Teachers do not want to strike - BUT!

Why are teachers striking?

Teachers who are members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) went on strike on Tuesday 5th July 2016 in long running dispute with the government over working conditions.

As a teacher, I’d like to take the opportunity to present why many teachers are choosing to take industrial action.

This is isn’t about pay – actually as teachers, we do get a good a salary and for most teachers, the profession is not a career but a vocation. We love working with and inspiring children and young people. However, Government initiatives have already started to change the environment we work in to the detriment for the children we teach. In addition, current proposals will compound problems already in the system.
Class sizes – the last few years have seen class sizes regularly go over 30 per class. When I started teaching the average was 25. Educational standards are bound to fall and children who need support will be neglected. Its hard for teachers to get to know each individual child in a large class, behaviour can be difficult to manage and anxiety for teachers increase, especially as performance related pay is determined with how a class performs. Marking and planning for large classes is difficult too.
Teacher recruitment and retention – so many teachers are leaving the profession and universities are finding it difficult to fill spaces on their teacher training courses. Morale is low, workload is unmanageable, with added pressures of budget cuts (where teachers are told the school cannot afford enough exercise books) and constant, unnecessary testing of students; the teaching environment is becoming unbearable. Is this what we really want for our children in schools? The Government doesn’t want to listen or trust teachers.
Workload – Each teacher takes their responsibility for each child they teach extremely seriously. I know most teachers come in to school at around 7.30am, do not leave until 6.00pm (some stay until caretakers ask them to leave) and then continue work at home often until late. Many experienced teachers also have families and as such often sacrifice family life. This is not sustainable and certainly was not the case when I started teaching 10 years ago. There has also been a big increase in bureaucracy – such as data entry for each child. More and more the increase in workload has meant that teachers cannot offer the extra-curricula clubs that help enrich our children.
Exam focused curriculum – the current focus on exams and results means that we are cutting creativity out of the children we teach. English and Maths are dominating the timetable because league tables are based on that data. It means schools inevitably focus resources on those two areas at the detriment of other subject areas particularly the arts. Children are all different, not robots and as such the education system should reflect that diversity. Secondly, the introduction of testing at KS1 and KS2 (7 and 11year old) is causing stress and anxiety for children and teachers alike. This can’t be right. The Government do not seem to trust teachers (as we do continually assess our students in a variety of ways) and say these tests are to drive up standards. This pressure on children is not healthy and numbers of children needing mental health support has risen. Furthermore, this sort of testing does nothing for the children who have special educational needs.
Budget cuts – schools, like other areas of public service are facing huge financial cuts. I know of schools and departments struggling to adequately resource schools even with exercise books.
Academisation and free schools – there are so many issues around this: no local elected accountability, unqualified teachers, run-for-profit, academy chains removing students from exams so not to impact data, to name but a few. (This is a massive issue in education and probably needs another article on this)


The Government are refusing to address the big problems of budget cuts, teacher shortages and class sizes. They dismiss teacher concerns and push an ideological agenda of academisation (which holds no local accountability as well as a host of other issues) and pushing for testing system that ignores advances in pedagogy  expects our individual and unique children to all be the same.

I hope, by writing this, you can see why teachers have chosen to strike and hope that you as residents, parents and former students support teachers. I am sure there are other additional reasons why teachers have chosen to strike. It’s not an easy decision, but I wholeheartedly believe each striking teacher is fighting for the future of education and children they teach.

As for me, I had to take the difficult decision to leave the profession a couple of months ago as the pressures of the workload, meant that I could not meet the needs of my family. Nevertheless, now as parent and former teacher, I stand with my former colleagues.

Cllr Shama Tatler

AFFORDALE ART SALE - THE INSTITUTE, KINGSBURY

A guest blog by Rubena Jafrey, Head of Community Engagement, The Institute.

The Institute based at Masons House, Valley Drive, Kingsbury NW9 9NG is holding a fund raising Affordable Art Sale. The purpose is to raise funds to support its work as a community education charity.

The Affordable Art Sale preview day is on Thursday 30th June from 6pm to 8.00pm - you can browse and buy!  If you need more time to make up your mind or can`t make Thursday the second exhibition will be on Saturday 2nd July from 10.00am until 6.00 pm.

The Institute is a registered charity and depends on fees, donations and fund raising events to carry on its work in Fryent and Kingsbury. Our building is a short walk from Kingsbury Jubilee line Station and buses pass the door.

The public are welcome and please be generous.

Kingsbury and Kenton resident forum, Brent Connects

The next Kingsbury and Kenton resident forum, Brent Connects, is on Weds 22rd June the day before the EU referendum. It will be held at Kingsbury High school, the Lower School in Bacon Lane and will start promptly at 7pm.


Council Leader, Muhammed Butt and Deputy Leader, Margaret McLennan would like to meet residents at the forum to hear their issues first hand and will take the opportunity to talk about the council’s vision for the borough. This is an excellent opportunity to put the two Cabinet members on the spot about the issues that affect you as a resident of Fryent. They will be discussing: how the council can improve the way it works, what the council is doing well and will be exploring what residents want to see happen in the future to make Brent a better place to live, work and play.
Do you have an issue that you want discussed, now is your chance?

Councillor Ketan Sheth, Chair, Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and councillor Matt Kelcher, Chair, Brent Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be discussing ways of making scrutiny count in Brent. Effective scrutiny is a vital part of local government and helps to improve decision-making, service provision and cost-effectiveness.

It’s Time to Talk is a campaign which aims to empower residents and community leaders to talk about difficult issues. We will be discussing a planned event in July to encourage attendance and promote the need for communities in Brent to come together.

