Parents and the NUT Strike

NCPTA members recently took part in a survey, to garner views on the recently held National Union of Teachers, one-day strike.

The NCPTA would like to thank all of its members that took part in the survey.  The tremendous response to the survey means the NCPTA was the only organisation able to comment on the strike on behalf of parents from a point of real knowledge.

 

Working in partnership with The Times Education Supplement (The TES), the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA) surveyed  its parent members to gain their views on the NUT  one-day strike and generally on the quality of education today. 

David Butler, Chief Executive, NCPTA said,

“We know from the work we do with PTAs up and down the country that parents value the professionalism of teachers and the commitment they give. The survey is very explicit about parents’ perception of the quality of teaching today and how much better this is than when they themselves were at school. Equally important is the evidence that the strike action has not damaged the view the majority of parents have of teachers.  This is particularly significant given what we know about the positive value that strong parent teacher partnerships bring to our children’s experience of school. However, it is also clear that many parents have had to make complex plans to overcome difficulties caused by the strike including alternative childcare arrangements.”

The key findings of the survey were:

  1. The majority (61%) of parents reported the one-day strike hadn’t changed their view of teachers.
  2. A majority (60%) of parents feel teachers should receive a pay increase either in line with the original limit on public sector pay or as being offered by the Government.  A third of parents support teachers in seeking a 4.1% pay rise.
  3. Most parents (37%) will have to take time off work to look after children unable to attend school on the day of the strike.
  4. The vast majority of parents (86%) regard the quality of teaching at their children’s school as either excellent or good.  A further 49% feel that the quality of teaching their children receive is better than when they themselves were at school.

The survey results formed the basis of the lead story in TES Online on Friday April 25 2008.

This is the full story which appeared in print.

It has also been featured in a range of other media:

Please click here to review the full results of the survey.   

The online survey was conducted between 16 - 22 April (2008); 7,000 individual parents were invited to participate.  Responses were received from 750 parents.