Education Bill chaotic and contradictory

27 January 2011

Voice: the union for education professionals has commented on the Education Bill published today.

General Secretary Philip Parkin said: "The Bill is chaotic and contradictory – a jumble of competing policies, a mix of decentralisation and centralisation, raising standards and lowering them, that will lead to the fragmentation of our education system and undermine teaching as a profession by giving more power to ministers.

"I am concerned that with unplanned, haphazard free schools employing unqualified teachers, and academies creating a two-tier education system that will damage the ability of local authorities to deliver central services, such as special needs support, to maintained schools, our education system will be plunged into chaos.

"Changing the way schools are organised and governed is not a guarantee of success or better education, and the mixed results from the academies established so far supports this. The levels of pay and methods of progression at academies are variable compared to the maintained sector, and teaching assistants and other support staff may be particularly badly affected by the loss or erosion of national pay and conditions.

"Voice believes that families should have access to a good-quality local education system that guarantees a good school for all, and that all schools should receive the levels of investment they need to deliver that quality education."

Commenting on specific areas, Philip Parkin said:

Abolition of the Training and Development Agency (TDA)

"This raises a big question about the future of the professional development of teachers and its possible politicisation through direct departmental control.

Abolition of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB)

"Scrapping the SSSNB is hugely disappointing and an insult to our dedicated school support staff, who deserve higher pay and a proper pay and careers structure. Teachers have an independent pay review body so why not their support staff colleagues?

Abolition of GTC

"There will not be an independent regulator with a graduated range of sanctions, depending on the seriousness of each case, as there is now, and there is the danger that arrangements to replace it will create a crude system, unresponsive to the merits of each individual case.

Reduction in bureaucracy

"This could be seen as welcome, but our experience is that one person’s bureaucracy can be another’s protection. The presence of guidance can control how things are done and how staff are treated. We will be very concerned if a reduction in the guidance given to schools increases poor treatment of staff by senior managers.

Disciplinary powers

"Greater disciplinary powers and clear guidance on their enforcement would be welcome, both to improve pupil behaviour and to protect staff.

"However, it is essential that funded training is provided and that the training is consistent in terms of who provides it and what it involves. It is crucial that staff, pupils and parents know what the powers, and that they are interpreted and used in the same away across the country, to avoid accusations being made against staff or litigation threatened by parents.

"Searches of pupils should be undertaken by trained and willing staff – ideally security staff. The guidance needs to be absolutely clear that staff cannot be required to undertake searches. Widening the scope of searches could potentially lead to staff being put at risk of confrontation or even assault or injury."

Anonymity for teachers

“Voice has been campaigning for the right to anonymity unless and until charged with a criminal offence. We would like to see support staff protected, too.

"Children need protection, but those who work with them – both teachers and support staff – are entitled to protection too. Careers can be blighted by false allegations.

"The lives and careers of innocent people have been ruined by false allegations of abuse, even after they have been acquitted of any offence. Being falsely accused and suspended can cause severe personal distress and long-term career damage. Members have left the profession and suffered damage to their health.

"Publishing someone’s name in a newspaper because they have been accused of something but not charged is trial by media. A small paragraph on an inside page weeks later reporting that the charges have been dropped is not acceptable. Mud sticks.

"Police forces must be included in the loop on guidance as interpretation of existing guidelines, procedures for investigation and interview, and the general conduct of officers have varied considerably between forces."

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