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Despite the hectic times of late, your hosts Nik, Charlie, Lee and Tom found some spare minutes to kick off this episode with a swift round-up of everything we've been up to recently, before introducing our esteemed interview guest Vik Chechi-Ribeiro (@VikCR_) who is a Teacher of Science, union rep and organizer based in Manchester. We get into fine detail of how to organize a workplace by implementing deep organizing methods. Our discussion also covered the need for fresh, engaging methods of political education and the dangers of the government's PREVENT agenda on free speech in education. Major thanks to Vik for sharing his valuable time with us, check out the links below. Links: Bristol Transformed: https://bristoltransformed.co.uk/ Kernow Transformed: https://kernowtransformed.co.uk/ Labor Notes Article on Phone Banking: https://labornotes.org/2014/03/how-phonebank-when-members-screen-their-calls Strike! MCR https://twitter.com/strikeMCR Give us a follow/Get in touch with Requires Improvement https://twitter.com/requirespod

In this term 3 roundup your Requires Improvement hosts Nik, Anu, Lauren, Charlie and Lee offer you their thoughts on their recent experiences in state and prison education, how to take on your bullying bosses, why you should check out the Trojan Horse Affair Podcast and why "horseshoe theory" is not OK for children, or anyone else. Recorded on 18th February 2022. Link to the Trojan Horse Affair Podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/podcasts/trojan-horse-affair.html

In this seasonal episode of Requires Improvement, your hosts Lee, Nik, Lauren and Charlie reflect on how the ongoing pandemic is continuing to impact the education sector, discussing our experiences at work and the impact of illness, inadequate resourcing and mitigations on staff and students. We analyze the recent government proposals to invite ex and retired teachers back to the profession, the necessity of individual acts of defiance in order to spark collective solidarity, and we reflect on the growing crop of success stories for trade union organizing at home and abroad. Wrapping up with our predictions for 2022, we would like to thank all our listeners and guests for their contributions to this show over the last year and we look forward to better times ahead for us all. In solidarity x Requires Improvement

We are honoured to be joined by journalist and ex-soldier Joe Glenton, as we consider the role of militarism in Britain and the UK education system. We draw upon themes in Joe's new book out this month entitled "Veteranhood: Rage and Hope in British Ex-Military Life", in a wide ranging discussion around how the military is presented in schools, the curriculum and society at large. We discuss the outrageous headlines recently surrounding the allegations of abuse towards 16-18 year old children at the Army Foundation College, lesser known histories of radical struggle from within the armed forces and the pressing need for a critical approach to miltiarism, with lessons for left-wing organising more widely. Hosted by Tom and joined by co-hosts Lee and Nik, we thank Joe wholeheartedly for giving us his time and insights into these issues. Buy his book here! https://housmans.com/product/veteranhood-rage-and-hope-in-british-ex-military-life/ References: https://www.forceswatch.net/ - a watchdog and research organisation on British Armed Forces https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/18/parents-call-for-british-army-college-to-be-shut-down-after-abuse-claims Death at Deepcut Podcast https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Death-at-Deepcut-Podcast/B096W9DKLL War School: The Battle for Britain's Children - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl5Zc71KV_g a superb new documentary film from director Mic Dixon which complements our discussion in this episode - well worth a watch.

The Requires Improvement crew are BACK after a brief hiatus, and in our September-October episode we discuss the return to school, the latest shenanigans going on at Pimlico Academy, practical approaches to organising and self-care, sexism in schools and trying to fight for hope in the Prison Education system. Hosted by Anu, she is joined by co-hosts Nik, Lauren, Lee and Tom. Links: Article Mentioned from EducationUncovered.co.uk by Warwick Mansell https://twitter.com/warwickmansell https://www.educationuncovered.co.uk/diary/diary/152346/attention-switches-to-pending-ofsted-judgment-on-pimlico-academy-with-its-former-head-now-revealed-in-senior-role-at-trust-running-it.thtml Times Education Supplement Article on Education White Paper: https://www.tes.com/news/nadhim-zahawi-schools-education-school-funding-white-paper-illiteracy-new-year Further Article on Rumoured Future Direction for Government Education Policy: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/01/dfe-considering-return-of-sats-at-14-and-axing-teaching-hours-limits

