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Oxfordshire NEU

Summer 2024

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Login to myNEU via the QR Code above and then click on the COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES menu tab to check/update this information.

It is really important that ALL members do the following: Unsure on how to use

Executive update

NEU Snap Poll - September 2024

As you will be aware, on her first days in office, new Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson indicated her desire to reset the relationship between Government and the education profession I am sure that you will have found this to be welcomed news, however, nearly a fortnight on, the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) report has still not been published

Our General Secretary wrote to Bridget on the 8th July urging her to immediately publish the STRB report and announce the teachers' pay rise for September 2024 Today, via a meeting with education workers, she stated that she is going to be ' open and transparent' but went on to say that she can't release the STRB this week.

Why not? This is NOT open or transparent.

For once, I was hoping that the STRB report didn't drop after the end of term - but it appears that this could well happen again

NEU Snap Poll

Once the Government finally announces the teachers' pay award, we will be asking members if they wish to accept or reject it, via a ‘ snap poll’ . The ' snap poll' with open on the 21st September and close on the 30th September The poll will be conducted by email and text So it is vital that we have the correct email address and mobile number for you You can update this via My NEU

Before the poll opens, the national executive will meet to recommend whether members should accept or reject the Government offer This will happen on the 7th September and I will be present to raise members views on this matter. So please do contact me via leigh seedhouse@neu org uk with your thoughts on the offer We need to ensure every eligible member has their say when the poll opens. That means building the poll from now To get ready we need you to:

Visit the Pay Campaign website and watch this video and share with your members to make sure all reps and members know about the snap poll before the summer brea

Organise a reps briefing in the first few weeks of September to encourage reps to hold workplace meetings to build awareness and momentum for the snap poll Check and update your contact details via My NEU and get others in your workplace to do the same

In April, the NEU presented clear oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) of the need for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise and further funding to improve staffing levels

Our evidence included powerful testimonies from practicing teachers and set out how years of real-terms pay cuts and excessive workload have created a recruitment and retention crisis that puts education on the brink, jeopardising pupil provision, especially for those most in need.

We are ready, we are prepared, and we are able to take any further industrial action necessary to ensure educators and schools get the fair deal they deserve.

Executive Up-date cont. . .

Remember, before Easter, over 150,000 National Education Union (NEU) teacher members took part in our preliminary ballot over pay and funding Over 90% of those who responded said they would vote ‘ yes ' to strike action if asked in a formal ballot.

The NEU has continued to campaign for a properly funded correction in teach real-terms cuts imposed since 2010 and for further improvements in education f percentage of GDP devoted to education to at least the 5% OECD average - an government, we will continue to do the same

Therefore, be we all break up for a much needed and well deserved summer brea Snap Poll at work and ensure that you are 'SNAP POLL READY'!

I wish you all a very relaxing and enjoyable sum all in the next academic year.

Leigh Seedhouse

National Executive Member - District 8

Abolish OFSTED

We need a change in how school inspection works in schools One word judgements are now widely held to be unhelpful and unfair, and all evidence points to Ofsted as an inspectorate that is simply unfit for purpose. While the NEU continues to fight on a national level for its abolishment, and replacement with a new system that is supportive, effective and fair, we know that our members on the ground are still vulnerable to Ofsted’ s harmful effects

The NEU’ s Ofsted risk assessment has been designed to support teachers and school leaders to protect themselves from the unnecessary workload and stress Ofsted inspections generate It is designed to be used before, during or after an inspection to support the wellbeing and safety of all school staff

Download a copy today and let us know about your experiences of using it by contacting mari burton@neu org uk

Free School Meals Campaign

National Campaign: Free Schools Meals for All

In this age of austerity and the cost of living crisis, schools are increasingly under pressure to support families Schools are now expected to be more than just education. Schools are superb at filling the gaps, but there is still a shortage of services.

This term, the National Education Union (NEU) is renewing its call for a free hot school lunch for every child in every primary school The national emphasis will be a Free School Meals for All National Tour travelling to as many schools as possible

The bus was unveiled in April at the NEU's annual conference in Bournemouth. The evidence is clear: hungry pupils struggle to learn This is why when Sadiq Khan became the first person ever to win a third term as Mayor of London, he stood by his preelection promise to make free school meals permanent for all primary school children in London

This can and should be the future for all primary children in Oxford too London has shown what's possible If readers want to pledge their support, they can visit https://freeschoolmealsforall org uk/take-action

Let's help children thrive; free school meals for all primary pupils will certainly help!

George Buchanan (@gbeconomics)

Oxfordshire NEU Assistant District Secretary

River Learning Trust Lead NEU Representative(@NEU RLT)

Cheney School NEU Workplace Representative (@neucheney, @neuch

NEU Conference Report 2024

More than 1400 members gathered in Bournemouth just after the Easter weekend to debate, network and vote to determine the policy of the NEU. Oxfordshire was represented by a delegation of 17 members, including 4 conference newcomers Big debates were held on subjects from pay to Ofsted, from sexism to assessment

Lucy Coleman, our joint secretary, spoke passionately about her motion on anti-sexism and the rise of online misogyny Lucy also proposed a motion on Early Years which was seconded by one of our newcomers, Vanessa Benjamin-Smith

Two of the inspiring things about conference are the fringe meetings and the activist zone, which hosts sessions for members to discuss and share their experiences.

