Dereham & Fakenham AGM

NQT Social Event in Dereham

On Tuesday 8 November, at the Romany Rye Wetherspoons in Dereham, NQTs joined us for informal chat and meal. The atmosphere was fantastic as newly qulaified teachers shared their experiences of joing teaching today. The main concerns centred around workload and the shortage of jobs in the local market. Norfolk NUT will be looking to support NQTs during this tough first year in the classroom, whilst encouraging schools to fill vacancies with full time contracts.

Successful school reps. meeting attracts a big turnout in Dereham.

On 13 July, Dereham and Fakenham Association held its annual summer social for school reps. After welcoming drinks, we enjoyed a very pleasant meal in a local Indian restaurant. We had 18 people attending, which is excellent, as we are only a small Association. Several members attended who we do not usually see, and some NQTs from last year also came. A number of school reps. attended, and they did a marvellous job to bring so many members with them.

We discussed several issues, including how we can support reps. and members in schools and where we go next in the pensions campaign in the Autumn. We have some very dedicated school reps. and they have done a marvellous job recently for members during the recent pension campaign and for the successful strike against pension cuts on 30 June. It was really good to talk to other members about a whole range of issues and concerns, and it was very useful in that members could meet their Local Secretary, and one of the County Secretaries, Mike Smith, to be able to put a name to a face! Everybody felt that it was both an enjoyable and beneficial evening.

I would just like to say, please do attend meetings and functions organised by the union in your Local Association, as they are very enjoyable and you can meet very pleasant people who can offer you advice and assistance. They are social and quite informal occasions, and we don’t bite! If you fancy becoming more active in the union, for example, becoming a school rep., then please do pop along to your next Association event.

A big thank-you to all those who attended such a memorable evening.

Steve Smith