Category: school support staff

Stars in Our Schools celebrates 10 years at Westminster

On the evening of Wednesday 27 November, MPs and UNISON members came together at a parliamentary event to celebrate the the work of school support staff and the tenth anniversary of Stars in Our Schools (taking place on Friday 29 November).

UNISON started Stars in Our Schools ten years ago to create a culture of celebration, appreciation and empowerment for school support staff.

The event was hosted by chair of the UNISON group of MPs and member for Blaydown and Consett, Liz Twist.

Speakers included the secretary of state for education, Bridget Phillipson MP (pictured), UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards, and UNISON member Janey Blacklock, a school cook at St Mary’s Primary School.

UNISON is the largest union for school support staff and the event provided the opportunity for MPs to show their support for the campaign and hear from speakers on the importance of these key roles.

Secretary of state for education Bridget Phillipson MP said: “The work that support staff do is vital. Schools couldn’t operate without you, it really is that simple.

“This country owes our support staff an enormous debt of gratitude for all your hard work. And that hard work is crucial in ensuring that we give our children the very best start in life.

“It’s only fair that we as a government and as a society recognise the contribution of support staff, to acknowledge the professionalism of your workforce and give you the respect that you deserve. It’s why we are bringing back the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), to make sure the voices of support staff are heard.

“What you do matters. It matters for the running of our schools. It matters for the lives of our children. It matters for the future of the country.”

UNISON member, Janey Blacklock (pictured above) said: “School support staff are dedicated individuals and the unsung heroes of our education system. Long before COVID and through every challenge since, they have quietly but powerfully kept our schools running.

“Their roles are as vast and diverse as their contributions.”

Janey also described how school support staff are feeling the pressure of in-work poverty. “It’s heartbreaking to know that in 2024 many colleagues are turning to food banks to make ends meet,” she said. “This is why UNISON is working with the Labour government to improve school funding and recognise the role of schools support staff through the SSSNB.”

You can read more about Janey and her role in a recent UNISON feature.

Schools could not function without support staff to help children learn, keep them safe, and make sure schools run smoothly. They are the admin staff, finance officers, teaching assistants, caterers, cleaners, librarians, technicians and more.

Whether it’s in the classroom, office, playground or the lunchroom, support staff are key in making schools a happy and safe place to learn and work.

More about Stars in Our Schools

The article Stars in Our Schools celebrates 10 years at Westminster first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Stars in Our Schools celebrates 10 years at Westminster

On the evening of Wednesday 27 November, MPs and UNISON members came together at a parliamentary event to celebrate the the work of school support staff and the tenth anniversary of Stars in Our Schools (taking place on Friday 29 November).

UNISON started Stars in Our Schools ten years ago to create a culture of celebration, appreciation and empowerment for school support staff.

The event was hosted by chair of the UNISON group of MPs and member for Blaydown and Consett, Liz Twist.

Speakers included the secretary of state for education, Bridget Phillipson MP (pictured), UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards, and UNISON member Janey Blacklock, a school cook at St Mary’s Primary School.

UNISON is the largest union for school support staff and the event provided the opportunity for MPs to show their support for the campaign and hear from speakers on the importance of these key roles.

Secretary of state for education Bridget Phillipson MP said: “The work that support staff do is vital. Schools couldn’t operate without you, it really is that simple.

“This country owes our support staff an enormous debt of gratitude for all your hard work. And that hard work is crucial in ensuring that we give our children the very best start in life.

“It’s only fair that we as a government and as a society recognise the contribution of support staff, to acknowledge the professionalism of your workforce and give you the respect that you deserve. It’s why we are bringing back the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), to make sure the voices of support staff are heard.

“What you do matters. It matters for the running of our schools. It matters for the lives of our children. It matters for the future of the country.”

UNISON member, Janey Blacklock (pictured above) said: “School support staff are dedicated individuals and the unsung heroes of our education system. Long before COVID and through every challenge since, they have quietly but powerfully kept our schools running.

