I have been hearing reports of children from EU countries crying in school the morning after the Referendum fearing that they would be forced to leave the UK. This initiative by the National Association of Headteachers is welcome.
Today (Wednesday 29 June) school
leaders’ union NAHT published an open letter to David Cameron calling
for assurances to be given to EU pupils. The full text of the letter
follows:
Dear Prime Minister,
The vote to leave the European Union has brought uncertainty to many areas of life in Britain, including education.
School leaders are reporting to us that some of their young students are worrying about their future.
Pupils
are worried about being forced to leave Britain. They are fearful of a
potential rise in racism and community conflict. They are concerned
about their prospects in an uncertain and isolated Britain.
It
is not just the economic markets that need calming. Our young people
need a statement from the government to address their fears.
NAHT
strongly urges the Government to give pupils from the EU better
assurance that they will be able to complete their school education
without interruption; that they and their families remain welcome and
valued members of the communities they call home.
Our
schools are the places in which we shape our future as a nation. Our
teachers and school leaders can help young people make sense of dramatic
changes and build their own plans. To do this, we need clarity,
swiftly. Please do not ignore the impact of the EU referendum result on
the next generation.
The #LetKidsBeKids have issued the press release below after today's action:
To all of
the parents, grandparents, friends, and most importantly, children who took
part in an amazing today, a huge thank you! You are amazing people who have
achieved something enormous! We salute you all!
Thank you
to all of the teachers and headteachers who supported both the events and the
children in taking part. This has been in support of you.
The press
has played a massive part in the success of this campaign. We want to thank you
for the interest you have shown and for the dedicated and thoughtful way in
which so many of you have worked with the supporters of the campaign in order
to enable us to share our opinions. In many cases, opinions that, as parents,
you have shared with us.
Thank you
also to the many, many supporters who have rallied to the numerous calls to
appear on radio and TV and to be interviewed for newspapers. You have done us
all proud! It has been amazing to hear so many standing up for what they
believe in.
We have
monitored the day from the tagboard http://bit.ly/KidsStrike3rdMayNowand have enjoyed
watching the thousands of pictures coming in of children enjoying fun learning
everywhere. We are happy to report that no child looked damaged or harmed in
any way as a result of missing one day off school. Thank you for your concern
DfE. Children visited museums, enjoyed woodland walks, learnt about democracy,
engaged in scientific discovery, painted, sang, danced... they did all the
things that kids should be doing. Today we Let Our Kids Be Kids.
Highlights
for us today were watching over 600 attendees and Children’s laureate Chris
Riddell at the Brighton and Hove rally showing support for their amazing
teachers; banner waving children handing over more than 47,000 signatures on
our 38 Degrees petition to the DfE offices and
knowing that at 12.30 we were united via this
statement in shouting “Are you listening Nicky?” across the nation. We
really hope she heard us...
We were
also encouraged to hear Nick Gibb MP so publicly demonstrating the problems
with SAT tests on Radio 4 when attempting to
answer questions for 11 year olds... he said ‘it’s not about him’ and he’s
absolutely right. This is about OUR children who feel the pressure of these
ridiculous tests just as he did today.
Throughout
the day over 400 events took place across the country; the absence letter has
been downloaded over 63,000 times; our hashtag #KidsStrike3rdMay trended and we
have been sent thousands of pictures of smiling happy children so far.
We have a
leading statistician compiling the figures (parents are statisticians too!) but
for now are delighted to estimate that today we are reporting numbers in HIGH
THOUSANDS. This is far bigger than we imagined this would become just over 5
weeks ago... what an amazing show of parent power!
This
figure does not include the thousands of parents not able to strike due to work
commitments who took letters into school to say they supported our action today
and also want to see change.
We have
shown in just over 5 weeks that there is an enormous enthusiasm nationwide for
the cancellation of this year’s chaotic SAT tests.
Today was
about standing together to share our belief that the education system in this
country is damaging our children. It was about making our voices heard. It was
about working together to bring about change. It was just the start.
Parents
have shown their massive support today for their children’s teachers and have
demonstrated clearly that they want to see a change. We need to see teachers,
unions and the Government working together with us now to find a way that
works. Not just a way to pass tests, but a way that encourages a lifelong love
of learning in our children and that develops, through a curriculum rich in a
wealth of experiences, the confidence, imagination and passion for learning
that will help our children to succeed.
The NAHT
stated that ‘The government must step back from its piecemeal, last minute changes
and engage with the profession now – well in advance of next year – in a
fundamental review of assessment from reception to key stage three.’ Parents
have shown today that they are offering teachers their full support - now.
Please support us and act NOW to make this happen.
To Nicky
Morgan: we have shown you today that we want to discuss education with you.
Teachers, parents and students. We are asking you again to do the right thing.
It is unusual these days to have speeches in Parliament fully reported. Today I am making an exception because I feel the issues raised by Caroline Lucas in her adjournment debate on education on Tuesday were so important. Please do read on after the text break.
This evening I want to pay tribute to the incredible work being done in
schools in Brighton
and Hove. Last year the city’s young people got their best ever GSCE
results. This year the key stage 2 results were in the top quarter in the
country and 54% of A-level students got A* to B grades, an improvement in
results for the third year running. Brighton and Hove was also named top local
authority in the country for tackling homophobia in schools. That really is a
track record to be proud of, so I want to applaud the many teachers and other
staff who make such achievements possible.
However, those achievements have been reached in spite of Government policy,
not because of it. Research from the National Union
of Teachers reveals the extent to which Ministers have been taking teachers
for granted. The NUT found that
87% of teachers said that they know one or more teachers who have left the
profession because of work load; that 90% of teachers have themselves considered
leaving the profession because of work load; and that 96% said their work load
has had negative consequences for their family or personal life.
Tonight I want to do two things: first, to share some of
what I have been told by local teachers about the daily reality behind those
statistics, and to ask the Department of
Education and the Secretary
of State to start listening to teachers and to review their current
policies; and secondly, to make the case for statutory PSHE—personal, social, health and
economic education—teaching in all state-funded schools. I have a private
Member’s Bill before the House designed to achieve exactly that. I very much
welcome the Minister’s
views on that proposal.
It was clear listening yesterday to the parents from Snaresbrook Primary School, who successfully fought against forced academisation, that they were greatly aided by the fact that the senior leadership team, governing body, and local authority all opposed to forced academisation and supported their campaign.
In this video Rob Kelsall of the National Association of Head Teachers addresses what head teachers and governing bodies can do.
So far in Brent there have been at least two forced primary academies and unfortunately the local authority has not been forthright in its opposition or in its support for parent campaigners.
I fully support the move by the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Head Teachers to boycott next year's SAT tests in primary schools.
The independent Cambridge Primary Review has already said that SAT tests and league tables are incompatible with their curriculum reforms (see February 20th posting) and the less far-reaching changes advocated by the government initiated Rose Review make little sense within the constraints of a narrow exam-orientated curriculum.
The two unions are putting identical resolutions to their Easter conferences that state they will conduct this year's tests for 11 year olds, which take place in the week beginning May 11th, only on condition that they are the last.
My experience as a teacher and head teacher on the negative impact of the tests on children's enthusiasm and enjoyment of learning was endorsed by the NAHT's general secretary Mike Brookes, when he said, "There is high stress for children children; some will already be spending up to 10 hours a week rehearsing these tests. It's a complete waste of time. It is unconscionable that we should simply standby and allow the educational experience of children to be blighted."
I couldn't agree more. The Green Party remains the only main-stream political party to support the abolition of SATS and League Tables in order to return creativity and a love of learning to primary schools.