In this July 2021 episode of Requires Improvement, we are joined by author and journalist Sarah Jaffe, as we discuss and explore the wider impact of work in our lives in response to Sarah's recent publication "Work Won't Love You Back", a book which comprehensively analyses and challenges the insidious ways in which workers are convinced that our jobs and working conditions are necessary or fulfilling, especially in contexts where caring professionals are routinely coerced into tolerating exploitation and suffering. Hosted by Charlie with co-hosts Lauren and Anu, in a wide-ranging discussion we consider our complex relationships with jobs and careers, union organizing and class struggle in the US and UK education contexts, the role of second wave feminism, the patriarchy and neoliberalism in changing the fundamental parameters of work and our material conditions to the present day, and how systemic forces condition people into thinking about work and careers. "Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone" by Sarah Jaffe can be bought here: https://housmans.com/product/work-wont-love-you-back-how-devotion-to-our-jobs-keeps-us-exploited-exhausted-and-alone/

If you're already wondering what this episode is about: CAGs are centre-assessed-grades and TAGs are teacher-assessed grades, both of which constitute all the free labour teachers have just had to complete in order to rescue some qualification outcomes for the student cohort class of covid-19 (2021 edition). It's not been a great time in education but it was great to get the the RI crew back in a room to discuss Israel-Palestine, Student led democracy and protest, political education strategies and a whole bunch of stuff which has been on our minds as educators and union organisers of late. Hosted by Tom, Co-hosted by Lauren, Nik, Charlie and Lee. References/Links: 1. 1199’s advice to (rookie) Organisers https://organiseforchange.nz/2019/02/14/1199s-advice-to-rookie-organisers/ 2. Capital by Karl Marx 3. David Harvey Lectures on Capital https://www.youtube.com/user/readingcapital 4. Why men hate women by Laura Bates 5. Natives by Akala 6. Akala Oxford Student Union Address and Q&A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUtAxUQjwB4&t=401s 7. Women, Race and Class by Angela Davis 8. Chapo Trap House Episode “So You Want to Start A Union” https://soundcloud.com/chapo-trap-house/288-so-you-want-to-start-a-union-feat-brace-belden-21019

We are thrilled to welcome lecturer, podcaster and thinker Jeremy Gilbert onto our show in order to talk about why exactly it is the government seems to hate educators. In a wide ranging discussion we seek to place UK education in its wider political context and history, what factors explain the atavism of the right against a truly equitable state education provision and what the possible strategies are available for challenging neoliberal hegemony in the present moment and in the future. We hope you enjoy the thought-provoking discussion and big thanks to Jeremy for offering us his insights. Hosted by Nik, and co-hosts Charlie and Lee. Links to Jeremy Gilbert's various output and projects: https://www.jeremygilbert.org/home https://twitter.com/jemgilbert/ https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/author/jeremy-gilbert/

It's been a while since we've been able to report in, and this has resulted in a bumper April episode where hosts Charlie, Nik, Anu, Lauren and Lee all take a look back over lockdown #3, going on to discuss the "big bang" re-opening of schools, behaviour hubs, student radicalisation, Kill the Bill protests, and ending with a focus on recent events at Pimlico Academy. Articles: Behaviour Hubs - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-first-22-lead-schools-for-dfes-10m-behaviour-hubs-project/ Bristol "leaders" condemn violence - https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-03-25/bristol-leaders-condemn-sundays-violence Article on Student Walkout at Pimlico Academy - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/31/pimlico-academy-pupils-stage-protest-over-discriminatory-policies The Battle for Pimlico Academy, and its Kent connections https://www.kentadvice.co.uk/peters-blog/item/1386-pimlico-academy-and-its-kent-connections.html

In this episode of Requires Improvement, Co-hosts Tom and Lauren interview Andy Byrne, one of the committee members of Hammers United, a football fan club for West Ham. Andy speaks about the similar challenges fans face to educators and trade unionists when confronted with market forces, structural change and the need for ordinary people to have control over their cultural lives as well as in the workplace. Connections are drawn between how organisers in different sectors can learn from each other about effective approaches to building inclusive supermajorities and having an impact on real life events. Check out Hammers United's website here: http://hammersunited.com/ You can also find them on twitter here: https://mobile.twitter.com/hammersunited2?lang=en

After the chaos of another week being educators and union organizers on "Rainy Plague Island" in January 2021, the Requires Improvement team come together to reflect on school closures, remote learning, the failures of certain apparent allies in various political parties and unions to stand alongside us, and finally Gavin Williamson and OFSTED's flooded inbox. Hosted by Lauren, she is joined by co-hosts Nik, Charlie, Tom and Lee. Our brains are already melted, but let's reflect together in solidarity always!