Please come along either to have your say or just listen to local issues that affect you and other residents.

Please note the venue is the lower school in Bacon Lane, make a note in your diary now to come along.

Fryent Councillors

Open Day at The Institute, Kingsbury

The Institute at Masons House, 1-3 Valley Drive, Kingsbury is holding it`s Open Day on Saturday 25th June from 11am to 4pm.

The Institute runs courses for adults and young people including Painting and Drawing, Pottery, Crafts - ranging from Asian Sewing to Furniture Upholstery. There are a range of computer courses and modern language classes and lots more. The open day is designed to give local residents an opportunity to meet and see some students work and talk with teachers about the courses on offer.

The Institute is a short walk from Kingsbury tube station on the Jubilee line.

Everyone is welcome, just walk in, during the day to wander around and look at what is on offer on your doorstep. They are very keen for local residents to use the facilities.

The Institute receives no funding from either Government or Brent Council, they are a registered charity and rely wholly on donations and modest student fees.

You can find out more at the following link: http://www.hgsi.ac.uk or call 020 8829 4229

George Crane
Fryent Councillor




 

EU Referendum, have you decided?

With only a few weeks to go before polling day in the EU Referendum you can be forgiven if you are maxed out from TV debates, and politicians telling you to vote IN or OUT. However this referendum is probably the most important decision voters will be asked to decide, except for the next General election.

As your elected Councillors we are supporting the REMAIN or IN Campaign and we thought we would share with you our reasons for voting this way on June 23rd.

We are in Europe currently and therefore we know what we have - lots of jobs are linked to trade with Europe. Over 50% of our exports are sold in Europe. We don't believe we have been told what would happen to our economy if we left.

The Treasury and leading economists, the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI) and Trade Unions all support the case for remaining within the EU.

Cllr Ruth Moher said " Our finances, our exports and imports are so tied up with the EU we could have several years of chaos trying to reorganise outside the EU. We also risk losing some of the safeguards we have through the EU, for example the Human Rights Act, the Social Chapter which supports our rights in the workforce".


Britain is stronger and more influential as a member of the EU - we can voice our opinions and have a say - we have no voice if we leave. We believe we are safer within the EU and are better  protected against crime, terrorism and threats to our security.

Cllr George Crane said "the EU is not perfect but I know what I have at the moment but I don't know what will happen if we leave"

We are proud that over many generations Britain has seen people come from abroad to work in our public services, and build businesses and contribute to our economy and growth. Migrants who come to this country pay taxes work hard and increase our prosperity.   We do not believe that leaving the EU will stop desperate people seeking sanctuary here and end the crisis in places like Syria or Iran.


Cllr Shama Tatler said "The hundreds of years before the creation on the EU saw the continent go from war to war with the most horrific results from 1939 to 1945. The EU was created to bring peace and stability to the region as well as allowing countries to work together for economic prosperity and social justice. Now, in the 21st century remaining in the EU will enable the UK to help lead in combating challenges such as climate change. The EU is not perfect, but I believe we need to be in the middle of decision making in Europe and help mould it and be a global player rather than isolate ourselves. This is why I will vote to remain."


We believe we are better off in Europe for jobs, wages, workers rights, prices in the shops and our security.

VOTE REMAIN X on June 23rd.

Fryent Labour Councillors
Cllr Ruth Moher, Cllr Shama Tatler and cllr George Crane

Councillor Ruth Moher

Councillor Ruth Moher is currently in hospital following an accident at home, she fell badly and has broken her ankle. She has had an number of operations and is expected to be in hospital for a few more days.


When she returns home she is unlikely to be able to undertake Council activities for a number of weeks while she recovers.


I am sure all Fryent residents will wish Ruth a very speedy recover.


George Crane and Shama Tatler


 

More Money for Pot Holes and Pavement Repairs

As your Councillors we are sure Fryent residents will join us in welcoming plans to spend an additional £2 million on improving roads and pavements around the borough.  The money has been agreed as part of  the recent budget by reducing contingency reserves elsewhere.

 

 

Despite significant cuts in funding from central government, the council's Cabinet agreed to spend an additional £2million, on top of the existing £3.55million annual budget, to improve the maintenance and upkeep of roads and pavements around the borough.

 

 

While Brent is performing better than the London average for the state of its main roads, the number of faults being identified and reported on the roads is on the rise. The council is determined to improve how we tackle potholes and cracked, rocking or protruding slabs on roads and pavements.

 

 

The £2million cash boost will allow the council to extend the life of roads and pavements and reduce the need for multiple return visits. This will mean that more can be done to reduce trip hazards and potentially damaging potholes, and to keep the streets of Brent safe for all to use.

 

 

Cllr Shama Tatler said: "During the consultation on Imagine Kingsbury last year and the recent activity on the doorstep during the Mayoral election. Fryent residents told us in no uncertain terms the state of Kingsbury High Road and many roads and pavements in Fryent needed attention".

 

 

The Council would need to spend about 100 million pounds to bring all roads and pavements up to acceptable modern day standards. Clearly the extra money will be spread all over Brent, but hopefully although we can't promise we will try and get the the worst parts within Fryent dealt with.

 

The plan will see slabs being replaced with tarmac when doing full pavement renewals in some places, which will help to make pavements more resilient and durable, and fit for purpose for the demands of today. The use of tarmac will also help to make limited resources stretch further, meaning more pavements can be repaired

 

 

 If residents want to nominate your road for attention let us know. You can also use the CLEANER BRENT APP. Just download onto your phone and you can report all types of environmental issues.

 

 

Fryent Councillors.