Hands off West Gate!

30th October

Following an Ofsted inspection in 2018, West Gate School was given an academy order. Since then, the proposed sponsor has withdrawn, and an Ofsted inspection before the summer holidays graded the school as good. This means that the staff, leadership team, governing body and local authority have turned the school around in 3 years, in the middle of a global pandemic. It's an insult to the hard work of all those people that the DfE are still pressing ahead with a forced academisation and are proposing a new sponsor based in Yorkshire with a single failing secondary school. It is unclear how academising the school would benefit it or its pupils. The Chair of Governors has written to the Regional Schools' Commissioner to request the revocation of the academy order. The NEU has written to the new Secretary of State for Education requesting the same. We will work with members, other unions, the head and the governing body to oppose the forced academisation of West Gate.

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Leicester Pride 2021

30th October

After missing a year due to the pandemic, Pride was back and as fabulous as ever!
City of Leicester NEU joined the march from Curve to Victoria Park with banners and
flags, and some of us stayed to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy Pride.

October's City Educationalist

30th October

You can download October's newsletter here.

Stephen Lawrence Network Meeting

30th October

On a rainy Leicester half term our Leicester Black Teachers Network (COVID secure) met at The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre to discuss:

• The use of Stephen Lawrence Ambassadors in Secondary Schools as led by Natasha Boyce at the Life Academy Trust.
• How The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre can support teachers led by Sherilyn Pereira at The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre.
• How we continue to use the NEU Antiracist Charter in schools, and do we encourage schools to adopt a Black Curriculum led by Camille London- Miyo OBE - Leicester City NEU Equalities Officer.

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New local NEU offices

30th October

You might have noticed that the local NEU office has moved. Our new address is 7-9 Every Street, Leicester LE1 6BF. At present, there's no phone line, so please continue to contact officers by email.

On 3rd September we held a combined office welcome party and thanks to our reps, who have worked tirelessly through the pandemic. Drinks flowed, the jazz band played, and bellies were full of delicious food from Mitthaas (Narborough Road) and Divine Cuisine (Birmingham). Here are a few photos from the night.

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Youth Fight For Jobs Rally

30th October

This demonstration in Leicester on 9th October was part of a national relaunch of the campaign. Youth Fights for Jobs seeks to push the government into actively focusing on sustainable, valued employment which isn't low paid, zero hours, temporary or limited in scope. Although small, it was uplifting to see young activists organising and communicating with the Saturday afternoon shoppers. This is a campaign the NEU needs to support and promote.

What was I doing there as an official oldie? I spoke and sent solidarity on behalf of the NEU and LDTUC.

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More news and articles

• Leicester City agreed term dates
• Black Educators' Summer Event 2021
• Bargaining for Equality
• Stress
• Covid
• NEU Reps
• Back to School
• City Educationalist September 2021
• Latest Covid guidance
• City Educationalist June 2021
• You are the NEU - Award Winners 2021
• Health and Wellbeing Day
• Last call for District 3 National Executive Elections
• City Educationalist April 2021
• City Educationalist March 2021
• National Executive Elections
• Joint statement on wider opening of schools in England
• Education Recovery Plan (mark 2)
• Covid-19: National Recovery Plan For Education
• January School Safety Advice