Children are

Reclaiming Schools has been working with the NUT, LetOurKidsBeKids and other More Than A Score partners to plan a regional conference on Saturday 11 March.

Venue: Heworth Grange Comprehensive School, Gateshead

Time: 10.30am – 4pm  (coffee from 10.00)

The conference is free of charge. Please book your place now by following this link

The main topic is primary tests, but there are also workshops on:

• the crisis in secondary schools (budgets, teacher shortages, grammar schools, the new GCSEs, Progress 8)
• child poverty
• mental health
• creative learning
• the early years
• running a campaign.

Speakers include Kevin Courtney (NUT General Secretary), Alan Gibbons (children’s author), Luke Bramhall (Children North East), Sue Palmer (author of Toxic Childhood) and others.

This Conference will provide an opportunity to explore how we can begin campaigning for a more creative and rounded education.

It will deal with major concerns of parents and teachers about tests such as:

• unrealistic expectations – in 2016 nearly half of 11-year-olds were categorised as failing!
• massive anxiety for pupils and teachers
• narrowing of the curriculum as teachers focus on teaching to the test
• experienced teachers leaving the profession.

This event will bring together parents, teachers and other education workers from across the region. Please come along and help build the campaign – book your place now.