Surrey teachers strike for first time in Ewell school's history
Picket lines will be formed between 08:00 BST and 09:00 in front of the school entrance in Church Street and in the staff car park.The union said teachers at the school are members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), a government-run scheme which guarantees benefits based on career length and salary. The school's governors have proposed leaving the defined benefit scheme and replacing this with an "inferior, privately-operated defined contribution scheme", the NEU added.Nick Childs, the NEU's senior regional officer, said: "We are calling for the governors to withdraw the current proposals and to suspend further consideration of changes to teachers' pension provision."
Mr Childs added: "The governors' current proposal represents a materially adverse change to existing staff contracts. "NEU members do not engage in this action lightly, but it is clear to them that industrial action is their only resort in this situation."
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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Teachers could strike over Bacup Academy virtual-teacher plan
A teachers' union says its members are willing to go on strike over plans for a school in Lancashire to use a teacher based in Devon to teach its most-able maths students Valley Leadership Academy in Bacup told parents last month the school's top-set pupils, in years 9-11, would have a "virtual" maths teacher when they return to school for the new academic year in Academies, the trust which runs the school, said a qualified teacher will also be present in the the National Education Union (NEU) has set up a confidential online petition in opposition to the new arrangement, which it says has attracted more than 500 signatures. 'Fully-rounded education' Ian Watkinson, Lancashire branch secretary of the NEU, said the number of signatures to the petition was an indication of the "strength of feeling" against the proposed use of virtual said pupils were "still feeling the impact" of compulsory online teaching during the pandemic and returning to remote learning voluntarily "just does not feel right". "We were forced into doing the best we could with what we had at the time – and people are still feeling the impact of it," said Mr Watkinson."You're not getting a fully-rounded education experience if it's being delivered in that way," he said, adding, "however high quality that teacher might be, you can't replicate human interaction".According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, signatories to the NEU petition have argued pupils need to be able to "connect" with their teacher - stressing the value of face-to-face interaction amid the relentless presence of technology in everyday life."It's the start of watering down the quality of teaching," wrote one parent. "Our children deserve better - and the full attention of a qualified teacher." 'No compromise' The trust said it was happy to speak to any parent who has concerns, but trumpeted its trials of virtual teacher-led classes in schools in Blackpool and Bradford, claiming parents had spoken of "the transformational impact the model has had on their children's learning".It cautioned the NEU petition was open to all signatories, across the country, and stressed it did not represent "a verified reflection of staff and parent views within Star schools".A Star Academies spokesman said: "For too long, pupils in disadvantaged communities have had to settle for inconsistent teaching or long-term supply cover in core subjects."The virtual-teacher model allows us to deploy exceptional teachers in classrooms where they are most needed."It costs more, it demands more, and it reflects our belief that every child – regardless of postcode – deserves access to the very best education. We will not compromise on that." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Telegraph
04-08-2025
- Telegraph
Simon Pearson's sacking is a stark warning to censorship Britain
With a teacher being fired from his role after saying that Lucy Connolly's prison sentence was a case of two-tier justice, there are growing fears of what the impact of a new 'Islamophobia' definition could have on freedom of expression in modern Britain. In a post on social media, 56-year-old Simon Pearson, a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (Esol) at Preston College, said Connolly's unquestionably inflammatory comments were 'obviously wrong' but she 'should not have been jailed'. Pearson was subsequently dismissed after an internal investigation – prompted by a complaint from a Muslim representative of the National Education Union (NEU) at the college – concluded that his online posts had the potential to bring it into disrepute. If truth be told, I have found much of the online Right's lionisation of the imprisoned Lucy Connolly – who has been depicted as some kind of persecuted free-speech heroine – totally bizarre. But surely Pearson, living in a supposedly free and democratic society, has the right to express his opinion that her prison sentence was harsh, when compared to the lenient sentences provided to others for offences considered to be more serious in nature? In another post on the Manchester Airport incident, over which Mohammed Fahir Amaaz has now been found guilty of assaulting two female police officers, Pearson claimed that 'if these people have no respect for the police and UK laws, they need deporting back to their ancestral home'. There is no evidence that Pearson made these comments on the grounds of Amaaz's specific racial and religious background, and he may well have made them if the two brothers involved in the fracas were white Christian men originating from the Balkans. Pearson, as an Esol teacher in Preston, is likely to have provided support to Muslim students and asylum seekers whilst serving in this role. This certainly does not strike me as the choice of profession by an anti-Muslim racist bigot. Some may find his opinions disagreeable, perhaps even offensive – but no one has the right to be protected from views which they may find uncomfortable but are causing them no direct harm. His sacking also serves as a warning – a new 'Islamophobia' definition could be used as an instrument of censorship by tribal activists to threaten the livelihoods of those expressing political views which are not even directly anti-Muslim in nature. Such a development will only further undermine Britain's previous reputation for being the home of free speech.
