Head Banned & Pension Defence Vowed

Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing for Wednesday, April 16th, 2025. Today's episode provides essential analysis for UK school leaders on two significant developments: regulatory action against a school leader for standards failures and the NEU union's hardened stance on defending the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS).

Key Briefings:

1. School Leader Banned Over Standards and British Values Failures: We report on the Department for Education's decision to ban Zafar Iqbal Khan, chair of the former Rabia Boys and Girls School in Luton, from managing independent schools, academies, or free schools. Understand the reasons behind this significant action, including findings of staff segregation, limiting curriculum access for girls, "actively undermining" British values, and repeated 'inadequate' Ofsted judgements. Explore the DfE's conclusion that Mr. Khan prioritised religious belief over standards, making him "unsuitable" for leadership. Analyse the implications for all school leaders regarding the fundamental duty to uphold educational standards, equality, British values, and the consequences of failing effective leadership and governance. Keywords: Zafar Iqbal Khan ban, Rabia Boys and Girls School Luton, independent school standards, British values education, Ofsted inadequate ratings, DfE school leader disqualification, faith school standards, educational leadership accountability.

2. NEU Vows Industrial Action to Defend Teacher Pensions (TPS): Discover the outcome of a key vote at the NEU annual conference, where members committed to defending the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) in all schools and opposing alternatives. Hear General Secretary Daniel Kebede's explicit warning that the union "will not hesitate" to use industrial action if members' TPS status is threatened. Understand the specific criticism directed at United Learning's proposed alternative pension scheme, labelled "dangerous" by union members concerned it could undermine pay scales. Learn about the call for NEU action within United Learning schools. We also include United Learning CEO Sir Jon Coles' response, emphasising choice and the continued provision of TPS. Analyse the implications of pensions becoming a potential flashpoint for industrial action and the wider debate on teacher remuneration versus centralised schemes. Keywords: NEU conference, Teachers' Pension Scheme defence, TPS industrial action threat, Daniel Kebede, United Learning pension plan, alternative teacher pensions, NAHT ASCL pensions, Sir Jon Coles, teacher terms and conditions.