Hi Michael , As we reach the end of this calendar year, I want to thank you all for your continued dedication and resilience in what is usually a challenging and tiring start to the academic year. Next year is not going to be any quieter! 🎄 Season’s Greetings from Wirral NEU As we wrap up an incredible year of solidarity and success, we want to thank every member for your commitment and support.

Members’ Defence Committee As you may know by now, part of the remit of this committee is to look at what happens if an NEU member has asked for legal assistance and has been refused and has appealed. So we listen to members’ representations. We can ask for second opinions where a member is dissatisfied. For reasons of confidentiality I can’t go into individual details but as I say in every newsletter, this committee is issue-focused and not “political”.

A government review of the 1,265-hour limit on directed time is more than just policy talk—it could fundamentally change your working life. Here's why this matters and why concern is justified: 🕒 What the 1,265-Hour Limit Actually Protects Under the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document, full-time teachers are legally capped at 1,265 directed hours per academic year, spread across 195 days—190 teaching days plus 5 inset days.

On 28 February, the NEU will hold a Special Conference on Support Staff—and it’s a big deal. This isn’t just about one group of members; it’s about the future of our union and how we stand together for everyone working in education. What’s the issue? Back in 2017, the NEU signed an agreement saying we wouldn’t actively recruit support staff, leaving that to other unions.

Enjoy 24 things you shouldn't do this Christmas, and begin organising your workload!

Wirral NEU Welcomes Historic Recognition for Leadership in Combating Hatred and Honouring Srebrenica Wirral NEU is proud to recognise the announcement made on 6 December 2025 at Bosnia House in Birmingham, where President Željko Komšić presented the Presidential Award to Dr Waqar Azmi OBE in honour of his exceptional service to Srebrenica genocide remembrance, peacebuilding and the fight against hatred.

Managing data and transferring data about pupils into school management systems (e.g. Question Level Analysis) or printing electronic records for paper filing. Production of photographic evidence of practical lessons e.g. for assessment purposes or to ‘evidence’ learning.

We our now seeking declarations of interest for Annual Conference 2026. Note this is different to the last request for delegates for special conference.  Annual Conference📅 Dates: Monday, 30 March – Thursday, 2 April 2026 📍 Venue: Brighton Centre  If you’d like to attend the Annual Conference as a district delegate, please complete this from. Deadline is  Midday 19/12/2025…

Debs Gwynn District 4 Merseyside and Lancashire Date: Nov 2025 Strategic Committees met in the morning prior to the full NEC in the afternoon. I sit on the Policy, Research and Campaigns Committee Committee – Policy, Research and Campaigns Update on our anti-privatisation work Discussion on a curriculum and assessment motion for Annual Conference Discussion on the Curriculum and Assessment Review – some wins but a lot that is concerning and contrary to NEU aims and policy…

Is Wirral facing a growing problem with teachers being asked to do tasks outside their role? We’ve been hearing concerns that some schools may be expecting teachers to take on duties that go beyond what’s set out in their contractual obligations. This not only adds unnecessary workload but also undermines the protections in place for teachers. Annex 5 of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD)

As you may be aware, the National Education Union (NEU) will be holding a Special Conference on Saturday, 28 February 2026 in London, to discuss a crucial motion concerning the union’s approach to the representation and recruitment of support staff. This is a pivotal moment for our union. The decisions made at this conference will shape our future strategy and could have lasting implications for support staff across the education sector.

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the sudden passing of Paul Ronayne, our District Treasurer and a passionate advocate for trade unionism. Paul was a dedicated and principled figure in our movement, whose years of service to the National Education Union and its members on the Wirral, left an indelible mark. Paul was more than a Treasurer—he was a trusted colleague, a tireless campaigner, and a true friend to many.

I hope you are settling in well and that the start of term has been as smooth as possible for you and your students.   Over the summer and into this term, the NEU has continued to speak out on the issues that matter most to our members.     Most recently, we have been vocal in the press about Ofsted’s new inspection framework, which we believe is a “superficial rebrand” that fails to address the real pressures facing educators.

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Wirral NEU is proud to be joining the vibrant and inclusive celebration of Wirral Pride 2025, taking place on Saturday, 9th August in the heart of New Brighton’s Victoria Quarter. This year’s Pride promises to be bigger and brighter than ever, with festivities kicking off at 10:30am. Expect a full day of music, community stalls, performances, and celebration of diversity and unity.

The National Education Union (NEU) has condemned the Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust (HFCMAT) for pushing ahead with plans to make teaching staff redundant at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Birkenhead, despite already unacceptable working and learning conditions. NEU members at the school have now voted to begin the process for an indicative ballot in September 2025, in preparation for formal consultation on the proposed redundancies.

Summer Holidays!   As the school year draws to a close, the NEU Wirral District extends a massive congratulations to all our members! We recognize the incredible dedication and hard work you've poured into nurturing and educating our young people, especially during what has undoubtedly been another challenging yet rewarding year. You've earned this well-deserved break, and we hope you take this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the summer.  

National Executive Meeting Report Strategic Committees met in the morning prior to the full NEC in the afternoon. I sit on the Policy, Research and Campaigns Committee Committee – Policy, Research and Campaigns Agreed to share refugee resource and celebrate/publicise events and good practice Discussion about the staffing review.  There has been a period of informal consultation, 12 weeks forma consultation and every individual has had a one to one consultation. 

The National Education Union (NEU) Wirral District is celebrating a highly successful year, marked by significant growth in member engagement, robust support services, and powerful advocacy for education professionals. Our new team has been pivotal in providing crucial support, particularly with complex TUPE and academisation processes, as well as assisting members in the independent sector. The Wirral State Branch…

We’re thrilled to launch the new Wirral NEU Reps page! 🎉 This is your go-to hub for all things reps-related, and we’ve made it super easy to access—right from your phone’s home screen. Just follow the steps below based on your device: 📱 For Android (using Chrome): Open Chrome and go to wirralneu.co.uk/reps-page. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser.

The energy was electric, the room was packed, and the momentum was undeniable — our latest Wirral NEU Reps Training was the most successful to date, with three times the usual number of attendees. This surge in participation reflects the growing strength and solidarity of our union, as more members step up to become active workplace reps and defenders of education.

What a night! Our Summer Soirée at The Red Cat was nothing short of fantastic — a perfect blend of laughter, great company, and well-deserved celebration. The event was very well attended, with colleagues from across the area coming together to mark the near-end of another successful academic year. The atmosphere was warm and lively, filled with the buzz of conversation, clinking glasses, and the shared joy of a job (very nearly) well done.

Join us as we recap our uplifting AGM, highlighting key motions, inspiring speeches, and global solidarity for workers' rights.