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Written question asked by Rachael Maskell (Labour) on Monday, 28 November 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 November 2022. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Monday, 5 December 2022 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Classroom Assistants: Job Evaluation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will launch a job evaluation scheme for teaching assistants.

Answer

The Government’s education reforms gives schools the freedom to make their own decisions about recruitment, pay, conditions, and use of teaching assistants. Schools should have the freedom to make these decisions, as they are best placed to understand their pupils’ needs.

Many schools pay teaching assistants according to local government pay scales. These are set through negotiations between the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents the employer, and Local Government trade unions (UNISON, Unite, and the GMB), which represent the employee. Support staff on these pay scales, or in schools that mirror them, will receive a pay rise of 10% on average. This will be backdated to April 2022.

The 2022 Autumn Statement underlines the priority the Government attaches to schools, delivering a significant uplift in funding in this Spending Review period. Core schools funding will increase by £2 billion in both 2023/24 and 2024/25.

It is for schools to decide how to use teaching assistants and other support staff in activities outside the classroom, such as holiday activities and breakfast clubs.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
97725
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Classroom assistants Job evaluation
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk