There are two significant meetings coming up this month to conclude the academic year. One is the District Meeting on the 15th of June (open to all members) and the other is a special meeting of a Pay Briefing on the 22nd of June (for all in-service members which is specifically on our Pay Campaign - nothing else).
The meetings will take place at 7:30pm and both will be hybrid (taking place in person at our offices or via Zoom). Our office address is: NEU, 7 - 9 Every Street, Leicester, LE1 6AG.
Covid-related absences are on the rise in both primary and secondary settings, among staff and pupils.
More than 200,000 pupils were absent for Covid-related reasons on 25 November and, since then, infection rates among school-age children have risen further, in particular in London, the South East and the East of England.
Education staff have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic and, according the Office of National Statistics, are 26 per cent more likely to catch Covid-19 than the general population.
This week we received the fantastic news that the forced academy order for West Gate School has been revoked. This is a testament to the hard work of staff, school leaders, and the governing body.
You can read Leicester Mercury coverage here
You can watch coverage on ITV here (from about 18 minutes 50 seconds - this may only be available for a short time)
The National Education Union (NEU) was extremely disappointed that, in his announcement of 'Plan B' measures yesterday, the Prime Minister made no mention of schools, despite cases rising so fast leading to so much disruption of education. More than 200,000 pupils were absent for Covid-related reasons on 25 November and, since then, infection rates among school-age children have risen even further.
We welcome the Department for Education (DfE) guidance communicated to school and college leaders late yesterday, including news that Ofsted inspections will not take place next week for early years, school and college settings, or for secondary schools in the first week of the January term when onsite asymptomatic testing is expected to take place.