Redbridge Schools
Thursday 29th July 2010
GMB ACT TO PROTECT EDUCATED SCHOOL USERS ON THE IMPACT
OF MOVING TO ACADEMY STATUS IN REDBRIDGE SCHOOLS
GMB public meeting: Tuesday 17th
august, 2pm - 4.00pm, Ilford library to discuss academies lack of
accountability, democratic transparency, staff pay, conditions of
service and pensions
GMB has written to the two head
teachers of the Redbridge schools that have been identified as
having registered interest in making their school into an academy,
under the government's new school scheme as early as September this
year. The Redbridge schools are
The
ChadwellHeathFoundationSchool,
Chadwell Heath and ValentinesHigh
School, Ilford.
In the letters GMB is also seeking
assurances from all these head teachers that the existing pay
conditions and pensions of GMB members who work as teaching
assistants, caretakers, cleaners, lunchtime supervisors, school
secretaries, laboratory assistants and in many other support roles,
will be remain unchanged. It has sent copies of this letter to all
our members who would be affected by any such change in school
status.
But there are other concerns linked to
academy status as recent revelations about the lack of
accountability and transparence with existing academies have come
to light regarding the school governors and head teachers
unaccountable control of finances and pay. The exclusion of
academies from the 'Freedom of Information' laws has been shown to
led to unacceptable decisions by academy governing bodies under the
cloak of secretary the exclusion bestows.
GMB is holding a series of public
meetings through out London boroughs so that people who use the
education system can fully discuss their hopes and fears for the
future of their children education and the full impact of a move to
academies. The Redbridge public meeting is at:
2PM - 4.00PM
TUESDAY 17TH
AUGUST
ILFORD LIBRARY
CLEMENTS
ROAD
ILFORD
IG11 1EA
Sandra Vincent, GMB Organiser in
Redbridge said, "Initially the government had
withheld the names of the schools which had expressed an interest
in academy status but following GMB pressure we now know which
these are. In all the schools which may be made academies GMB has
taken immediate action to ensure that GMB members who work as
school support staff will not suffer jobs, pay, hours, conditions
or pension cuts as a result of their head teacher moving the school
to be an academy.
It is absolutely clear that
support staff, parents and governors seem to have been left out of
the discussions when considering the future of their schools. We
have personally requested full consultation takes place so that
everyone involved can make an informed decision about what this
could mean for them in the long term. Equally as important is the
potential damage this could do to the educational standards in
schools as any new academy will be given the option to withdraw
from adhering to the national curriculum.
GMB has sent TUPE (see notes)
transfer letters to all head teachers in the 4 outstanding schools
targeted for fast tracking by the government with another letter to
all our school based members providing them with a copy of the
letter we've sent their head teacher. This should provide support
staff with the opportunity to express their opinions too and not
sidelined as initially intended.
School support staff will do
the same excellent job that they have always done regardless of
whether or not their school is called an academy however, setting
up a competitive culture within our educational system is divisive
and will inevitably create a two tier educational system. The
biggest losers will be our hard working school support staff,
teachers and the educational needs of our children which must
always be our priority."
Ends
Contact: Sandra
Vincent, GMB Organiser on 07961 96567 or GMB Press Office: Rose
Conroy on 07974 258123 or 020 8947 3131.
Notes to
Editors:
TUPE - The Transfer of Undertakings
(Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) protects employees'
terms and conditions of employment when a business is transferred
from one owner to another. Employees of the previous owner when the
business changes hands automatically become employees of the new
employer on the same terms and conditions. It's as if their
employment contracts had originally been made with the new
employer. Their continuity of service and any other rights are all
preserved. Both old and new employers are required to inform and
consult employees affected directly or indirectly by the
transfer.