The Annual Conference of NASUWT Cymru, the largest teachers’ union in Wales, today raised concerns about the lack of support for schools through consortia arrangements, with the emphasis being on monitoring and challenging schools.

Members heard how some of the Consortia Challenge Advisors have adopted an intimidatory attitude which teachers and school leaders find unacceptable and an insult to their professional and hard work.

Instead, the conference asserted, when challenge advisors visit schools they should make the experience supportive and developmental for teachers, not inspectorial.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: 

“While teachers welcome initiatives which foster genuine participation and collaboration in bringing improvements in schools, this is not the approach of some challenge advisors.

“It is saddening to hear so many members reporting that Consortia visits have felt more challenging and scrutinising than supportive. 

“Urgent and tangible action is needed now to change the culture within the Consortia towards support and development rather than constant criticism and challenge.”

Moving the motion, Jane Setchfield, NASUWT National Executive Member, said:

“As a teacher, governor and trade unionist I do not see any sign of partnership working with the Consortia.

“Consortia are not seen as supportive. Far from being the critical but supportive friend they are very much another enemy.

“The Consortia swoop in and inspect, they criticise and completely disregard our professional opinion, disregard the Welsh Government guidance and do not engage in any meaningful way with the classroom teacher other than to hover at the back of the room with a clipboard.

“They have generated another layer of bureaucracy; a whole cottage industry around school improvement which has little connection with what actually takes place in the classroom.”