As we draw 2020 to a close, Requires Improvement co-hosts Tom and Lee interview Muhammed Tamimi from the Hebron International Resource Network, as we discuss what conditions are like in the Occupied Territory of the West Bank, in particular HIRN's activities around school building and providing material support to the Palestinian people. We discuss what people in the UK can do to practically show their solidarity, and reflect on the wider meaning of the Palestinian struggle and whether lessons can be drawn for the international left today. Please follow this link if you wish to make a donation to the Hebron International Resource Network, via the Amos Trust Charity. https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/7827#!/DonationDetails#%2FDonationDetails Hebron International Resource Network Website: https://hebronresources.wordpress.com/about/ Amos Trust: https://www.amostrust.org/ Books Referenced: Romeo and Juliet in Palestine: Teaching Under Occupation by Tom Sperlinger https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/zer0-books/our-books/romeo-juliet-palestine Potential History Unlearning Imperialism by Ariella Aïsha Azoulay https://www.versobooks.com/books/3079-potential-history

In this episode of Requires Improvement hosts Charlie and Anu are joined by Lana Crosbie, who is a National Education Union rep and branch officer, and a member of No More Exclusions who are a campaigning network of educators and activists pushing for urgent reform to the UK education system. NME work with schools, students and communities in order challenge and address issues around systemic and structural racism, with a view to abolishing practices which exclude children from education - practices which demonstrably fail to address the underlying social problems that too often have disastrous consequences for the life chances of young people. Lana discusses the ideology and role of No More Exclusions, alongside highlighting their links to other organizations such as the Coalition of Anti-Racist Educators, Black Educators Alliance and Pupil Voice. Links: No More Exclusions: https://nomoreexclusions.com/ CARE: https://nomoreexclusions.com/care/ CARE Twitter: https://twitter.com/CARE2Liberate Crowdfunding for CARE legal challenge to the government: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/liberate-our-classrooms/ Black Educators' Alliance: https://blackeducatorsalliance.org/ Pupil Power: https://thepupilpowercampa.wixsite.com/pupilpower Pupil Power Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepupilpower?lang=en

In this November episode of Requires Improvement we offer some personal insights into what conditions are like in schools right now and how this is affecting staff, students and the wider community. We discuss Lee's story about catching COVID and ending up in hospital, whether schools can continue to be fully open, the apparently still-happening exams system in England, the NEU's current response, comparisons between primary and secondary schools, in addition to some other errata of the current historical moment. This episode is hosted by Lee, who is joined by Tom, Nik, Lauren and Charlie. Prepare yourselves for a real rager folks. Articles mentioned: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/nov/10/wes-streeting-labour-from-free-school-meals-to-shadow-schools-minister

In this October edition of RI, co-hosts Charlie, Lauren and Lee take a broad situation report of the current state of the education system during the pandemic - what it's been like in the classroom, the problems that need urgently fixing. We are then joined for a guest interview with @tetrapod from twitter who joins us for a discussion about the latest DfE guidance in relation to the broader PSHE curriculum, which has a distinctly ideological flavour to it requiring considered analysis! Links: Donate to the CARE crowdfund for justice against the DfE guidance: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/liberate-our-classrooms/ Read the Black Educator's Alliance statement on this topic: https://blackeducatorsalliance.org/2020/09/28/statement-on-department-for-education-guidance-on-pshe/ Check out CARE = Coalition of Anti-Racist Educators @CARE2Liberate Check out Tetrapod's twitter here: https://twitter.com/pancake_puns Here are some additional articles mentioned by Tetrapod: "Why I'm taking legal action against the government's new school guidelines" https://www.runnymedetrust.org/blog/why-were-taking-legal-action-against-the-governments-new-school-guidelines "I didn’t become a teacher to ban independent thought. Anti-racist education should not be up for debate" https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/education-dfe-schools-victim-narratives-capitalism-blm-racism-b737415.html

On this special livestream episode which is available on Youtube for a limited time at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eVWedrC5gI&t=3256s Requires Improvement were honoured contributors to The World Transformed Online 2020 #twt20 for a classic round of consideration about what is happening and in need of reform in the current education system, with viewer contributions submitting questions and co-hosts Nik, Lauren, Anu, Charlie and Lee. In this episode we discuss school re-openings and whether schools are currently safe, the exam system during the pandemic, conditions in prison education, financial constraints of the education system exacerbating dangers of the pandemic and the current situation for supply teachers and their potential to help. We fielded some great questions from viewers, which were: 1) What would be your top tips for new teachers starting training this month? 2) Can you really reform a system that was created for the reproduction of capitalist relations though> 3) How can parents and schools work better together to tackle the special educational needs crisis? 4) What do you think we should be doing collectively to make sure there is more diversity in the curriculum? Huge thanks to The World Transformed for hosting us, please check out the prodigious output of political education content, all of which can be found at https://theworldtransformed.org/

