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MartinSEA is the only educational organisation affiliated to the Labour Party. Anyone who does not belong to another political party may join as an individual member. Affiliation to the SEA is open to national organisations, Labour Party CLPs and trade unions. SEA members include MPs, school governors, local Councillors, teachers, students, parents - in fact anyone with an interest in education. Our President is the eminent educationalist Professor Richard Pring.

Aims of the S.E.A.

  • To promote the learning society, and to develop the full potential of each individual by aiming for a non-selective education service , which has equality of opportunity and lifelong availability of adequate provision throughout the UK within which compulsory education is free and suitably resourced
  • To promote an international and multi-cultural perspective to education through a curriculum with a global dimension and liaison with relevant organisations, particularly those in Europe
  • To assist in the development and monitoring of the educational policies of the Labour Party in accordance with these objectives and to enlist the support of the Trade Union and Co-operative movements accordingly
  • To enable all socialists interested in education to assist in formulating a socialist educational programme for the Labour Party
  • To encourage support for a socialist vision of education among teachers and their educational and professional associations
  • To make available to the education service and the general public comment and information on educational issues

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE S.E.A. IS HERE

THE SEA STANDING ORDERS ARE HERE

Meetings 2011/12

3rd September 2011 – (Birmingham): F&GP* at 11.00 and NEC* at 1.00

5th November 2011 – (London): NEC at 11.00, (followed by Caroline Benn Memorial lecture at 2.00)

14th January 2012– (Stafford): F&GP at 11.00 and NEC at 1.00

10th March 2012– (London): NEC at 11.00 and all member Policy Forum at 1.00

12th May 2012– (Manchester): F&GP at 11.00 and NEC at 1.00

23rd June 2012 - (Birmingham): AGM at 10.00 and Annual Conference from 11.00 to 5.00 pm.

24th June 2012 - (Birmingham): NEC at 10.00

* Finance and General Purposes Committee/ National Executive Committee

History

The Association has a proud history. Since its inception as the National Association of Labour Teachers in the 1920s, it has grown into a broader church and been re-named the “Socialist Educational Association”. Over the years the SEA has fought and won many battles for a socialist perspective on education within the Labour Party.

Structure

The Association is organised on a structure of Branches, each Branch being loosely based on an LEA area. The Association has a National Executive Committee which meets 8 times a year at different venues throughout the country - any member of SEA is eligible and welcome to attend NEC meetings. The NEC is comprised of nationally elected members: Officers, plus 8 women and 8 men; together with delegates from the branches.

Annual Conference

The Association has its own Annual conference usually held in June each year. All SEA members are encouraged to attend, either as part of their branch delegation or as individual members. Conference is held at a different venue each year. The S.E.A. Constitution prescribes that "Resolutions passed at Annual or Special Conferences shall be implemented by the National Executive Committee (NEC). Matters requiring decisions between conferences shall be determined by the NEC, wherever possible following consultation with members."

The Caroline Benn Memorial Lectures

Are given annually in honour of the SEA president from 1973 to 2000 and its inspiration for many years. Caroline died on 17th November 2000.

CB memlect 2010

Barry Sherman MP, delivering the 2010 Caroline Benn Memorial lecture with former MP for Wolverhampton, Ken Purchase on his left and Richard Pring, SEA President on his right.

The lectures are accessible in the archive below:

S.E.A. Officers 2011 - 2012

PRESIDENT Professor Richard Pring

VICE PRESIDENTS Melissa Benn, Michaela Oddy, Joanna Tait, Kelvin Hopkins MP, Margaret Morris, Julie Hilling MP.

GENERAL SECRETARY Martin Doré, 6 Preston Avenue, Highams Park, London E4 9NL tel: 0208 5319836, email: socialisteducation@virginmedia.com

ORGANISING SECRETARY Richard Sidley, Splashy Mill, Mill Lane, Lower Moddershall, Staffs ST15 8TF. tel 07921 857436 email: richardksidley@nasuwt.net

CHAIR Sheila Doré, 6 Preston Avenue, Highams Park, London E4 9NL tel: 0208 531 9836, email: sheila.dore@ntlworld.com

VICE-CHAIR Eddie Playfair, 1 Chadwick Road, London E11 1NE. email: eplayfair@newvic.ac.uk tel: 0208 536 4108

TREASURER Mike Newman, 17 Gileston Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9JS. email: newmanmike2@aol.com tel: 02920 382369

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Nasrullah Khan Moghal, 20 Corringham Road, Manchester M19 2RG. email: nkmoghal@mccr.org.uk tel: 07818 453546

PUBLICATIONS EDITOR and RECRUITMENT SECRETARY Trevor Fisher, 49 Lovatt Street, Stafford ST16 3DB. tel: 01785 606931