Commenting on the Conservative Party's criticism of the
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Daniel Kebede,
general secretary of the National Education Union,
said:
"We fully support having all teachers covered by the same pay and
conditions framework. Such a move away from the fragmented
arrangements created by the Conservatives' disastrous and costly
academies policy is essential to improve fairness in pay and
enable teacher mobility across the school system. We want
the Government to also implement mandatory national pay scales
for all teachers. Those pay levels need to reflect the
significant pay correction and urgent pay increases for all
teachers that are needed and for which the NEU campaigns.
In the meantime, any transitional arrangements must ensure that
no teacher suffers a detriment in pay.
"It is somewhat rich of the Conservative Party to make any claims
on its recent legacy. It simply isn't true to say that
academisation by definition leads to high standards. It is widely
acknowledged that some multi-academy trusts are misusing their
freedoms and this is leading to underperformance. (1) Teacher
retention problems are at their worst in large multi-academy
trusts, and parents know that the turnover of staff - which
affects all schools - is related to pay. Things cannot go on as
they are, and the Secretary of State is right to focus on
collaboration and find ways to stem the critical loss of both new
and experienced teachers.
"The Conservatives made a mess of pay arrangements in academies,
and it is for the current Government to clean it up."
ENDS
Editor's Note
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https://schoolsweek.co.uk/labours-plans-show-it-gets-trusts-vital-role/