In this simultaneously reflective and forward looking 1 year anniversary episode of Requires Improvement, we consider the current state of the education sector given the tumultuous events of the last six months both in UK politics and society at large. We start with a focus on the Labour Party and the sacking of shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, and then we consider what deep organizing and the thinking of Jane McAlevey can offer Trade Unionists in this moment. We also enter into a discussion about a surge of interest in anti-racist teaching in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests and what decolonising the curriculum means, and we conclude by discussing what we see as the dangers lurking ahead for a proposed September re-opening of schools. This episode is hosted by Anu, along with co-hosts Nik, Charlie, Tom and Lee. Links to discussed content: UTLA statement: https://www.utla.net/sites/default/files/samestormdiffboats_final.pdf McAlevey on organic leaders and deep organising : https://youtu.be/bl6P_2jt_Vs Eric Blanc article on current situation in US: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/07/coronavirus-school-reopening-teachers-strikes Christian Cooper incident: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/amy-cooper-knew-exactly-what-she-was-doing_n_5ecd1d89c5b6c1f281e0fbc5?ri18n=true https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/amy-cooper-central-park-racist-dog-walker-trump-a9533581.html?fbclid=IwAR019PYXPXgEZ0qLWTZWvgMygofGngdrbyCk_nP9OTtaLvJ9-s-gvDmUiNU David Olusogah - Black and British: A Forgotten History https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b082x0h6/black-and-british-a-forgotten-history Akala - Oxford University Address & Q&A on Black History https://youtu.be/WUtAxUQjwB4 Clips: "Only had a few ales...get in the back of the van" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ7SzAm92e4 "Meat and you: Partners in Freedom" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR_4h5A5z_A

Following on from our last episode which looked at the history of the Society of Merchant Venturers and their role in promoting the legacy of slave trader Edward Colston, we bring our focus into the present by looking at how the Society of Merchant Venturers has expanded their influence into Bristol's State Education Sector. We discuss their management and ownership of a portfolio of Bristol schools now under the banner of a multi-academy trust, and the questions that should be asked of their approach to education governance, in particular whether comprehensive access to education is safe in their hands. We conclude our discussions by considering the extent to which these issues are emblematic of the academy/faith school system in the UK. We are honoured to be joined on this episode by Christine Townsend, former teacher turned education campaigner and member of the Countering Colston group. Lee is your host for this episode, and he's joined for an initial chat by Requires Improvement co-hosts Nik and Anu. https://counteringcolston.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/countercolston

In this episode of Requires Improvement we react to the recent historic events in Bristol involving the Black Lives Matter protest which saw the removal of a statue of Edward Colston in June 2020. These events have been of international significance and should prompt a deeper discussion and investigation of the slave trade's historical roots in Bristol and the United Kingdom. We are pleased to welcome interview guest Dr. Roger Ball from the Bristol Radical History Group. We discuss the hidden history of Edward Colston and the Society of Merchant Venturers, the organisation which has sought to enshrine Colston's legacy in Bristol's public places and institutions, a group which still has an influential role in Bristol's governance today - in particular the education system. We ask questions of what should educators be doing to counter myths in History with the purpose of building an inclusive anti-racist curriculum. Hosted by Lee with co-hosts Lauren and Tom. Please visit the Bristol Radical History Group's website for more in depth articles on these topics: https://www.brh.org.uk/site/ The book Dr. Roger Ball has co-authored with Mark Steeds on the topic of Bristol's links to the slave trade is available here: https://www.brh.org.uk/site/pamphleteer/from-wulfstan-to-colston/ And an honourable mention to another book referenced in this episode "A Darker History of Bristol" by Derek Robinson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9214074-a-darker-history-of-bristol Our guest for this episode is also a member of the Countering Colston campaign, which can be followed here https://counteringcolston.wordpress.com/ and on twitter: https://twitter.com/countercolston?lang=en

In this episode of Requires Improvement we have a full slate of RI co-hosts on board, with Lee as host he is joined by Anu, Charlie, Nick, Lauren and Tom. We discuss on the government's most recent decision to attempt a re-opening of Primary Schools from 1st June, the response from the National Education Union along with the health and safety implications for education workers. We also take some time to reflect on some of the media and twitter coverage around this issue and close the episode by talking in detail about what we've been doing to help schools get union-organised during this crucial time.