OldhamNEU

From 28th March, we will begin the active recruitment and organisation of School Support Staff. Key points: 1) While we remain excluded from national bargaining arrangements this doesn't limit our activity. We are able to represent new members on all workplace issues. 2) Our focus is on organising school support staff who are not currently in a trade union. Around 70% of support staff fall into this category. 3) With many schools engaging in restructuring processes, our priority must be to support and defend these workers. We stand firmly against any cuts to school support staff jobs. By bringing new members into the union, building confidence at workplace level, and standing together against cuts, we can begin to shift the balance of power in our schools.

New: Academy trust, which employs chief executive’s son as its director of business and finance, says it has complied with all DfE requirements educationuncovered.co.uk/news/academy-t… A look at the disclosures of the Core Education Trust, which runs four schools in Birmingham.

The debate is underway at the NEU special conference. With 1,200 delegates in attendance, the atmosphere is serious. Whatever the final vote, today marks a historic moment for the union.

Full pay entitlement will increase from 4 weeks to 8 weeks. Let’s be clear: this is progress, but it isn't enough. It’s still a far cry from the 28 weeks enjoyed by DfE civil servants. Our members deserve nothing less than parity. However, this move has come through our ‘Maternity Matters’ campaign and through the continued raising of the issue with the Secretary of State. We’re moving the dial, but we aren't done yet. #NEU #MaternityMatters

“It is simply untenable for the government to expect teacher pay awards to come out of existing school budgets. Schools would be forced to make cuts to vital services, such as support staff and resources.” – Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary, on Politics Live. Our staff and children deserve better than yet more cuts. #SaveEducation

Proud to stand with members on the picket line at @ValleyLAcademy today, as they take their second day of strike action against the imposition of virtual teachers by @StarAcademies. Our children, our communities, and our staff deserve better. We’ve already lived through the pandemic, and we know exactly what happens when online learning replaces real, in-person teaching. Virtual learning simply cannot match the relationships, the responsiveness, and the day-to-day support that come from having a qualified teacher physically in the classroom. Imposing virtual teachers now, after everything we learned, ignores those realities. This strike is about safeguarding quality education and standing up for what every child deserves: a real teacher, in a real classroom, building real relationships. #NoVirtualTeachers Our Children Deserve Better @NEUnion

**What is 1265?** The number 1,265 refers to the maximum number of directed hours a full-time teacher in England can be required to work in an academic year. **Why is it important?** Teaching has very few workload protections. The 1,265-hour limit is a contractual safeguard that prevents schools from demanding unlimited additional work. Anything beyond this limit requires separate agreement and additional pay. **What did the government say about 1265 in their evidence to the pay review body?** In its 2025 submission to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), the government asked for a review of the 1,265-hour limit on directed time. Bridget Phillipson specifically asked the STRB to examine the benefits and challenges of changing this regulation. **What else does the Education Secretary want to do?** She has proposed a new core enrichment entitlement for every pupil in England - ensuring that activities such as sport, the arts, and outdoor experiences become a guaranteed part of education rather than optional extras. **The key question** As teachers, is it realistic to remove the 1,265-hour limit and expect staff to deliver additional enrichment activities on top of their existing teaching workload? **Our view** Education is running on empty. Young people deserve enrichment, but teachers cannot simply absorb more duties. What we need is funding, funding, funding - more staff, smaller class sizes, and genuine investment in education. Class sizes of 20, 20% PPA, 20% pay increase over the course of the parliament. #20IsTheMagicNumber #SaveEducation

Schools cannot find efficiencies in their budget. This is the case for the majority of schools #SchoolCuts youtu.be/u1KFHIgpQWg?si…

@ICT_MrP NEU Ofsted risk assessment to protect staff. neu.org.uk/campaigns/abol…

In today’s education news… another day another video about Ofsted and some of the feedback schools have said after trialling the new inspection framework and let me tell you, it doesn’t make for pretty reading and shows just how tone deaf Ofsted are to the workload and wellbeing

