Assertions in OFSTED report on the impact of unions wide of the mark, says NASUWT
Commenting on the report published today by Ofsted on so-called ‘stuck’ schools, ‘Fight or Flight’, Ms Chris Keates, Acting General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:
“The report contains many observations that reflect the NASUWT’s experience of the barriers that schools can encounter in their improvement journeys. In particular, as the report notes, schools continue to report that the advice they receive comes from too many quarters; is often contradictory and fails to address the reality of the challenges that they face.
“It is, therefore, disappointing that these important messages are distracted from by the inclusion in the report of unverified assertions by two schools that ‘antagonistic union voice’ had been an obstacle to their progress. Unfortunately, it is sometimes the case that poor employers persist in not seeing the work of trade unions in legitimately representing the concerns of their members as part of the solution to the challenges they face.
“All employers need to recognise the tried and tested principle that providing high quality educational experiences for pupils and securing fair and equitable working conditions for teachers are mutually inclusive goals.
“Working constructively with trade unions is the best way for all schools to secure working conditions for teachers that will help to transform the learning outcomes for pupils.”
