Back from holiday, so apologies for the intermittent posts and lack of response to comments. Pleased to see in recent Times Educational Supplement (TES) that the Government is finally telling schools to pay support staff “fair” wages and stop them being used to teach lessons they are not qualified to take.The abuse and latent discrimination of overwhelmingly female classroom assistants by many schools and local education authorities is a national disgrace.
Unlike this report from The Times – fully qualified teacher assistants (with a two year diploma) can start on as little as £9,500 per year (not £15,000). Surprise, surprise very few men can afford to become assistants and schools rely on women who are desperate for jobs that fit in with their care commitments.
Check out the UNISON argument on BBC news
This is of course “guidance” so when schools inevitably ignore this (as they have to date all previous guidance), the Government will "of course" move in and legislate (please do so Gordon).
8 comments:
I think Lady Di is hardly your average classroom assistant?
Oh! That's who it is? I thought she looked familar!
No pay for Holidays, no overtime, having to do breakfast clubs and then after school clubs, yes I know all about it.
But I'm not a school assistant i just do the voluntary stuff because they told me I was to old. 49, and disabled of course.
If you don't like the pay...do something else...its simple!
Hi Robert
Age and disablity should not come into it. I've advised you a few times now to seek proper legal advice.
Hi Anon
I am sure that not even you really beleive such nonsense!
It's a free society - you apply for a job knowing the terms and conditions of employment in advance - once you start work you then say you want more money? If you don't like it..do something else..then when they can't get enough teaching assistants they are forced to put the pay up. Ten years of Labour educashun policy should have dealt with this don't you think? Or maybe they were just too busy putting their own kids in Private schools to be bothered. I'm alright Jack.
Hi Anon
And what if you think your vocation in life is working with Children or if due to child care commitments working in a school is the only job possible?
Yes, labour needs to do more on this issue, but 10 years ago there were very, very few paid teacher assistants at all.
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