@EMTeachingHub great day getting to introduce unions to ECT 1’s today. Same again next week! #NEU

"Not everyone on that demo was Far Right" I agree. It was: - Far Right organised - Far Right backed - Far Right funded - And lots of the speeches were Far Right speeches Speaking, Éric Zemmour, a French Far Right politician, said the “freedom of our peoples is in danger” from a “great replacement of our European people" Musk said  “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die" And there was plenty of violence. The aim is to pull in as many people as they can who aren't Far Right and encourage them to become Far Right. This is how radicalisation works.

I was on the antiracist demonstration against Far Right Tommy Robinson from start to finish – including the police kettle on Whitehall. Some thoughts: 1. There were not millions on the TR demo. He is, and always has been, a pocket-sized Pinocchio. 2. The turnout was higher than the police figure of 100k. It was the size of a big Palestine solidarity demo – around 250–300k. 3. It was, without doubt, the biggest Far Right demonstration in British history. 4. I’ve been saying for weeks it would be. Robinson has been doing the podcast circuit to build it, and of course it’s been backed by the richest man on the planet. 5. Tommy Robinson works for the interests of the super-rich. Musk wants a divided Britain, as do the super-rich broadly, so they can keep getting away with profiting from gross inequality. 6. Musk doesn’t care about free speech – Tesla is the only major American car manufacturer whose workers aren’t represented by a union – but then, fascists don’t like unions. 7. Nor do Robinson and many of his supporters, who sought to target antiracists exercising their free speech at the other end of Whitehall. 8. The violence from Robinson’s street thugs was significant: openly clashing with police, throwing bottles and flares, and more. 9. There should have been far more than nine arrests. Of course, Robinson’s supporters aren’t pensioners with Palestine signs – so the mass of those guilty of violent disorder live to fight another day. The bottom line is this: we have to turn the tide on the Far Right radicalisation happening in Britain. And with foreign billionaires backing them, it is not going to be easy. We will have to do things differently, and be different, to mobilise the antiracist majority in Britain. But doing nothing is not an option.

There’s no money for schools, hospitals, or public services. But billions can always be found for weapons. We’re standing with trade unions across the country to demand investment in people, not war. ✊Wages not weapons.

It is simply not fit for purpose. Time for a brave govt to accept that the system is broken and needs to be thrown out and start again

Some great CPD yesterday with reps from across Oldham on how to organise using the bargaining toolkit. neu.org.uk/about/reps/rep…

The NEU welcomes the new report from the Teaching Commission, which outlines a range of strategies to make teaching a more attractive profession and transform our schools. We urge the government to engage with this crucial report fully, to invest in educators and our children's futures. 🔗 teachingcommission.co.uk/report/ #TeachingCommission

The Government promised a 4% pay rise but is only funding under 3%. That leaves schools with a £600 million shortfall, which will mean more cuts to vital services. Schools can’t afford more cuts.✂️ Vote here.👉 NEUActivate.com #FundFairPay #SaveOurSchools

🚨 The NEU consultation on fair pay and school funding opens this Saturday, 21 June. This is your chance to tell us what you think of the government’s 4% teacher pay award. Keep an eye on your email or text for your voting link. Get consultation ready at NEUActivate.com #FundFairPay #SaveOurSchools

The best way to thank teachers would be to: 1. Fully fund pay awards and correct the erosion 2. Replace Ofsted with a supportive inspectorate that brings its expertise rather than judgement 3. Invest in education and ensure there are enough support staff and pastoral care 4. Make teaching a job compatible with family life by bringing down workload

If you’re a teacher in a state-funded school in England, you should have had a message about our upcoming consultation on the government’s 4% teacher pay award. Get ready to have your say. Let us know you'll be taking part here.👉 NEUActivate.com #FundFairPay #SaveOurSchools