UNISON has always actively challenged racism, and will always do so, wherever it raises its vile head

I hope this email finds you safe and well ahead of the last bank holiday of Spring. I know that many of you will be working throughout, but for those that are able to take some time off, I hope you manage to have an enjoyable and well-deserved break (with appropriate social distancing obviously!)   I’m […]

The decision to increase pupil numbers on 1 June is premature and could put lives in danger, says UNISON

UNISON head of education Jon Richards says delay needed so schools have time to complete risk assessments

Independent scientists report says waiting just two weeks would halve the risks

Ministers should step back from 1 June target and put safety first

A new investigation by the Observer has laid bare the growing crisis with special education needs funding – and Hampshire County Council faces the largest overspend in the country; more than £10.5million. Read the full story here: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/nov/10/councils-face-crisis-special-needs-education-funding

Surrey County Council (SCC) has announced a “pause” in the process to shut Ripley CofE Primary School, which until this time last year had 144 pupils. The move comes after concern that officials failed to follow correct procedures during the process. UNISON South East has been working extensively to support affected members at the school, […]

Joint unions for school staff write to education secretary

More than one in five support staff say primary schools have class sizes bigger than the 15 pupils per group maximum

Responding to figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics showing that more Covid-19 related deaths are now being recorded in the South East’s care homes than in hospitals, and that the total number of recorded deaths in the region has risen week-on-week, UNISON South East regional secretary Steve Torrance said: “These latest ONS figures […]

UNISON has been made aware that some schools have been closed as a precaution due to potential risk of exposure to Covid-19, commonly known as Coronavirus. In some instances school cleaners were subsequently instructed to do a deep-clean of the schools. UNISON branches and regions have rightly intervened to stop our members being put at […]

The governments continued mishandling of the pandemic drives many people to join UNISON. We cannot and will not let them down

On 24 April, well over a hundred UNISON activists from across Britain came together in Brighton for a terrific day that not even the persistent drizzle could spoil. The Schools Support Staff Seminar is a mixture of workshops and talks, with this year’s special guest being Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education: […]

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a damning report on the issue of Multi-Academy Trust schools (MATs). The report – produced by a cross section of MPs – is highly critical of the MATs model, particularly in regard to the ‘unjustifiably high salaries’ of many senior staff. More than 100 trustees currently earn salaries […]