GMB call for fairness for Bedford Schools Support Staff
GMB call on Bedford Council and Academy Schools Governing Bodies to reject teachers’ unions proposal to exclude GMB schools support staff representatives from a fair share of academies facilities time arrangements to represent their members
What is being advocated is that these representatives be excluded from a fair share of the facilities time required by law to enable them to undertake these functions says GMB London
GMB, the union for schools support staff in Bedford, is calling on Bedford Council and Academy Schools Governing Bodies to reject the teachers’ unions proposal to exclude representatives of schools support staff in Bedford from a fair share of academies facilities time arrangements to represent their members.
This call arises in response to a series of letters from school’s managers and requests from teachers’ unions across the area to exclude representatives of schools support staff in Bedford from a fair share of the facilities time available. [See notes to editors for copies of letters from school’s managers]
There is a formula being proposed by the council, which shows all facilities being divided fairly to all unions. However, the Teaching Unions have asked the council to remove the contribution coming from Academies and divide that up between the Teaching Unions only.
Alan Costello, Regional Organiser said,
"GMB is calling on Bedford Council and Academy Schools Governing bodies to resist the push from schools managers and teachers unions across the area to exclude representatives of schools support staff in Bedford from consultation, negotiation and representation functions in schools.
“What is being advocated is that these representatives be excluded from a fair share of the facilities time required by law to enable them to undertake these functions.
“Bedford Council and Academy Schools Governing bodies should reject the proposals out of hand. It is in the interests of everyone to fully accept the legal requirements to provide time for proper industrial relations systems to operate in the schools for the benefit of staff, parents, pupils and management."
Martin Foster GMB Beds County Branch Secretary said,
“Apart from the overall unfairness of this proposal it is really alarming to hear the appalling comments below from Anna Thwaites the head teacher at Queens Park Academy.
"As much as I applaud the work the non-teaching unions do, in my experience they have not had the impact on learning that the teaching unions do. Like other schools, we cannot justify spending shrinking budgets on something that does not have that impact.
“Although in her letter she said ‘many support staff in schools have an incredibly positive impact on children’s experiences there is not yet a shortage of colleagues able to do those roles’ by this is she saying school support staff only have an impact on a child's experience and not learning or is she really saying there is not yet a shortage of them so they are a expendable commodity.
“By denying school support staff access to their local union representatives are these head teachers and academy bosses really placing such little value on them by denying them the same level of support given to teachers. One also has to ask if the governing bodies are aware of this situation and are in agreement with it.”
ENDS
Contact: Alan Costello 07974 250 946 or Martin Foster 0123 427 6311 or GMB London Press Office 0758 303 9451
Notes to Editors
1] Letter from school manager of Queens Park Academy
Dear Councillor Valentine
I am writing to express concern about the plans to share the de-delegated budget between the teaching and the support unions.
The support the teaching unions have given in helping to improve the quality of teaching and learning for the children at Queens Park Academy has been invaluable over the last few years. The number of teachers leaving the profession is very well publicised, so moving developing teachers into more suitable roles and ensuring good teachers stay in schools is imperative if the children of Bedford are going to receive the education they deserve. The teaching unions facilitate this.
While many support staff in schools have an incredibly positive impact on children’s experiences there is not yet a shortage of colleagues able to do those roles. Legally children need teachers in schools, not support staff.
As a school we have not paid the facilitation fees to the Borough historically but I was about to recommend it to our governors at our Finance meeting next week. As much as I applaud the work the non-teaching unions do, in my experience they have not had the impact on learning that the teaching unions do. Like other schools, we cannot justify spending shrinking budgets on something that does not have that impact.
Thank you for your attention to this email.
Kind regards
Anna Thwaites
1] Stephen Chamberlain letter
Dear Mr Hodgson,
I write in support of the letter sent to you by my MAT colleague Michael Gleeson on 3rd June 2019 with regard to the facilities time proposals. CMAT are in full agreement with the contents and requests that the time allocated to Facilities Time in educational settings is not reduced and also that the time allocated to the NEU, NASUWT, ACSL, and NAHT is returned to what it was when we agreed to buy-into the scheme.
Kind regards
Stephen Chamberlain, MA, BA(Hons), NPQH, PGCE(Mus), MIoD, FCCT, FCMI, FRSA.
Chief Executive Officer
Challenger Multi-Academy Trust
National Leader of Governance
Senior Partner: Challenge Partners
