Assessment Reform Campaign Actions to Date

In order to keep the ongoing campaign as high profile as possible it is essential that you share this information with members in your region/branch to assure them that coordinated action is being taken to achieve a successful outcome.

Actions prior to National Conference

·        Commission of Inquiry into Assessment and League Tables reported back.

·        Meetings held with Ministers and evidence presented to the Expert group.

·        Campaign Group formed as a result of a recommendation to National Council from the Curriculum and Assessment Committee.

·        Successful survey of parents views in relation to SATs showed strong support for our        position.

·        Letters written to MPs resulting in many local meetings.

·        Established joint working with the NUT over this single issue.

·        Joint NAHT/NUT Conference on Assessment in February.

·        Joint lobby of Parliament on the 28^th April.

·        Assessment motion proposed and carried by massive majorities at both conferences.

Actions since our National Conference

• Clarification of the membership of the NAHT campaign group.
• Clarification of key messages:
  • Present system is inaccurate, unreliable and inappropriate.
  • We are not looking to end SATs rather change the current assessment system and damaging league tables.
  • Accurate and timely information about every child’s progress would be based on the professionalism of teacher assessment, supported by light touch moderation that would validate these judgments. A national sampling system would ensure standards were fully monitored with full accountability maintained.

• Protocols and terms of reference of the Joint Steering Groups have been drawn up and agreed by both unions. The Joint Steering Group to comprise of General Secretary, National President, 2 Senior Officers, 2 other members of campaign group who will be serving head teachers from the Campaign Team.

• Consideration given to the timeline for a ballot, should we arrive at that point.
• NAHT is seeking external Queens Counsel advice on the legality issue as requested by National Council. Meeting on 9^th June.
• Agreed to provide advice that schools should order test papers as normal for the SATs in 2010.
• Communications timeline set up by ARC (Assessment Reform Committee) to keep members up to date over the coming months; to include podcasts, blogs from high profile educationalists, online forums, branch circulars, press releases, promoting awareness through advertising, gathering experiences of members. Monthly updates will be provided to all members.
• Model press release and information sheet with questions and answers is being prepared for regional and branch secretaries to support media interviews at local levels.
• DVD with joint message from Mick Brookes and Christine Blower to be produced for September.
• Booklet on the Assessment Campaign to be circulated to all members and further afield.
• A huge amount of NAHT quotes, comments and papers have been gathered for use by our legal team to support the NAHT industrial action position (should it come to this). This evidence will be used in the meeting on the 9^th June with counsel.
• PowerPoint being designed for branches to use.
• Joint leaflets, posters and petitions designed, to go out in mailing on the 8^th June.
• Letter to parents of children in Year 5 drafted by Mick Brookes.
• Paper related to potential risks and issues considered by ARC.
• Campaign information and material is being continually added to the NAHT website and is now available in the Officials areas and will be available to all members from the 9^th June on the Assessment Action page.
• Intranet for Headquarters staff has been set up to ensure accurate and up to date communication across departments.
• Continue to lobby MPs both locally and nationally.
• More parental information to be provided in the autumn with guidance for Governing Bodies.
• Views of children have been gathered.

Meetings

• Assessment Reform Campaign (ARC) Group met on 18^th May and 1^st June.

Tele-conferences on 5^th and 12^th June. The next meeting is planned for June 16^th

followed by a joint NUT/NAHT meeting on the 17^th June.

• The General Secretary has a meeting with Jim Knight on the 10^th June and will meet with the Secretary of State on the 25^th June.
• Further meetings to be planned with Ministers.
• Discussions have taken place and with other unions and groups to discuss our position, i.e. NCPTA, NGA, QCA, DCSF, ADCS.
• Ian Foster and Kathy James have met on numerous occasions with the NUT to discuss the joint aspects of the campaign.
• The timetable for the Council meeting in June has been altered and a number of sessions have been devoted to information, discussion and decisions around the campaign. Details to be provided for all members.
• At the Regional secretaries meeting on June 25^th, members of ARC will be attending to discuss the campaign and answer questions.
• Local meetings to be encouraged with the general Secretary visiting all regional executive meetings.
• High level meetings with front bench spokespeople are being organised for the autumn political conference round. A leaflet will also be produced jointly for party conferences.

I am sure that you can appreciate the considerable time that has been spent reaching this stage in the campaign by both HQ Officers and Council Members. It is imperative that our members are kept up to date with developments so that the impetus generated at National Conference is not lost. I would therefore, be grateful if you could forward this information to members in your branch/region. As further developments are made they will be communicated to you in the same way.United this is a campaign which will be successful.

Thank you,