Schools News
NJC Pay
Posted: 22nd February 2019
NJC pay for maintained schools
Schools have been made aware that changes to the Support Staff pay structure will need to take place effective from 1st April 2019, as part of the 2 year pay deal agreed between the National Employers’ Association and the Trade Unions.
In real terms, the…
Administration of medicines in schools
Posted: 24th August 2016
Administration of medicines in schools
Increasingly GMB members working in schools are being asked to administer medicines to children due to the rise in childhood asthma and allergies, reduction in school nurses and with education becoming more inclusive.
Ideally parents or guardians should be encouraged to administer medicines themselves by visiting the school or…
10 Legal Enquires most asked by school support staff
Posted: 24th August 2016
The 10 legal enquiries most asked by school support staff
1. What happens if a child or parent makes an allegation against me?
Depending on the severity of the allegation, you may immediately be suspended on full pay, pending a full investigation of the incident by the Head Teacher. The Child Protection Agency is…
Children carrying weapons in schools goes up 90% in five year
Posted: 18th July 2016
Children carrying weapons in schools goes up 90% in five year
The number of children found with knives and offensive weapons in schools has increased by almost 90 per cent over the past five years, according to figures obtained by ITV News.
Last year the youngest suspect was just nine years old…
Anna Christina Connelly is teacher and writer. She is interested in union and wellbeing issues
Posted: 18th July 2016
Anna Christina Connelly is teacher and writer. She is interested in union and wellbeing issues.
As teacher workload hits an all-time high and with pressures on schools growing, it is inevitable that this is now beginning to impact on school support staff.
I have interviewed teaching assistants (TA’s) from around the country with many describing…
Damian Hinds announced as new education secretary replacing – Justine Greening
Posted: 18th July 2016
Damian Hinds announced as new Education Secretary replacing Justine Greening
Mr Hinds is a former DWP minister attended a Catholic grammar school in Altrincham and then studied at the University of Oxford. He was previously a former chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility.
Mr Hinds wrote on Twitter that he was “looking…
‘Why do teaching assistants not get appropriate recognition?’
Posted: 18th July 2016
‘Why do teaching assistants not get appropriate recognition?’
When highly trained, teaching assistants support the progress of so many of our children, especially the most challenging. Why don’t we celebrate them more, this primary headteacher asks
How lucky I was to be able to attend the TES Schools Awards evening last Friday. It was…
‘Paltry pay’
Posted: 18th July 2016
‘Paltry pay’
This young man, it should be noted, takes home about £1,000 a month after tax. This paltry pay in no way reflects the responsibilities he is being given by the school.
This is, unfortunately, not an isolated example of exploitation. My email inbox is filling up with more horror stories as the weeks…
‘Teaching assistants are being exploited when they are asked to undertake responsibilities for which they’re not paid’
Posted: 18th July 2016
‘Teaching assistants are being exploited when they are asked to undertake responsibilities for which they’re not paid’
TAs are being used by struggling schools to fill teaching vacancies, and it benefits no one – pupils, teachers or themselves – writes a leader of a major teaching union
More than 50,000 teachers decided, last year, to…