An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ begins with a filmed report on the continuing dispute between Durham County Council and members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NAS/UWT) and the effect that strike action is having on children’s education. In the second part of the programme presenter Ian Breach speaks with two political scientists about the changes of some of the candidates in the upcoming General Election who...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ begins with a filmed report on the continuing dispute between Durham County Council and members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NAS/UWT) and the effect that strike action is having on children’s education. In the second part of the programme presenter Ian Breach speaks with two political scientists about the changes of some of the candidates in the upcoming General Election who wish to represent constituencies recently created following parliamentary boundary changes. Title: Tyne Tees Briefing In the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle presenter Ian Breach introduces the programme with a filmed report by Kevin Rountree on the fifteen-month long dispute that is undermining secondary education in County Durham. Members of both the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NAS/UWT) have taken industrial action over government spending. Recent news footage of teachers protesting outside Durham County Hall in Durham over the ‘provocative’ decision by Durham County Council to dock the pay of striking teachers. One of the protestors holds a placard that reads ‘Durham Fines Teachers for Doing Their Job’. A separate protest taking place nearby organised by a Parent Action Group protesting about lost education. Returning to the studio Ian Breach explains that while the NUT was able to find a settlement and have returned to work, members of the NAS/UWT continue to protest wanting a complete refund of docked wages. In a school laboratory a group of students conduct experiments as they prepare for CSE and GCE examinations. In a playground Don Blenkinsopp from the National Association of Head Teachers is critical of the continued strike action by members of the NAS/UWT as it is setting the wrong example to the children in our schools. In the living room of Mrs Julia Bowles several boys from Sedgefield Comprehensive School take part in a home study group. Mrs Bowles comes into the room and helps a pupil with his reading. Outside she speaks with Kevin Rountree and explains that pupils have not received a full-time education since the previous November. She sees blame on all sides and wants to know why a settlement hasn’t been reached. Standing beside her two other mothers who concur with Mrs Bowle’s views and can’t see why teachers can’t return to work while the dispute goes through arbitration. The other woman sees the children as innocent bystanders who are being so badly affected. In a committee room at Durham County Hall a meeting of the Education Committee hearing an update on the dispute from Director of Education Derek Sowell. In his office Kevin Rountree asks why he thinks the NAS/UWT are being so intransient? He believes it goes back to the teacher’s contracts and provides further details. In a school dining room primary school children sitting at tables enjoying a meat. Julia Bowles talks about the development of parent-teacher associations in County Durham that is giving parents are voice. Margaret Pentland from the Durham Parent Teachers Associations talks about the important role of such groups wanting only the best for their children. At the end of the day pupil leaving school. Standing in another playground Dennis Reed from NAS/UWT Sedgefield talks about the support they have had from other unions and believes his members of pursuing a single aim which is to the benefit of the school. He explains that preparations are in place for those pupils who are about to take examinations and won’t suffer because of the dispute. At Durham Johnston Comprehensive School at Crossgate Moor pupils gather around two United school buses parked outside. In a field with Durham Cathedral in the background a group of older pupils talk about their concerns about loss of education with several preparing for exams in a few weeks. In the nearby village of Shincliffe four parents sit around a dining room table discussion the current situation. Each of them comments on the current dispute and their feelings towards both Durham County Council and the teachers from the NAS/UWT. Exterior views of Durham County Hall with Kevin Rountree explaining in voiceover that they are being watched as a test case by other county counties who haven’t taken such a firm line. Derek Sowell is asked what long turn effects this dispute will have through lost education? He provides details of which pupil groups he is seriously concerned about, especially those who will be going into examinations the following year. He believes that if no solution is reached by the end of the term the authority will seriously have to look at disciplinary actions against teachers, potentially suspending or dismissing them. A graphic featuring a series of newspaper clippings and a photograph from recent public meeting where parent demanded the sacking of striking teaches. Peter Matthews Senior Vice President of the NAS/UWT believes there has been a great deal of compromise on the part of teachers, but they aren’t prepared to compromise any further on the question of docked teachers pay. The report ends on Kevin Rountree standing outside Durham County Hall explaining that the NAS/UWT now have a clamp around the ankle of education in County Durham and only the union has the key. Returning to the Tyne Tees studio Ian Breach leads a discussion on the points raised in Kevin Rountrees report with Fred Long from the Durham County Council Education Committee, Fred Smithies General Secretary of the NAS/UWT, Derek Sowell Director of Education for Durham County Council and Jim Rochester from a Chester-le-Street parents’ group. Bringing the discussion to a close Ian Breach heads into the commercial break by looking at part two of the programme and the personality and prospects in the north for the next general election. Title: End of Part One Part Two Standing beside three regional parliamentary maps Ian Breach explains that nominations for the General Election on June 9th have now closed. He goes onto describe what affect recent boundary changes will have and the formation of six new areas bring the total number of parliamentary divisions within the region to thirty-eight. With the help of Dr Howard Elcock from Newcastle Polytechnic and Tom Taylor from Teesside Polytechnic, Ian Breach goes through the parliamentary candidates for some of the key seats in the northern region beginning with Berwick-upon-Tweed followed by Newcastle North, Newcastle Central and Newcastle East. Moving on to some of the key seats in the south of the region the panel discuss candidates for Stockton North, Stockton South, Skipton and Ripon and finally York. The programme comes to an end with Ian Breach providing details on the next edition that will be a special outside broadcast on the Northeast preparation for the election coming from the key constituency of Stockton North. Credit: Presenter Ian Breach Reporter Kevin Rountree Film Camera Fred Crone Film Sound Ed Gray Film Editor John Louvre Research Lynne Petrie, Michael Jordon Political Editor John Sleight Director Bernard Preston Producer Bob Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees Colour. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXIII