The TES asked NASUWT and NUT delegates about their biggest concerns: Amanda Squire, a primary teacher from Waltham Forest and NUT delegate: “I used to work in local government and had a 35-hour week. As a teacher you can expect something like 70 hours. It is little wonder so many new teachers leave after a few years. The workload reforms have done little to help.”
Steve Harrison, teacher at Old Oak primary in East Acton, London and branch officer for the NASUWT in Hammersmith and Fulham: “People say conference is just a talking shop. But talking has led to changes. Working with the Government has produced real benefits. Most of what Ruth Kelly said would not have been out of place in an NASUWT general secretary speech.”
David Evans, from Colchester and south-west Essex NUT, said: “It is fine for the Government to talk about choice but it is a myth in a rural area: you have no choice but to accept what is on your doorstep, even if it is an academy, faith school or trust school.”
Richard Hinton, a Staffordshire secondary history teacher and NASUWT delegate: “It is difficult for us to work with the NUT. It has got itself in a position where the only thing it can try to do is spoil.”
Alison Morgan, a teacher at Carshalton boys’ college in south-west London, and NASUWT delegate: “I’m worried we are in bed too tightly on this (social partnership). There were a lot of problems with TLRs (teaching and learning responsibility payments) which we are still clearing up.”