“Their roles are as vast and diverse as their contributions.”

Janey also described how school support staff are feeling the pressure of in-work poverty. “It’s heartbreaking to know that in 2024 many colleagues are turning to food banks to make ends meet,” she said. “This is why UNISON is working with the Labour government to improve school funding and recognise the role of schools support staff through the SSSNB.”

You can read more about Janey and her role in a recent UNISON feature.

Schools could not function without support staff to help children learn, keep them safe, and make sure schools run smoothly. They are the admin staff, finance officers, teaching assistants, caterers, cleaners, librarians, technicians and more.

Whether it’s in the classroom, office, playground or the lunchroom, support staff are key in making schools a happy and safe place to learn and work.

More about Stars in Our Schools

The article Stars in Our Schools celebrates 10 years at Westminster first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Local government education wins and woes

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Focus turned to education on Monday afternoon at local government conference with a series of motions on further education, the crisis in schools, and the school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB).

Mike Short national secretary for local government and education opened the session with a speech outlining the achievements over the last year and the challenges they will face in the years to come.

Moving a motion on further education (FE) pay Carl Greatbatch spoke of the “vital role” FE played in his life. crediting his ability to become a trade union officer to the vital support he was given by FE, adding that he was proud that FE had also enabled his daughter to follow in the same path.

The motion highlighted that the real value of pay in further education FE colleges has fallen dramatically by around 35% in recent years and called on the service group executive (SGE) to review UNISON’s strategy for FE pay and to develop a new one if it is no longer fit for purpose.

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Schools in crisis

A motion on the crisis in our schools noted that UNISON is the largest union for school support staff representing over 250,000 members but that real terms cuts to school funding has left the education sector in crisis.

Moving the motion, Cath Lewis (pictured above) from Leicester said: “There is a school support staff recruitment and retention crisis driven by low pay – 46% of staff are looking for better paid jobs.

“It’s time we fought back and demand more than just the crumbs off the bosses table.”

Jess Powell from Dorset branch said “When I started working in schools 32 years ago, my wages compared favourably with other jobs in the market place, saying after 14 years of Tory government, they no longer do.

“School support staff pay has been 24% cut and a recent study discovered half of school support staff are struggling with their workloads. Every day members tell me about how they are struggling to make ends meet.”

As an example of this, Tom Baker (pictured top), from Leicester branch who took part in the Ash Field strikes spoke to a rapturous reception from the conference floor.

In the Ash Field dispute members took a total of 43 days of strike action over 8 months. Their action won between 18 and 25% pay rises for classroom-based staff, a £2,000 one-off payment for all support workers and a commitment from the employer to follow the NJC pay settlements from now on.

The motion laid out a detailed action calling upon the SGE to take action on the issue.

School support staff negotiating body

Debate carried on with a motion recommitting UNISON’s support of and detailing priorities in negotiation around a school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB). It noted that the Labour party has pledged to introduce a distinct negotiating body for school support staff if elected to government.

Delegates spoke about the need for the body to truly and effectively represent everyone in the sector and spoke to the priorities set out in the motion.

Diana Leach moving the motion for the SGE said: “Around a third of our members in local government work in schools – with the general secretary recently reporting this has increased to 40% – they are covered by local government bargaining but this doesn’t work for many who work in schools.

“They are predominantly women, in low-paid, part-time jobs. Their job profiles are out of date, opportunities for professional development are poor, and the work they do goes unrecognised and unnoticed.

“The last Labour government started the process of bringing in the SSSNB but the Tories showed how little they valued support staff and got rid of it before it even started.”

The article Local government education wins and woes first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Local government education wins and woes

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Focus turned to education on Monday afternoon at local government conference with a series of motions on further education, the crisis in schools, and the school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB).

Mike Short national secretary for local government and education opened the session with a speech outlining the achievements over the last year and the challenges they will face in the years to come.

Moving a motion on further education (FE) pay Carl Greatbatch spoke of the “vital role” FE played in his life. crediting his ability to become a trade union officer to the vital support he was given by FE, adding that he was proud that FE had also enabled his daughter to follow in the same path.

