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'''Kevin Courtney''' (born 16 August 1959)<ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/Ib28V8zQ5d3Wvpa7KBEroSDRahk/appointments Companies House]</ref> is a Welsh former school teacher, and the General Secretary of the National Education Union, the |
'''Kevin Courtney''' (born 16 August 1959)<ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/Ib28V8zQ5d3Wvpa7KBEroSDRahk/appointments Companies House]</ref> is a Welsh former school teacher, and the General Secretary of the [[National Education Union]], the largest teachers' [[trade union]] for [[England]] and [[Wales]]. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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He was born in [[Pontypridd]], now in [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]], earlier part of [[Mid Glamorgan]], and [[Glamorgan]] before 1974. His mother was a cleaner at Glamorgan Polytechnic in Pontypridd, which became the Polytechnic of Wales in 1975, and |
He was born in [[Pontypridd]], now in [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]], earlier part of [[Mid Glamorgan]], and [[Glamorgan]] before 1974. His mother was a cleaner at Glamorgan Polytechnic in Pontypridd, which became the Polytechnic of Wales in 1975, and the [[University of Glamorgan]] in 1992. He went to Trefforest Primary School and Coedylan Comprehensive, now called [[Pontypridd High School]]. |
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From 1977-80 he studied Physics at [[Imperial College London]]. In 1982 he completed a PGCE at [[Chelsea College of Science and Technology]]. |
From 1977-80 he studied Physics at [[Imperial College London]]. In 1982 he completed a [[PGCE]] at the [[Chelsea College of Science and Technology]]. |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Courtney |
After graduating, Courtney worked as a physics teacher. |
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| ⚫ | When teaching physics at [[Camden School for Girls]], a comprehensive school, he joined Camden [[National Union of Teachers|NUT]]. In 1998 he founded the NUT's [[School Teachers Opposed to Performance Pay]] (STOPP) campaign, to argue against [[performance-related pay]]. From 1990-2010 he was the secretary of Camden NUT. He became an NUT executive in 2006. |
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===National Union of Teachers=== |
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| ⚫ | When teaching physics at [[Camden School for Girls]], a comprehensive school, he joined Camden NUT. In 1998 he founded the NUT's [[School Teachers Opposed to Performance Pay]] (STOPP) campaign, to argue against [[performance-related pay]]. From 1990-2010 he was the secretary of Camden NUT. He became an NUT executive in 2006. |
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He became deputy General Secretary of the NUT in 2010. He became acting-leader of the NUT in May 2016 when Christine Blower stepped down as general secretary. He has been on the board of the [[Teaching Awards]]. |
He became deputy General Secretary of the NUT in 2010. He became acting-leader of the NUT in May 2016 when Christine Blower stepped down as general secretary. He has been on the board of the [[Teaching Awards]]. |
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On 15 July 2016 he became the General Secretary of the NUT, in a vote where he received 70% support.<ref>[https://www.teachers.org.uk/news-events/press-releases-england/nut-elects-new-general-secretary July 2016 election]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3692989/New-militant-teaching-union-boss-wants-parents-picket-line-Threat-comes-ahead-possible-strikes-autumn.html Daily Mail July 2016]</ref> |
On 15 July 2016 he became the General Secretary of the NUT, in a vote where he received 70% support.<ref>[https://www.teachers.org.uk/news-events/press-releases-england/nut-elects-new-general-secretary July 2016 election]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3692989/New-militant-teaching-union-boss-wants-parents-picket-line-Threat-comes-ahead-possible-strikes-autumn.html Daily Mail July 2016]</ref> |
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In 2017 the NUT merged with the [[Association of Teachers and Lecturers]] (ATL) to form the [[National Education Union]] (NEU). Since then, Courtney has served as joint General Secretary of the NEU alongside [[Mary Bousted]], who was General Secretary of the ATL. |
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==Policies as a union leader== |
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Courtney has said he wants to have [[National Curriculum assessment|sat]]s abolished. |
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He has worked with the [[Anti Academies Alliance]], a pressure group opposing the transfer of the operation of schools in England from the public sector to private-sector organisations. |
