Run by Devon Governors for Devon Governors
Run by Devon Governors for Devon Governors
SATs Boycott – Proposed Action by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)
The two unions are now preparing to ballot members. Ballot papers will issue in the week beginning 13 March and are due to be returned by midday on 16th April.
Chairs of governors in primary schools may well have received a letter from Christine Blower and Mick Brookes, General Secretaries of the NUT and NAHT asking for your support for the ballot.
It has not yet been established whether this is a legitimate industrial dispute; the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) believes that as headteachers are under a statutory duty to make arrangements for the tests to take place if they do not comply with that duty they are acting unlawfully. On the other hand, the NAHT’s legal advice is that this is a legitimate dispute. This has not been tested in the Courts (and the DCSF has not said that if the unions vote ‘yes’ to the boycott, it intends to do so).
This is not strike action, if the unions vote ‘yes’ to the boycott, any staff involved will be in school throughout, but will take no part in the administration/management of the Key Stage 2 tests.
This action is limited to the NAHT and NUT, the other teaching unions/professional associations (ASCL, ATL, NASUWT and Voice) are not involved
What should governing bodies do?
The NGA does not support a boycott of the Key Stage 2 tests and whatever members’ personal views may be, the NGA advises that governing bodies do not sign supporting statements.
The duty to arrange the tests falls directly on the headteacher and is clearly an operational matter. If the boycott goes ahead the governing body should not get involved in operational matters and should not get involved in the administration of the tests. The governing body can reasonably enquire of the headteacher (assuming the headteacher is a member of the NAHT/NUT) what action they will be taking and what steps are in place to administer/manage the tests. The governing body cannot force the tests to be carried out, and should not try to do so, but it may remind the headteacher of the government’s view of the boycott’s legalities.
This advice issued by the NGA, 12 March 2010.