If you have any concerns or require advice from the GMB, or would like to arrange a visit to your school from a GMB Officer to explain the current changes in more detail, please contact us
The school says it can longer employ me as my statemeted child has moved on. There are no other jobs at this school so they can’t offer me alternative employment. Can I just be sacked in this way?
No. Your employer has
a legal duty to seek suitable alternative employment for you that could
be in other schools within the area. Most Local Education Authorities
have detailed Redeployment Policies with provisions such as guaranteed
interviews for any vacancies etc.
I have worked in my school for
three years now, however, I have never been given a permanent contract.
What are my employment rights?
So long as you have worked for twelve months or more you have full employment rights identical to those to permanent members of staff. If you have worked for more than two years at your school you have also accrued your redundancy rights. You can refer to Issue 7 Schools Workforce News (PDF 78KB) for further details.
I’ve heard that a National
Agreement for School Support Staff has recently been signed. How will
this affect me?
This National Agreement is the Time for Standards agreement. Full details of the agreement are featured within this site. Click here for further info.
Can my Head Teacher force me to take on extra responsibilities as a result of the Time for Standards agreement?
No. Schools cannot unilaterally change your contract or job description. It is teachers' contracts which have changed as a result of the agreement, not those of School Support Staff. Any extension of working hours or revision of job descriptions MUST be agreed between the Head teacher and the member of staff concerned.
What is a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)?
This is a high level practitioner role which may encompass duties such as managing teams of Support Staff and covering for short-term teacher absence. Further details about HLTAs can be found here.
Schools within my area are claiming that funding
this year is extremely tight and that they can not afford to introduce
the Time for Standards agreement. Will the school have enough
money to introduce the new career and pay structures that we have heard
about?
Government have pledged an extra £2.8 billion for schools this year 2003/4, an extra £4.2 billion for 2004/5 and in 2005/6 the figure rises to £6 billion. Adjusted for inflation and other pressures ie. Increased National Insurance costs, Pension contributions there is still plenty of cash left over to support remodelling:
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£1.1 billion in 2003/4 |
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£2 billion in 2004/5 |
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£3 billion in 2005/06 |
Will schools be forced
to remodel the workforce or can they opt out of the agreement?
Schools cannot opt out. GMB along with all partners
within the education service including Teacher Trade Unions, Head Teachers
and the DfES are committed to ensuring that the Time for Standards
agreement is fully implemented. The changes carry the force of law and
are essential to raising the standards of education in our schools.