireland inquiry.
See More

well done Kevin Courtney

NEW Staff Conference. Discussion about the formation of the new union.

Just a few pics form our Branch AGM, NI Annual Debate & Lecture and dinner.