The Education Manager

With the new AMiE partnership now underway, all future postings can be found at The Education Manager.

3.5 Million Bullied At Work

Three and a half million people (14 per cent or one in seven of the workforce) say they have been bullied in their current job according to a YouGov poll for the TUC published today (Friday). 21 per cent (one in five) say that bullying is an issue where they work.

Bullying is more likely in the public sector where 19 per cent say they have been bullied compared to 12 per cent in the private sector and eight per cent in the voluntary sector.

Surprisingly people in professional and associate professional jobs are the most likely to be bullied (16 per cent). This may reflect the large number of professional and associate professional jobs in the public sector such teaching, and across the NHS.

Men are more likely to be bullied (16 per cent) than women (12 per cent). 45-54 year olds (19 per cent), followed by 35-44 year olds (17 per cent) are the age groups most likely to be bullied. 25-34 year olds are the least bullied (8 per cent).

The East Midlands workforce is the most bullied at 18 per cent, with the East of England the least (eight per cent).

It is not the low paid who are most likely to say they are bullied. Those earning less than £20,000 report much less bullying than those earning between £20,000 and £60,000. (17 per cent). But among those earning above £60,000 only seven per cent say they are bullied.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: ‘This level of bullying at work is completely unacceptable. It is particularly disturbing that more people complain of bullying in the public sector. Every organisation needs to have an anti-bullying policy, and every manager should ensure that there is zero-tolerance of bullying either by line managers or workmates.’

Recognition and awareness of workplace bullying is essential if it is to be legitimately challenged. The TUC fully supports and endorses the work of the Andrea Adams Trust, who run a national annual campaign to raise awareness of the issue, culminating in Ban Bullying at Work Day held on 7 November.

Andrea Adams Trust Chief Executive Lyn Witheridge said: ‘We encourage every employer to become involved and use this opportunity to participate in the wide array of activities provided by the Ban Bullying at Work Day campaign.’

One in Four Not Satisfied With Job

Six million workers (24 per cent or one in four of the UK workforce) are not satisfied with their job – and almost one in three (30 per cent) do not feel engaged by their employer, according to a new report from the TUC released today (Monday).

What workers want is based on an extensive YouGov poll of more than 2,500 people at work in Britain and published in the run up to the 140^th Congress which opens next week in Brighton.

The commonest problem that faces people at work is increased workload, with 11 million workers (46 per cent) complaining of this. This is followed by ‘pay not keeping up with the cost of living’ (42 per cent). The top problems group into three main headings:

• Workloads, stress and hours – the biggest complaint is of an increased workload (46 per cent), with 39 per cent complaining of increased stress levels and 23 per cent of longer working hours.
• Pay – just under half the workforce say that their pay has not kept up with the cost of living (42 per cent) and significant proportions say that their workplace has unfair pay structures (26 per cent) or they do not get the same pay as people doing similar jobs for other organisations (31 per cent).
• Training and progression – 30 per cent complain of poor promotion prospects and 27 per cent say they lack training – almost 7 million.

Significant minorities of the workforce complain of serious problems. Three and a half million people (14 per cent or one in seven of the workforce) say they have been bullied in their current job. Just under two and a half million say they work where it is unsafe. More than one and half million say they have been unfairly disciplined. The most commonly reported discrimination is on the grounds of age which is complained of by 640,000. Nearly six million say they suffer from boring or repetitive work.

The top attribute that people look for in a job is fair pay (98 per cent) but only 66 per cent say they enjoy their work. The next popular wish is largely met. Nine out of ten value ‘working with a great group of people’ (90 per cent), and 84 per cent say that they do. The biggest gap between aspiration and reality is ‘opportunities for promotion and advancement’, 73 per cent say this is important but only 34 per cent say that they experience this at work.

In the TUC report, unions get support not just from union members, but from working non-members too. Six out of ten workers (60 per cent) agree that ‘unions provide vital protection for many groups of workers’, with only one in eight (12 per cent) disagreeing. Only one in five (21 per cent) think that ‘unions are no longer relevant in today’s world’ and only slightly more (26 per cent) think that ‘unions hold back companies in today’s competitive world’. More non-members than not say that unions provide vital protection, agree that employees feel more involved in company decisions where employers talk to unions and reject the view that trade unions are no longer relevant in today’s world.

The issues that workers most want unions to raise with employers are first, pay (86 per cent), second, pensions (80 per cent) and third, safety (77 per cent). These traditional bread and butter issues are followed by excessive workloads (72 per cent), stress (69 per cent) and access to training (69 per cent).

