We face austerity, privatisation, and toxic influence. But we are growing, and cannot be beaten
Educators must fight for an inclusive, creative system that values all children

LAST WEEK I experienced something of a dissociative moment. As a working-class girl from Newcastle who grew up poor under the Tories, deprivation shaped my life. What right did I have to address our members as president of the NEU?
Yet, being active in my trade union has profoundly shaped my life.
We’ve all worked with children who carry a heavier burden than we’d wish, impacting on their learning and success. Many of us were those children, and those shared experiences have driven us to work in education. A long-time campaigner against child poverty, I entered teaching determined to make a difference.


We face austerity, privatisation, and toxic influence. But we are growing, and cannot be beaten
