Commenting on the Maurice Smith Review, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

Commenting on Ed Balls' letter to primary school head teachers, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

Commenting on the results Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers the largest teachers union said;

Commenting on the data looking at the progress of children between the age of 7 and 11 in English and Maths Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

Commenting on the education proposals by Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove, Christine Blower General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers union said;

Commenting on Nick Clegg's speech on education Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers union said;

Commenting on Beyond the School Gate, a report by Parentline Plus and the Teacher Support Network, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teacher

Commenting on the think tank Demos's latest report and its recommendation to abolish exclusions, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

Commenting on the TUC analysis which shows that teachers work more 'extreme' unpaid overtime than any of the other professions surveyed, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

The Executive of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Council of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) have now decided that members of both unions will be balloted for industrial action with a view to boycotting this year’s Key Stage 2 tests in English and Mathematics. It has been necessary to take this decision to ballot because of the lack of a positive response from Government to the clear options to SATs outlined by the NUT and NAHT.

The outcome of SATs adversely affects our members’ terms and conditions. The use of publicly available league tables, based on the result of these tests, have negative consequences for the pay, tenure and career progression prospects of our members.

Commenting on today's research report by the National Centre for Social Research on patterns of referral to the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) on grounds of incompetence, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

"Whilst there are heads who seek successfully to protect their staff from unreasonable expectations from Government and its related agencies, there are those who simply pass on the unreasonable pressure they suffer from Ofsted and local authorities on to their staff.

"The fact is the number of teachers on capability procedures is small. It is a tribute to both teachers and school leaders that they have managed to keep their heads throughout the plethora of initiatives and unprecedented levels of pressure over the last few years.

"What the report should have looked at is why a teacher may be deemed to be incompetent in one school, but if he or she had taught in another would have flourished. It is not good enough, therefore, simply to look at procedures but at why some potentially effective teachers are being driven from the profession.

"It is very important that the GTCE consider the background to referrals as well as evidence which may be presented by employers."

The findings of a new survey of asbestos management in schools, undertaken by the Asbestos Testing and Consultants Association (ATAC), supports NUT's long-standing concerns.

The report Assessment of Asbestos Management in Schools is published today. The aim of this pilot project, which looked at 12 schools in the first instance, was to collect evidence, identify common flaws and recommend ways forward to both the Government and the Health & Safety Executive.

Commenting on the Children Schools and Families Select Committee report Training of Teachers,Christine Blower General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

Commenting on the Liberal Democrats proposals to put £2.5 billion additional funding into schools Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union said;

Kevin Courtney, National Executive member and Camden NUT secretary for 20 years, has been elected the next Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers. He will take up the post as soon as the necessary arrangements are made with his current employers.