The motion highlighted that the real value of pay in further education FE colleges has fallen dramatically by around 35% in recent years and called on the service group executive (SGE) to review UNISON’s strategy for FE pay and to develop a new one if it is no longer fit for purpose.

Image: Steve Forrest/Workers’ photos

Schools in crisis

A motion on the crisis in our schools noted that UNISON is the largest union for school support staff representing over 250,000 members but that real terms cuts to school funding has left the education sector in crisis.

Moving the motion, Cath Lewis (pictured above) from Leicester said: “There is a school support staff recruitment and retention crisis driven by low pay – 46% of staff are looking for better paid jobs.

“It’s time we fought back and demand more than just the crumbs off the bosses table.”

Jess Powell from Dorset branch said “When I started working in schools 32 years ago, my wages compared favourably with other jobs in the market place, saying after 14 years of Tory government, they no longer do.

“School support staff pay has been 24% cut and a recent study discovered half of school support staff are struggling with their workloads. Every day members tell me about how they are struggling to make ends meet.”

As an example of this, Tom Baker (pictured top), from Leicester branch who took part in the Ash Field strikes spoke to a rapturous reception from the conference floor.

In the Ash Field dispute members took a total of 43 days of strike action over 8 months. Their action won between 18 and 25% pay rises for classroom-based staff, a £2,000 one-off payment for all support workers and a commitment from the employer to follow the NJC pay settlements from now on.

The motion laid out a detailed action calling upon the SGE to take action on the issue.

School support staff negotiating body

Debate carried on with a motion recommitting UNISON’s support of and detailing priorities in negotiation around a school support staff negotiating body (SSSNB). It noted that the Labour party has pledged to introduce a distinct negotiating body for school support staff if elected to government.

Delegates spoke about the need for the body to truly and effectively represent everyone in the sector and spoke to the priorities set out in the motion.

Diana Leach moving the motion for the SGE said: “Around a third of our members in local government work in schools – with the general secretary recently reporting this has increased to 40% – they are covered by local government bargaining but this doesn’t work for many who work in schools.

“They are predominantly women, in low-paid, part-time jobs. Their job profiles are out of date, opportunities for professional development are poor, and the work they do goes unrecognised and unnoticed.

“The last Labour government started the process of bringing in the SSSNB but the Tories showed how little they valued support staff and got rid of it before it even started.”

The article Local government education wins and woes first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are

The annual UNISON school support staff seminar took place recently in Cardiff, providing the chance for activists in schools to develop their skills and knowledge in the sector, through a combination of speaker presentations and workshops.

General secretary Christina McAnea told those attending: “You are a really important group within our union. About one in five of our members are school support staff – that’s how big a group you are in our union.

“And that’s really important, because it means we have a real voice within the schools in this country.

“We need to build up our representation in schools, so that we have a strong voice in schools to stop the exploitation that we see of support staff, and make sure you get the recognition and the reward you deserve for the really important jobs that you do.”

Catherine McKinnell MP address the school support staff seminar in Cardiff

Catherine McKinnell MP (pictured above), the shadow minister for schools told the seminar: “School staff have been badly let down. We’ve got a staffing crisis in our schools, we’ve got turnover higher than before the pandemic. Staff feel overworked, overstretched and undervalued”.

She continued: “We need to attract the best and hold onto the best staff and part of this would involve reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which would make sure support staff have a voice and seat at the table.

“Too many support staff are leaving our schools, leaving jobs they love to find pay and conditions that are better elsewhere.

Of a future Labour government, she added: “We will listen and work with schools to deliver that change that we know our schools and our children need to see”.

The seminar also heard from Karl Hopwood, an independent e-safety expert, who sits on the advisory board for the UK Safer Internet Centre and the education advisory board for The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).

He said: “All staff, regardless of their role in their school, need to have some sort of online safety induction, which needs to be updated year-on-year.

“We have to address and talk about online safety in schools.

