NASUWT comments on National Education Service speech

Commenting on a speech by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in which he set out Labour’s commitment to developing a National Education Service, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:

“The NASUWT looks forward to continuing to engage constructively with the Labour Party on the development of its National Education Service.

“It is clear that the absence of any strategic direction for the education system under the current Government’s academisation programme is letting down children, young people and the hard working staff in our schools. We therefore welcome the Labour Party’s work to forge an alternative way forward for our education system.

“The NASUWT has identified the need for greater investment in and focus on professional development and learning opportunities for employees throughout their working lives. However, too many employers still fail to step up the plate.

“Ironically, the education service is one of the worst sectors in this regard. Teachers continually report to the NASUWT that they fail to get access to the training they need or to even engage their employers’ interest in the issue. The NASUWT has long called for a statutory entitlement for all teachers to high-quality ongoing training and development.

“In order to examine these issues comprehensively, the needs of those responsible for educating the next generation of working people must be given high priority in the Commission’s work.”