GMB warn children’s education held back in some schools due to funding cuts
GMB London warn that Children's education is being held back in some schools due to staff problems arising from funding cuts.
Budget cuts and redundancies mean that more of our members are spending more time in the classroom alone carrying out the role of a teacher says GMB London.
GMB, the union for school support staff, warn that many more Teaching Assistants (TA) and Learning Support Assistants (LSA) are taking classes, without the support of a teacher, due to education spending cuts.
Job descriptions for GMB members working as TA’s and LSA’s clearly state that they can teach but only under the supervision of a qualified teacher.
Daren Parmenter, GMB Regional Organiser said:
“Budget cuts and redundancies mean that more of our members are spending more time in the classroom alone, sometimes full days, carrying out the role of a teacher when the teacher is either absent or carrying out other duties.
“GMB members are being asked to cover for teachers more than ever as schools look to change the way our children are taught due to funding restraints. This is holding back children’s education.
“When a teacher is in the classroom they would have a member of support staff ie, a Learning Support Assistant (LSA), with them but if the LSA is carrying out the duties of a teacher in their absence the LSA would be in class alone.
“Also, as recent results of a GMB snapshot survey reveal 70% are not even paid for the role. Schools are now looking at ways money can be saved through restructuring and redundancies which are now putting many support staff at risk.
“Expecting our members to do the job of a teacher and only be paid for some of it is unethical and archaic and then to leave them on their own with a full class leaves our members vulnerable and at risk.”
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Contact: Daren Parmenter on 07725 791833
Notes to editors
1) GMB press release from 20 February 2017
GMB LONDON SNAPSHOT REVEAL SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF ARE REGULARLY BEING ASKED TO WORK UNPAID HOURS
It is clear that our schools struggle to manage tight budgets and it is only the goodwill of our members who are the backbone of our schools who keep them functioning says GMB London.
GMB, the union for schools support staff, recently carried out a snapshot survey of school staff in the London and Eastern region that shows nearly three quarters (73%) of school support staff are regularly being asked to work unpaid hours.
The results of the snapshot sent to GMB London school support staff are:
1) 73% of support staff regularly attend work earlier and finish work later than their contracted hours without pay
2) 78% of support staff regularly work through their breaks
3) 40% of support staff who attend school trips do not receive additional pay
4) 87% of support staff carry out duties which are not part of their job description
5) 31% of support staff regularly teach in the absence of the qualified teacher, of which 70% receive no additional pay
Daren Parmenter, GMB Regional Organiser said:
"These results show that our members who work in schools work above and beyond their contracted duties at a time when the Government are proposing to make the largest educational budget cuts of £3 billion by 2020.
It is clear that our schools struggle to manage tight budgets and it is only the goodwill of our members who are the backbone of our schools who keep them functioning.
GMB will be campaigning vigorously to highlight the importance of the roles carried out by our members as we have seen austerity measures in other sectors of our public services which now threaten the future education of our children.
How can our schools, many of which are facing re-structures, sustain the severe future cuts of between 5% and 30% in their budgets when clearly, as our survey results show, they are unable to pay their support staff accordingly for the substantial extra duties they carry out?"
2) The on-line survey was carried out by GMB and took place from 20 January 2017. Over 850 people completed the survey.