“Every school should have a clear policy on the use of mobile and smart technology in schools for the professionals and children.”

UNISON members attending the school support staff seminar in Cardiff marking the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools

Those attending the seminar co-ordinated group photos to celebrate 2024 being the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools (above).

Topics that were discussed in the workshops included the impact of teaching assistants covering classes, tackling racism in schools, UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ Workers, online safety and more.

The day also offered the opportunity to network with fellow reps and discuss issues that matter to school support staff across the UK.

The article Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are

The annual UNISON school support staff seminar took place recently in Cardiff, providing the chance for activists in schools to develop their skills and knowledge in the sector, through a combination of speaker presentations and workshops.

General secretary Christina McAnea told those attending: “You are a really important group within our union. About one in five of our members are school support staff – that’s how big a group you are in our union.

“And that’s really important, because it means we have a real voice within the schools in this country.

“We need to build up our representation in schools, so that we have a strong voice in schools to stop the exploitation that we see of support staff, and make sure you get the recognition and the reward you deserve for the really important jobs that you do.”

Catherine McKinnell MP address the school support staff seminar in Cardiff

Catherine McKinnell MP (pictured above), the shadow minister for schools told the seminar: “School staff have been badly let down. We’ve got a staffing crisis in our schools, we’ve got turnover higher than before the pandemic. Staff feel overworked, overstretched and undervalued”.

She continued: “We need to attract the best and hold onto the best staff and part of this would involve reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which would make sure support staff have a voice and seat at the table.

“Too many support staff are leaving our schools, leaving jobs they love to find pay and conditions that are better elsewhere.

Of a future Labour government, she added: “We will listen and work with schools to deliver that change that we know our schools and our children need to see”.

The seminar also heard from Karl Hopwood, an independent e-safety expert, who sits on the advisory board for the UK Safer Internet Centre and the education advisory board for The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP).

He said: “All staff, regardless of their role in their school, need to have some sort of online safety induction, which needs to be updated year-on-year.

“We have to address and talk about online safety in schools.

“Every school should have a clear policy on the use of mobile and smart technology in schools for the professionals and children.”

UNISON members attending the school support staff seminar in Cardiff marking the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools

Those attending the seminar co-ordinated group photos to celebrate 2024 being the tenth year of Stars in Our Schools (above).

Topics that were discussed in the workshops included the impact of teaching assistants covering classes, tackling racism in schools, UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ Workers, online safety and more.

The day also offered the opportunity to network with fellow reps and discuss issues that matter to school support staff across the UK.

The article Christina McAnea stresses how vital school support staff are first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Education workers across Northern Ireland take action for pay justice

As UNISON prepares to celebrate the incredible Stars in Our Schools this Friday, more than 6,000 UNISON schools support staff members in Northern Ireland took to picket lines for a day’s strike action for fair pay.

From Belfast to Omagh, Downpatrick to Ballycastle, members demanded long overdue reform to the education authority’s pay and grading structure.

UNISON believes this must be changed to recognise and properly value our members’ huge contribution to the education of children and young people.

The action comes as education services in Northern Ireland experience significant cuts as a result of budgets set by the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, in the ongoing absence of an executive at Stormont.

UNISON delivered a strong message against the cuts and demanding fair pay at a demonstration outside the education authority’s  headquarters in Belfast last week.

UNISON Northern Ireland members at a strike demo in Belfast

UNISON Northern Ireland regional secretary Patricia McKeown told members at the demonstration: ‘‘You’re the people that look after our future generations. And our future generations need the best. You’re the best. That needs to be recognised in your pay, in your grading, and in the money that you’re owed.’’

UNISON reps and members at picket lines across Northern Ireland shared with local media how important fair pay is for them and their colleagues.

Anne Taggart, a cook at a primary school, highlighted how the cost of living crisis was impacting her ‘‘ten-fold” and it has got to the situation of ‘‘eat or heat”. Anne added that cooks and catering assistants are leaving in their droves as they ‘‘cannot afford to exist’’.