Leigh Seedhouse, our treasurer and one of our National Executive officers, gave two rousing speeches on SEND and another in favour of abolishing Ofsted and mocksteds

It is always good to hear our joint secretary, Stuart Robinson, addressing the conference, and this year he spoke about the need to address the injustices that surround the whole issue of SEND

In a moving address to conference, the sister of Ruth Perry urged members to unite and push for meaningful change to Ofsted, “ an inhumane, unaccountable inspection system” Professor Julia Waters paid tribute to her younger sister, a head teacher who took her own life in January 2023, two months after Ofsted graded her school inadequate Dave Robinson, Oxfordshire President and Health and Safety Officer, moved a motion on workplace suicides that urged the government regulator, the Health and Safety Executive, to investigate and record all cases of workplace suicides

The debates on international issues are always passionate and thought-provoking. This year was no exception, as exemplified by an address by Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, who pointed out that 625,000 children in Gaza have been unable to access education for months He thanked the NEU for their support and ended by saying, “Your solidarity gives us the most precious thing - hope ”

The conference ended with a stark message from our general secretary, Daniel Kebede. He quoted Gillian Keegan who had said she was doing an “f-ing good job” , to which Daniel on behalf of the 500,000 NEU members replied “You are not” He went on to say “Indeed you, and the nine other secretaries of state we have endured over the past 14 years, have done - to use your vernacular“ an f-ing terrible job” . Looking ahead to the General Election, Daniel said that the NEU would campaign for all parties to invest in education and educators, and to end child poverty

Dave Robinson

Oxfordshire NEU District President

NEU National Training

Independent School members "Twilight Tuesdays".

5-6pm online training for reps and active members - Autumn term dates

Our popular series of one-hour online training on key campaign issues for reps and active members in the independent sector

* Defending TPS 17 September - Register here

* Making a Pay Claim 24 September - Register here

* Support Staff Organising 1 October - Register here

* Trade Union Recognition 15 October - Register here

* Independent School Finances 5 November -- Register here

* Escalating your Pay Claim 12 November -- Register here

* Contracts of Employment 19 November -- Register here

South East Reps Training

The entire suite of South East Region courses is now published on the NEU website Reps can apply for a course immediately here: https://events.neu.org.uk/?region=SE#MEMBER.EVENTS.FILTER

Foundation Reps

–26 September New Place Hotel, Southampton. Book here

Advanced Reps

19–21 November Guildford Harbour Hotel, Guildford Book here

–13 March Holiday Inn Maidstone, Sevenoaks Book here 1–3 July Reading (Venue TBC) Book here

Representing Members in the Workplace

21–23 January Guildford (Venue TBC). Book here

Untied Learning Pensions

Strong opposition to United Learning pension changes

Plans by the country’ s largest multi-academy trust (MAT) to alter its pension scheme have been opposed by all four teaching unions

United Learning Trust (ULT) is proposing to offer staff an ‘alternative pension scheme’ in exchange for slightly higher wages

While the option of staying in the teachers' pension scheme (TPS) would remain, the potential to undermine it is clear to see The announcement was made in a direct letter to staff and was leaked to the education media, bypassing the agreed negotiating framework that deals with pensions.

All four teaching unions are united in their opposition to the plans and are have written to new Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asking her to urg You can see the letter here

You can read more details on the story here

Stop School Cuts!

Ask your MP to pledge to stop school cuts

335 That’ s the record number of new MPs in Parliament That’ s 335 new opportunities to start reversing 14 years of school cuts

A new Government means there's an opportunity to work together to improve outcomes and resources for every child in the country

That’ s why we really need to hit the ground running We know the school funding crisis will take years to fix But that’ s why we ’ re here

We need every elected MP to know that we aren ’t just an election campaign We’ re sticking around until every school in England is properly funded.

Today, that starts with emailing your MP and making sure that they know they need to pledge to stop school cuts

Email your MP now here

What we do & how to get more involved!

The role of Oxfordshire NEU is to actively work to increase the engagement and involvement of members across the county By getting involved in the union, you can shape union policy, play a key role in campaigning, and work with colleagues to resolve issues in your workplace

Each year Oxfordshire hold at least four general meetings and one Annual General Meeting (AGM) where we discuss local issues, national campaigns and help shape the national directive by writing and submitting motions to the NEU Annual Conference We also hold up to three training sessions per year for all members

Our branch officers undertake casework to support members facing difficulties in the workplace and also negotiate terms and conditions with the local authority and local academy trusts Our district officers are key in building activism across Oxfordshire as well as recruiting new members, supporting reps and organising local training/social events.

Officers would not be able to undertake their roles without the support of the committee members Committee members assist both the branch and district officers in organising and supporting our reps and members

If you would like to get more involved in Oxfordshire NEU then please contact us at oxfordshiredistrict@neu.org.uk Our calendar of events and meetings can be found via our calendar:-

A members guide to 1 2

myNEU is an online tool for all members to access their membership details. Please follow this Members Guide to ensure that your Personal Details, Workplace Details, Equalities Data, Communication Preferences and Membership Type are UP TO DATE

To login to myNEU, enter your NEU Membership Number and password and click Login If you have never used myNEU before, you will first need to activate your login.

Once you have logged in, the first thing you should do is check your Membership Details. Click on the heading Personal. Is your home address correct?

Is your phone number correct?

Is your email address correct?

If not, click edit, change the details, and then click save.

Then next step is to check your Workplace details. Click on the heading Workplace.

Is the name of your workplace correct?

Is your current role correct?

Do you have any Additional Responsibilities, e.g. Work with SEND? If not, click change workplace/role/additional responsibility and then click save.

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The next step is to check Equalities Data. Click on the heading Equalities. Is this information correct?

If not, click edit, change the details, and then click save.

The next step is to check Communication Preferences Click on the heading Communication Preference. Are you subscribed to receive emails?

If not, click edit, change the details, and then click save.

You can also use myNEU to amend your Membership type & subscription, e g if you go on Maternity Leave Click on the heading Subscription and change/add new leave as required