Teachers' unions

Teachers' unions were unimpressed by last week's Government announcement that schools in England are to be allowed to go into the red and use money set aside for school repairs to pay the salaries of teachers and support staff. The Department for Education and Skills said 2003-04 was 'a unique year because of the national changes to the way funding to schools is allocated and the one-off pressures relating to teachers' pensions and national insurance'. Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said, 'This year's quick fix is next year's major problem.' David Hart, general secretary of...