Samantha Bronze, a special needs classroom assistant, said: ‘‘Pay is nowhere near enough. The job description is busting at the seams and our goodwill is coming to an end. We’re not being paid fairly for the hours that we do and the work that we do and it needs to be recognised.’’

UNISON Northern Ireland members with Stars in Our Schools photo cards

Classroom assistant Maura Scampton said it was ‘‘very difficult’’ to go out on strike, but that ‘‘it’s impossible to live the way things are at the minute’’. Fellow classroom assistant Sinead Thompson said she was struggling to pay bills ‘‘every single month.’’

School principals in Northern Ireland also spoke in support of the action by UNISON members. Chris Donnelly, principal of a primary school in Belfast, said: ‘‘We cannot deliver on our mission of educating all children, in developing them academically, socially, emotionally and physically without classroom assistants and without our non-teaching staff.’’

UNISON Northern Ireland head of bargaining and representation Anne Speed added that the action was a message to the secretary of state that ‘‘punitive budgets are not good enough. Education workers in Northern Ireland are not prepared to sit and wait while you sort out all the political problems. Working people need pay justice now.’’

For more coverage of the strike action, check out UNISON Northern Ireland Facebook and X sites.

The article Education workers across Northern Ireland take action for pay justice first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Education workers across Northern Ireland take action for pay justice

As UNISON prepares to celebrate the incredible Stars in Our Schools this Friday, more than 6,000 UNISON schools support staff members in Northern Ireland took to picket lines for a day’s strike action for fair pay.

From Belfast to Omagh, Downpatrick to Ballycastle, members demanded long overdue reform to the education authority’s pay and grading structure.

UNISON believes this must be changed to recognise and properly value our members’ huge contribution to the education of children and young people.

The action comes as education services in Northern Ireland experience significant cuts as a result of budgets set by the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, in the ongoing absence of an executive at Stormont.

UNISON delivered a strong message against the cuts and demanding fair pay at a demonstration outside the education authority’s  headquarters in Belfast last week.

UNISON Northern Ireland members at a strike demo in Belfast

UNISON Northern Ireland regional secretary Patricia McKeown told members at the demonstration: ‘‘You’re the people that look after our future generations. And our future generations need the best. You’re the best. That needs to be recognised in your pay, in your grading, and in the money that you’re owed.’’

UNISON reps and members at picket lines across Northern Ireland shared with local media how important fair pay is for them and their colleagues.

Anne Taggart, a cook at a primary school, highlighted how the cost of living crisis was impacting her ‘‘ten-fold” and it has got to the situation of ‘‘eat or heat”. Anne added that cooks and catering assistants are leaving in their droves as they ‘‘cannot afford to exist’’.

Samantha Bronze, a special needs classroom assistant, said: ‘‘Pay is nowhere near enough. The job description is busting at the seams and our goodwill is coming to an end. We’re not being paid fairly for the hours that we do and the work that we do and it needs to be recognised.’’

UNISON Northern Ireland members with Stars in Our Schools photo cards

Classroom assistant Maura Scampton said it was ‘‘very difficult’’ to go out on strike, but that ‘‘it’s impossible to live the way things are at the minute’’. Fellow classroom assistant Sinead Thompson said she was struggling to pay bills ‘‘every single month.’’

School principals in Northern Ireland also spoke in support of the action by UNISON members. Chris Donnelly, principal of a primary school in Belfast, said: ‘‘We cannot deliver on our mission of educating all children, in developing them academically, socially, emotionally and physically without classroom assistants and without our non-teaching staff.’’

UNISON Northern Ireland head of bargaining and representation Anne Speed added that the action was a message to the secretary of state that ‘‘punitive budgets are not good enough. Education workers in Northern Ireland are not prepared to sit and wait while you sort out all the political problems. Working people need pay justice now.’’

For more coverage of the strike action, check out UNISON Northern Ireland Facebook and X sites.

