The Department for Education has finally released transcripts of meetings held with teaching union bosses since 4 July last year. Bridget met 33 times with union officials while giving only one chat to the Independent Schools Council…
Guido asked for transcripts of meetings with Daniel Kebede (National Education Union) and Paul Whiteman (National Association of Headteachers). At a meeting just four days after the general election Bridget met with NAHT general secretary Whiteman:
- BP said “she was keen to meet early on. Want to work with you and your members.”
- PW: “Feel the refresh already. We are pushing in the same direction… We will be offering the expert advice.“
- PW: “The Government is moving with pace already.“
At a call with radical National Education Union head Daniel Kebede the education secretary provided an early briefing of a 5.5% teacher pay award for 2024/25.
- BP: “Securing this package has been very challenging and it will be funded by savings found across government.“
- DK: “Very pleased to have been briefed. From his perspective SoS has already succeeded in resetting the relationship with the sector with this announcement… He passed on his sincere thanks to SoS.“
Bridget held a separate call to discuss the award with Whiteman, who said “this was really helpful.” Meanwhile copies of five entire meetings with union bosses Daniel Kebede, Paul Whiteman, or Mary Bousted are fully redacted – curious…
During a call before the budget, Bridget went out of her way to soothe Daniel Kebede’s concerns:
- DK: “have read other press releases and NEU probably won’t be as positive.“
- BP: Emphasised “this is a 1-year settlement and the need to look to the future and the multi-year settlement.“
- BP: Clarified “that schools and colleges will be compensated on NICs and more details will follow on this.“
- BP: Offered a call with Officials if Daniel felt one was needed in the coming weeks.
A call with Whiteman confirmed provision of new money and added: “NAHT have no complaints at the moment and are positive.” No surprise there…
Bridget also called Kebede, NEU representatives, and Whiteman on the Sunday prior to her reform speech at the Centre for Social Justice last month.
- PW: “Thanked SoS for the briefing – this is another signal of a welcome different approach. There is nothing that SoS said is surprising or concerning, and he may have some
things to say about that but the overall thrust is one he wants to support.“ - NEU: “Would like it to be clear in the speech tomorrow that every single teacher and every leader wants the best for their children, and the unions represent 90% of teachers and leaders.” Telling Bridget what to say…
- PW: “The conclusion of SoS’s speech sounds exactly in the right place. The previous government went through Education Secretaries rapidly, and none of them set out a vision for the education system – what SoS has said sounds like a vision and ambition.“
- BP: Concluded the call to reiterate her thanks.
A love-in of some proportions. Compare that to Bridget’s meeting with Birbalsingh. Unions cheering Bridget on as she tears down some of the only Tory reforms that have been almost universally successful…
Read the full released transcripts below:
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”
