The National Education Union in Croydon sent a set of questions to the leading mayoral candidates standing for election this Thursday.
Top of the class: teachers’ union had some questions for Croydon’s mayoral candidates
Disappointingly, as far as the NEU branch secretary, Joe Flynn, is concerned, there were no responses from either the Greens or Liberal Democrat candidates.
Education, now that Croydon’s public education system has been outsourced to a number of private academy chains, is not a priority policy area for the Croydon Mayor – they have little real say or influence in the running of Croydon’s schools.
But former teacher Rowenna Davis, Labour’s candidate for Croydon Mayor, and Jason Perry, the Conservative incumbent, both responded to the NEU’s questions – Davis as “befits a recent education practitioner and former NEU member”, according to Flynn, and Perry with a “somewhat technocratic response”.
Did they think that Perry had used the council’s recently installed, faulty, AIsystems?
The responses have been forwarded to all NEU members in Croydon. Here they are for all to see.
Rowenna Davis: As a secondary school teacher myself in West Croydon for some time, I know there are a lot of issues. Here are some I’ve seen colleagues experience:
“Staff burnout is huge because the workload is too high.
“A lack of resources to properly and adequately care for all of the teachers and students, and give them the education they deserve.
“The challenge of trying to properly support and look after SEND children without the proper resource.
“The exam system generates so much bureaucracy, so much paperwork, so much recording, rather than focusing on the development of the full range of students’ talents.”
Jason Perry: “Staff are dealing with sustained workload pressures, alongside increasingly complex needs in the classroom, particularly around SEND and mental health.
“Recruitment and retention remain challenging, and falling pupil numbers across London are creating financial uncertainty as funding is linked to roll numbers. In response, we established the Croydon Education Partnership in 2023, bringing together schools, colleges and the council under an independent chair. It is now an important forum for collaboration, supporting staff wellbeing, sharing best practice, and working collectively on the key issues schools face, including workload, inclusion and leadership support.”
NEU branch secretary Joe Flynn notes that “at its foundation, a decison was taken” to exclude trade unions – who represent the vast majority of teaching staff in Croydon – from Perry’s Croydon Education Partnership. Flynn fails to state who took that decision, but says it is one “which the NEU regrets”.
Rowenna Davis: “See above!
“Until we make all schools sustainable, warm and welcoming places to work and properly resourced, we’re going to lose staff. I think the pay is an issue, particularly in Croydon where we don’t have the inner London weighting.
“De-skilling, de-professionalising. Some teachers feel creativity has been crushed out of teaching by taking lesson-planning out of the hands of individual teachers.”
Jason Perry: “Recruitment challenges are driven largely by London-wide factors, particularly the high cost of living and housing, alongside strong competition for experienced teachers.
“Locally, falling pupil numbers can also affect confidence in recruitment. Through the Croydon Education Partnership, we are working with schools to strengthen recruitment and retention, share best practice and expand professional development opportunities – through the Partnership we have so far held two recruitment fairs.
“We are also supporting leadership development and wellbeing initiatives, so Croydon is seen as a place where staff are supported, valued and able to build long-term careers, with strong peer networks and shared expertise.”
Rowenna Davis: “Damp, mouldy, overcrowded housing. Family breakdown is a huge issue. Parents don’t have time to support their kids because they are juggling multiple low-paid jobs.
“SEND needs are often not recognised or met. Crime and violence out on the street tempts children into other ways of life, to get a sense of belonging, or earn some money.
“Social media and the online world leaves them not feeling safe enough to have a proper childhood, or develop confidence, instead they’re sucked into worlds online
“The exam system just making you feel like a failure unless you’re excellent just at English and maths.These issues lead to poor mental health. I particularly felt for those students during lockdown. We’re letting down our kids, and the whole system has to change.
“We need an education system that rewards and respects all talents and offers proper pastoral care and a supporting partnership with families in the communities.”
Jason Perry: “Our borough-wide student survey published in January shows a broadly positive picture, with most pupils reporting good health and feeling safe at school, but also clear challenges.
“Many young people report anxiety, mental health pressures, concerns about crime and worries about exams and their future. Around 28% report being bullied, and some say they do not always get the support they need. We are expanding wellbeing programmes, strengthening support through schools, and working in partnership to tackle bullying and improve outcomes.
“Lots done, but there is more to do, particularly on early intervention and mental health support.”
The NEU’s Joe Flynn said of Davis’s answers, “This is a positive and thoughtful set of responses, as befits a recent education practitioner and former NEU member. Members will recognise the accuracy and pertinence of these comments.
“It is however worth noting that no opportunity has been taken to suggest that part of the Mayor’s role could be advocating for greater funding from national government to butter the parsnips of these fine words.”
Of Perry’s responses, Flynn said, “This is also a positive, if somewhat technocratic response. Mayor Perry’s record in office is fairly neutral as regards working with the NEU. We must note that the Croydon Education Partnership, while a worthy undertaking, has a limited remit and funding, and members will have their own views as to how much impact it has had on education locally. At its foundation, a decision was taken not to include trade unions.”
For the full list of candidates standing for Croydon Mayor, as published on the council website, click here
For the full list of election candidates in the borough’s 28 wards, click here for the official listings on the council website
Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed Mayor, refused to give a pre-election interview to Inside Croydon, where he would have faced questions about his appalling record in office
Paid-up subscribers to this website can listen to The Andrew Fisher Interview with Labour’s Rowenna Davis by clicking here
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And to watch Inside Croydon’s own Digital Debate with leading candidates asking questions posed by our loyal readers, click here [No paywall!]
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