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “There are some challenging figures here for British employers with a quarter of the workforce saying they are not satisfied with their jobs and almost one in three saying that their employers do not engage with them.

“While most employees are reasonably content with their lot, there is clearly a minority who are suffering from real problems such as bullying, dangerous workplaces and unfair discrimination. There may be no magic bullet for improving Britain’s productivity, but without engaging staff and providing the training and advancement opportunities they want we do not have much chance.

“But there is good news for unions. We are campaigning for the issues that matter to people at work, with TUC priorities getting the thumbs-up from both trade unionists and non-members too. There are lessons here for politicians. They must speak to workplace issues and the TUC’s agenda.”

New Bank Holiday Would Benefit Business

Nearly one million UK businesses could benefit from a new bank holiday, according to a new TUC report out today (Friday). The TUC are calling for a ‘Community Day’ bank holiday in late October to celebrate and encourage volunteering and community activity.

The TUC report - Why the UK can afford a Community Day – says that many customer-facing businesses, such as those in the retail, hospitality, leisure, tourism and transport sectors, have stronger trading days on bank holidays and could benefit from a new public holiday. These sectors have grown over the last forty years and now account for nearly a million UK businesses – over one fifth of all UK businesses – according to the Government’s VAT registrations.

In sectors likely to benefit from a new bank holiday, consumer spending has grown from 31 per cent of household income in 1971 to 39 per cent in 2005. A new bank holiday will therefore help to continue this spending boom, says the TUC report.

The report says that, as well as encouraging people to go on holidays and short breaks, bank holidays lead to more ‘days out’, which bring in £90 billion worth of spending a year to the economy in England alone.

In addition to the revenue benefits of a new bank holiday, the TUC report argues that all employers would benefit from the improved productivity, morale, health and well-being that it would give staff. The TUC believes these benefits vastly outweigh the cost of an extra day off work.

After the August bank holiday, workers in the UK will have a four month wait for the next bank holiday on Christmas Day. The TUC, along with leading voluntary organisations, are calling for the Government to break this gap with a ‘Community Day’ in late October. Community Day would celebrate the great British tradition of volunteering and encourage people across the UK to take part in community activities.

The TUC estimates that if ten per cent of the population took an active role in Community Day, the ‘on the day’ effect of greater community activity would be worth £250 million. Furthermore, the TUC estimates that the longer term benefits of people taking up volunteering could double the day’s economic value to £500 million.

In order for a new bank holiday to be successful, the TUC believes that businesses, community groups and trade unions would need at least a year to prepare. So, even if the Government committed to a new Community Day today, the earliest it could realistically come into effect would be late 2010. According to the Bank of England’s most recent quarterly inflation report, the UK economy is expected to have recovered by this time and businesses would therefore be well placed to benefit from a new public holiday.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “A new bank holiday would be very popular for Britain’s workers, who have fewer public holidays than anyone else in Europe except Romania. But it could also bring in much needed revenue to around a million UK businesses.

“So far, business lobby groups have stuck to their usual position of opposing anything that benefits staff, including a new bank holiday. But we urge these organisations to think outside the box and recognise the benefits that a new bank holiday could bring to many of their members.”

Changes in Disability Law Affecting Exams

The Workplace Law Network has reported on minor changes to disability discrimination legislation affecting people who take exams.

The Disability Discrimination (General Qualifications Bodies)(Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features)(Amendment) Regulations 2008 are to be brought in on 24 October 2008, and say that:

“It is always a reasonable step for a general qualifications body to assess a disabled candidate in relation to the components of an examination taken by that candidate as if those components comprised the entire examination.”

These Regulations amend the 2007 Regulations, which stated that in order to prevent a provision, criterion or practice placing a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage, the granting of an exemption from one or more of the components of any examination or assessment shall be a step which it is always reasonable for a general qualifications body to have to take.

Exam System Fails Significant Proportion

One of AMiE’s partner organisations, ATL, has warned the government that the current GCSE exam system fails a significant proportion of school leavers.

Dr. Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said: “ATL applauds those who have achieved their GCSE results this year, but needs to remind Government that GCSEs are part and parcel of a narrow subject-based curriculum that fails a significant proportion of the young people currently leaving school.

“We are not saying that achievement should be made easier or ‘dumbed down,’ or that aspirations should not be high. What ATL is saying is that the curriculum needs to provide a fully rounded education, not a test driven, exam based, target led system.