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Courtney is critical of funding cuts to education which he feels lead to larger classes and less well qualified people teaching children. Courtney said, "Whoever caused this economic crisis, it wasn't our five-year-olds in schools now,"<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-43569389 Schools cutting posts amid 'funding catastrophe'] ''[[BBC]]''</ref> Courtney also fears many teachers could leave the profession. Courtney said, “If the government does not act decisively and soon, the recruitment and retention crisis will seriously damage our children and young people’s education.”<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/01/vast-majority-of-teachers-considered-quitting-in-past-year-poll Vast majority of teachers considered quitting in past year – poll] ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> Courtney also stated, “Our own research shows that 81% of teachers have considered leaving the profession in the last year because of workload, driven in a large part by time-consuming data gathering that has little or nothing to do with children’s education. Real-terms pay cuts have put teaching far behind other graduate professions and, in London and other hotspots around the country, very high rents have also contributed to the problem. It is no surprise that, faced with this, teachers leave the profession.”<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/04/teacher-crisis-hits-london-as-nearly-half-quit-within-five-years Teacher crisis hits London as nearly half quit within five years] ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> |
Courtney is critical of funding cuts to education which he feels lead to larger classes and less well qualified people teaching children. Courtney said, "Whoever caused this economic crisis, it wasn't our five-year-olds in schools now,"<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-43569389 Schools cutting posts amid 'funding catastrophe'] ''[[BBC]]''</ref> Courtney also fears many teachers could leave the profession. Courtney said, “If the government does not act decisively and soon, the recruitment and retention crisis will seriously damage our children and young people’s education.”<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/01/vast-majority-of-teachers-considered-quitting-in-past-year-poll Vast majority of teachers considered quitting in past year – poll] ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> Courtney also stated, “Our own research shows that 81% of teachers have considered leaving the profession in the last year because of workload, driven in a large part by time-consuming data gathering that has little or nothing to do with children’s education. Real-terms pay cuts have put teaching far behind other graduate professions and, in London and other hotspots around the country, very high rents have also contributed to the problem. It is no surprise that, faced with this, teachers leave the profession.”<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/04/teacher-crisis-hits-london-as-nearly-half-quit-within-five-years Teacher crisis hits London as nearly half quit within five years] ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> |
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Revision as of 12:03, 29 November 2019
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2017) |
Kevin Courtney (born 16 August 1959)[1] is a Welsh former school teacher, and the General Secretary of the National Education Union, the largest teachers' trade union for England and Wales.
Early life
He was born in Pontypridd, now in Rhondda Cynon Taf, earlier part of Mid Glamorgan, and Glamorgan before 1974. His mother was a cleaner at Glamorgan Polytechnic in Pontypridd, which became the Polytechnic of Wales in 1975, and the University of Glamorgan in 1992. He went to Trefforest Primary School and Coedylan Comprehensive, now called Pontypridd High School.
From 1977-80 he studied Physics at Imperial College London. In 1982 he completed a PGCE at the Chelsea College of Science and Technology.
Career
After graduating, Courtney worked as a physics teacher.
When teaching physics at Camden School for Girls, a comprehensive school, he joined Camden NUT. In 1998 he founded the NUT's School Teachers Opposed to Performance Pay (STOPP) campaign, to argue against performance-related pay. From 1990-2010 he was the secretary of Camden NUT. He became an NUT executive in 2006.
He became deputy General Secretary of the NUT in 2010. He became acting-leader of the NUT in May 2016 when Christine Blower stepped down as general secretary. He has been on the board of the Teaching Awards.
On 15 July 2016 he became the General Secretary of the NUT, in a vote where he received 70% support.[2][3]
In 2017 the NUT merged with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) to form the National Education Union (NEU). Since then, Courtney has served as joint General Secretary of the NEU alongside Mary Bousted, who was General Secretary of the ATL.
Policies as a union leader
Courtney has said he wants to have sats abolished.
He has worked with the Anti Academies Alliance, a pressure group opposing the transfer of the operation of schools in England from the public sector to private-sector organisations.
Courtney is critical of funding cuts to education which he feels lead to larger classes and less well qualified people teaching children. Courtney said, "Whoever caused this economic crisis, it wasn't our five-year-olds in schools now,"[4] Courtney also fears many teachers could leave the profession. Courtney said, “If the government does not act decisively and soon, the recruitment and retention crisis will seriously damage our children and young people’s education.”[5] Courtney also stated, “Our own research shows that 81% of teachers have considered leaving the profession in the last year because of workload, driven in a large part by time-consuming data gathering that has little or nothing to do with children’s education. Real-terms pay cuts have put teaching far behind other graduate professions and, in London and other hotspots around the country, very high rents have also contributed to the problem. It is no surprise that, faced with this, teachers leave the profession.”[6]
Personal life
He lives in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney. He married Polly Donnison in July 1989 in north-east London. They have a son (born December 1989) and a daughter (born November 1993).