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Teacher who was called 'Islamophobic' and sacked after describing Lucy Connolly's prison sentence as two-tier policing says he has been victim of 'witch hunt'
A teacher branded 'Islamophobic' has been sacked after describing Lucy Connolly's prison sentence as an example of two-tier policing. Simon Pearson, a teacher at Preston College, has said he fell victim to an unfair 'witch hunt' which resulted in his dismissal from his position at Preston College. The 56-year-old, working as an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher at the higher education institution, was removed following an internal investigation. Connolly, wife of a Tory councillor, was given a 31-month sentence in October after pleading guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred in a social media post following last year's Southport riots. The post, which she later deleted, said: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care... if that makes me racist so be it.' In a Facebook post, Mr Pearson described Connolly's online comments as 'obviously wrong', but said that he believed her prison sentence was a 'two tier policy from the top down' and that she 'should not have been jailed', The Telegraph has reported. An internal investigation was launched following a complaint submitted by a Muslim representative of the National Education Union (NEU) at the school who alleged that the post was 'Islamophobic' and 'racially discriminatory'. Mr Pearson said that following the raised concern, he apologised and also claimed to have provided evidence of his support for both Muslim students and asylum seekers. Pictured: Mr Pearson's Facebook post that eventually resulted in his dismissal. Preston College's investigation deemed the posts a violation of its policies, damaging of professional relationships and likely to bring the college's reputation into disrepute However, the college's investigation deemed the posts a violation of its policies, damaging of professional relationships and likely to bring the college's reputation into disrepute. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Pearson said he had been left 'appalled' by the decision, particularly given his life-long commitment to helping to support and educate students 'from all walks of life'. Describing his dismissal as a 'grave injustice', he added: 'As soon as I was branded 'Islamophobic' for expressing concern about violent crime, I became a marked man. 'It was clear that I had to be found guilty by the college, it became a witch hunt, and I had to be eliminated no matter what.' Mr Pearson, who has now launched legal action at an employment tribunal, has claimed wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment and discrimination under the Equality Act of 2010. Lord Young of Acton, founder of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph that the decision to sack Mr Pearson was 'striking', criticising the NEU for 'siding with management and actively trying to get workers sacked'. A spokesperson for The Christian Legal Centre, supporting Mr Pearson, described the case as an indication of the 'dangerous consequences of the vague and weaponised use of the term 'Islamophobia'. They added: 'In a free and democratic society, we must be able to discuss public events and express concern about violence and injustice without fear of losing our livelihoods. 'The definition of Islamophobia is being used to silence legitimate speech and punish those who dare to speak out. We stand firmly behind this teacher and his right to freedom of expression.' Connolly, of Northampton, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court in October and imprisoned at HMP Drake Hall, Staffordshire after admitting to making her 'racist' post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The 42-year-old former childminder, wife of Tory councillor Ray Connolly, lost her 19-month-old son, Harry, in 2011. With around 9,000 followers on X at the time, Connolly's message was reposted 940 times and viewed 310,000 times before she deleted it around three and a half hours later. The mother-of-one was arrested on August 6 last year, by which point she had deleted her social media account. But other messages which included other condemning remarks were uncovered by officers who seized her phone. Her X post was made just hours after killer Axel Rudakubana murdered three young girls and attempted to murder 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, sparking nationwide unrest. A number of public figures and politicians have spoken out since Connolly was handed her sentence, claiming that she is a victim of 'two-tier justice'. Connolly's husband, Raymond, a former West Northamptonshire Conservative councillor, said on the day she lost her appeal: 'Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she will release 40,000 prisoners, some of them dangerous men on tag. 'Lucy has not been allowed out on tag and she has been denied leave to see our child who is struggling. 'Today, the court had the opportunity to reduce her cruelly long and disproportionate sentence, but they refused. That feels like two-tier justice. 'The British people know all this is not right. They have given an amazing £81,000 so far to Lucy's crowd-funder. Despite today's upsetting setback, Lucy gets courage from everyone's kind support.' Mr Connolly had been a Tory West Northamptonshire district councillor but lost his seat in May. He remains on the town council. Connolly's supporters, including the Free Speech Union, argue that – as a woman with significant mitigating factors including the lack of previous convictions, a young daughter at home and the death of her baby son – Connolly's 285 days in custody already represent punishment enough. Adelle Healy, 42, who has been friends with Connolly for nine years, previously told the Daily Mail: 'Lucy was horrified and heartbroken that three little girls had been murdered. She let her emotions take over and wrote something that she definitely shouldn't have done but she has paid a very dear price. 'She should not be behind bars for a tweet. I think it's ludicrous that it's got to this point.' In May, Connolly lost an appeal to shorten her 31-month sentence despite telling the Court of Appeal in London that she 'never' intended to incite violence and did not realise that pleading guilty would mean she accepted that she had. Meanwhile, earlier this week, a friend of Connolly shared a post to X saying that she believed Connolly would be 'with a glass of Whispering Angel in-hand' this time next month, it expected that she could be released as early as August 21. The pal, who describes herself as a '"conspiracy" blonde', said: 'Missed a call whilst working today and not spoke to her for 2 weeks now... *HOWEVER* Happy to say that this time next month Lucy will be with a glass of Whispering Angel in-hand - And more importantly her family AT HOME.' She concluded the post with, 'What a year it's been...' The Southport atrocity sparked nationwide unrest, with several people - including Connolly - jailed as a result. Connolly's case received international interest with the White House saying in May it was ' monitoring' Connolly's case. The length of her sentence, which has seen her locked up alongside career crooks, has drawn bitter criticism from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, as well as a raft of free speech advocates for being unduly harsh. Reform's Richard Tice even previously proposed a bill - named 'Lucy's Bill' - which would allow people to mount mass appeals against punishments they deem to be too severe or lenient. A spokesperson for the NEU said: 'The management of Preston College reached a decision to dismiss the teacher following disciplinary procedures. 'The NEU was not directly involved in these processes and it will be for the Employment Tribunal to consider the fairness of the dismissal if and when the claim reaches a hearing.' Preston College and the Christian Legal Centre have both been approached for comment.