The article Education workers across Northern Ireland take action for pay justice first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Labour commit to restore School Support Staff Negotiating Body

Earlier this week, the Labour Party pledged to restore the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) if they win the next general election.

Under a Labour government, the reconstituted SSSNB would become the negotiating body covering terms and conditions for teaching assistants, caretakers, office staff, technicians, catering staff, cleaners and all other support staff working in schools.

As the three recognised support staff trade unions UNISON, GMB and Unite would be responsible for negotiating on the SSSNB.

UNISON previously worked with the last Labour government to create and introduce the SSSNB before it was scrapped shortly after the Conservatives took power in 2010 by then education secretary, Michael Gove.

The union has been campaigning for the reintroduction of the SSSNB since it was scrapped and the announcement on Tuesday, from the shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, marks a key step toward achieving that goal.

In her speech, Ms Phillipson said: “School leaders, especially in our best schools, rightly tell me about the vital role of their support staff and they will be crucial to delivering the high and rising standards Labour wants to see in all our schools.

“Teachers get their voice heard in the national conversation but too often support staff don’t. That’s why the last Labour government was right to create a negotiating body to look at their terms and conditions across our country, and that is why the next Labour government will do the same.

She announced the measure as part of Labour’s wider education policy saying they will “reset the relationship between schools, families and the government.”

UNISON believes the SSSNB is key to providing professional recognition for a group of staff which has been overlooked by the government for too long.

The body would work toward a number of goals for support staff including: giving them a proper voice in the national education conversation; achieving fair pay and helping move towards a synchronised package of terms and conditions across the country; and ensuring that they are properly rewarded for their work and granted opportunities for professional development.

Commenting on the announcement Mike Short, UNISON’s national secretary for education and local government, said: “School support staff play essential roles in supporting pupils in a wide variety of ways.

“However, too often, they are taken for granted and lack clear career progression. A dedicated pay and reward system would ensure they are fairly paid for what they do, as well as provide a career structure and opportunities for professional development.”

The article Labour commit to restore School Support Staff Negotiating Body first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Labour commit to restore School Support Staff Negotiating Body

Earlier this week, the Labour Party pledged to restore the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) if they win the next general election.

Under a Labour government, the reconstituted SSSNB would become the negotiating body covering terms and conditions for teaching assistants, caretakers, office staff, technicians, catering staff, cleaners and all other support staff working in schools.

As the three recognised support staff trade unions UNISON, GMB and Unite would be responsible for negotiating on the SSSNB.

UNISON previously worked with the last Labour government to create and introduce the SSSNB before it was scrapped shortly after the Conservatives took power in 2010 by then education secretary, Michael Gove.

The union has been campaigning for the reintroduction of the SSSNB since it was scrapped and the announcement on Tuesday, from the shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, marks a key step toward achieving that goal.

In her speech, Ms Phillipson said: “School leaders, especially in our best schools, rightly tell me about the vital role of their support staff and they will be crucial to delivering the high and rising standards Labour wants to see in all our schools.

“Teachers get their voice heard in the national conversation but too often support staff don’t. That’s why the last Labour government was right to create a negotiating body to look at their terms and conditions across our country, and that is why the next Labour government will do the same.

She announced the measure as part of Labour’s wider education policy saying they will “reset the relationship between schools, families and the government.”

UNISON believes the SSSNB is key to providing professional recognition for a group of staff which has been overlooked by the government for too long.

The body would work toward a number of goals for support staff including: giving them a proper voice in the national education conversation; achieving fair pay and helping move towards a synchronised package of terms and conditions across the country; and ensuring that they are properly rewarded for their work and granted opportunities for professional development.

Commenting on the announcement Mike Short, UNISON’s national secretary for education and local government, said: “School support staff play essential roles in supporting pupils in a wide variety of ways.

“However, too often, they are taken for granted and lack clear career progression. A dedicated pay and reward system would ensure they are fairly paid for what they do, as well as provide a career structure and opportunities for professional development.”

The article Labour commit to restore School Support Staff Negotiating Body first appeared on the UNISON National site.