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Update: September 2008:  Chairman announced

Update: September 2007: New body to be launched September 2008

The Professional Association of Teachers (Voice) - which represents support staff in its Professionals Allied to Teaching (Wider Workforce) section - has welcomed the latest announcement from the DCSF on the role and status of support staff.

General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "We are  delighted that the Government has made a commitment for a start date for the new body, although many support staff will be disappointed that they will have to wait nearly a year for it to  begin work. We look forward to contributing to this significant development.  

"We have been calling for a national pay and conditions structure for support staff for some time. School support staff play a vital role and deserve to be given a proper and professional career structure.

"At our 2006 Conference*, members called for ’a national pay and career structure that is commensurate with qualification, skills and ability and the huge responsibility undertaken when caring for and educating children’."  

* Motion speeches II  (pdf) 

ends

For further information, contact Press Office (pressoffice@pat.org.uk), General Secretary Philip Parkin (philipparkin@pat.org.uk), Principal Professional Officer  (Pay & Conditions) Deborah Simpson (deborahsimpson@pat.org.uk) or Senior Professional Officer Tricia Pritchard (triciapritchard@pat.org.uk) on 01332 372 337. 

Press release: 24 May 2007 

PAT WELCOMES SUPPORT STAFF PAY PLANS 

The Professional Association of Teachers (Voice) - which represents support staff in its Professionals Allied to Teaching (Wider Workforce) section - has welcomed the Education Secretary’s announcement on the Support Staff Working Group.  

General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "We welcome this news and the SSWG’s report. We look forward to the Group?s recommendations when they have taken the plans forward, and to contributing to this ongoing work.  

"We have been calling for a national pay and conditions structure for support staff for some time. 

"School support staff play a vital role and deserve to be given a proper and professional career structure. 

"At our 2006 Conference, members called for ’a national pay and career structure that is commensurate with qualification, skills and ability and the huge responsibility undertaken when caring for and educating children’."* 

Notes

* Motion speeches II  (pdf) 

ends 

DfES: 24 May 2007

Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, today announced that he has instructed the Support Staff Working Group (SSWG) to take forward plans to examine a new structure that would consider the pay and conditions of employment for support staff in schools.

It is intended that any such structure would operate outside the National Joint Council (NJC) framework which currently governs pay and conditions for local government employees.

Notes

In November 2005 the Minister of State for Schools wrote to the support staff unions and employer representatives inviting them to establish the Support Staff Working Group (SSWG) to review the main support staff employment issues.

The group has worked together to examine various models to ensure a nationally consistent approach for the setting of support staff pay and conditions. The areas discussed have included facilities time and trade union recognition, job descriptions, contracts of employment and continuous professional development.

Having received a copy of the group’s report, Ministers have now directed the group to take forward plans to examine a new structure outside of the National Joint Council (NJC) framework that would consider the pay and conditions of employment for support staff in schools.

The Support Staff Working Group (SSWG) report

Update: September 2007: New body to be launched September 2008