Commenting on policy and legislation announcements in The King's
Speech, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT –
The Teachers' Union, said:
“Today's King's Speech sets out a raft of measures that have the
potential to deliver real change for workers and better
opportunities for children and young people.
“It is welcome that the new Government has committed to taking
forward many new measures to address concerns highlighted by the
NASUWT for some time.
“We have long called for government to turn the page on
restricting children's access to a broad and balanced education
on the basis of parents' ability to pay.
“Restoring the national educational entitlements of all children
and young people, including the fundamental right to a national
curriculum that is taught by qualified teachers, will be of
critical importance to securing equality of opportunity for every
learner, regardless of where they are educated.
“Securing entitlements for pupils must go hand in hand with
securing the entitlements of teachers and support staff to
world-class employment conditions in every state-funded school.
We look forward to working with Ministers to deliver their vision
for workers' rights in our schools and colleges.
“The new Government's programme provides an opportunity to reset
our education system and take a significant step forward in
addressing the inequality, fragmentation, chaos and damage
inflicted on the education system over the last 14 years, and
restore the status of the teaching profession.
“We will now be looking to the new Government to work with us in
taking forward these and other measures in the interests of
children and young people and the workforce in our schools and
colleges.”
