TUC delegates in Liverpool have heard of the damage being done to the education system by the growth of academies and the increasing privatisation of post-16 education.
UNISON’s Paula Barker described the “heavy political and financial pressure” faced by schools to convert to academies.
“Reluctant schools have been forced into becoming academies, based on the ideology of the government rather than the local needs of pupils, parents and the community.” she said.
“Public money earmarked for education should be just that – not siphoned off through outsourcing and privatisation.”
Ms Barker described how UNISON’s 350,000 school support staff members had been first-hand witnesses to the results of the increasingly fragmented education system.
She also called for the restoration of the school support staff negotiating body, which was abolished by the coalition government.
“Let’s give all members of the school workforce the pay and support they deserve,” she said. “And let’s give children and parents some genuine freedom of choice.”
Meanwhile UNISON’s Denise Ward highlighted the rise in state funding going to private providers of post-16 education, up from £100m in 2011-2012 to £270m in 2012-2013.
“Without public funding we will not have an education system that is accessible to all,” she said.
“Politicians from all parties need to make a firm commitment to post-16 education. And the Labour Party should be clearly committed to increasing public investment in post-secondary education.”