“Employers want soft skills such as initiative, creativity, punctuality, reliability and politeness. Universities require research skills, independent learning and innovative thinking. However, it is increasingly difficult for schools and colleges to deliver these skill sets in today’s overcrowded subject-based curriculum.

“The Government thinks it can say all these things should be included – but where? On whose timetable do we see the opportunity for young people to cover all of these skills and their subjects as well? Certainly, not on any current mainstream timetable today.

“ATL believes reform cannot come too soon for those who are being effectively dispossessed by the curriculum today.”

AMiE is the new partnership between ACM and ATL providing managers and leaders across the education sector with specialist services and a single voice.

School Trip Injury Results in Fine

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned activity centres to ensure their staff are properly trained, after a child was seriously injured on a school trip.

Kingswood Learning and Leisure (Group) Limited of Alkmaar Way in Norwich, was fined £12,000 with £10,690 costs at Cromer Magistrates Court last week, after pleading guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The prosecution follows a HSE investigation into an incident on 28 April 2007, when eight-year-old Mickey Carter-Browne, from Silsoe, was injured during a school trip to the Kingswood Activity Centre at West Runton. He fell six metres from a climbing wall, sustaining a broken ankle and bruising to his pelvis, upper leg, left ankle and arms.

HSE Inspector Steve Gill said:

“This was an unfortunate incident which could have been prevented had the correct safety procedures been followed and the staff undertaking the activities properly trained and supervised. Instead, a child was injured and spent ten weeks in plaster, largely confined to a wheelchair, and another ten weeks on crutches.

“It is important to remember that the adventure activities sector as a whole has almost always demonstrated good practices in risk assessment and management, allowing activities to take place safely and enjoyably.

“HSE firmly believes that children must have the opportunity to participate in adventurous activities such as climbing, which are fun, healthy and provide experience and education in risk management. Statistically, one incident does not alter the good track record of an overall safe and well-managed sector.”

The incident occurred when Mickey reached a height of about six metres on the climbing wall. A click was heard and he fell onto the wooden floor below.

The HSE investigation identified that when the karabiner (metal loop) was attached to the harness, the screw had not been tightened, which allowed the karabiner to open when a load was applied. The investigation also found that the training and supervision procedures at the centre were not sufficient for the activities being carried out, and were not being routinely followed on the ground.

Older People Denied Access To Skills Training

Older people are being robbed of the chance to play an active part in society because they can’t access new skills through adult education according to leading older people’s charity Help the Aged. New research shows that two thirds of older people (64 per cent) are put off attending adult education courses because of the threat of crime when they go out(1), while four out of ten people aged 65 and over struggle due to lack of transport, high course fees and inadequate information about available courses.

A Help the Aged report, Learning for Living, warns that unless older people are able to further their skills and learn new ones, there is a danger that they will become more and more excluded from society. With their research showing that more than one third of older people saying they feel out of touch with modern life, the Charity is calling for all Government departments to recognise that older people need skills to play an active role in society and ensure these are made available to them.

Amy Swan, Policy Officer for Help the Aged, says: “Education and learning new skills are incredibly important for people of all ages, but all too often older people are left behind. Barriers such as lack of transport, fear of crime or high course fees make it very difficult for older people to access courses that will help them keep up to date with changes in modern life.”

The Help the Aged research also shows that:

• Three quarters of older people (73 per cent) want adult education courses to cover how to stay healthy and active as you get older;
• Six out of 10 people aged 65 and over (59 per cent) are interested in understanding new technology including the internet and digital television;
• Three fifths of older people (58 per cent) want courses giving financial advice and tips on managing money;
• Half of older people (49 per cent) are interested in learning about how the social care system works.

Amy Swan continues: “It’s not surprising that older people want to learn how to manage their finances, keep up with advancements in technology and how to stay fit and healthy as they get older – these are all skills that will help prevent them being brushed aside by society.“

Help the Aged is calling for:

• The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to put pressure on other government departments to recognise the skills older people need to prevent isolation and exclusion, for example financial literacy, ICT skills and health management;
• Public authorities to consider the impact of any proposed policy changes on older people – identifying if there is a need for skills and providing budget where necessary;
• DIUS to invest in an effective adult learning infrastructure; provide fully funded learning officers in every locality; a learning portal for information; and learning vouchers to support groups wanting to organise their own learning.

TUC Praise For A-Level Results

Commenting on yesterday’s A-level results, which showed a record pass rate of 97.2 per cent and a record rate of A grades at 25.9 per cent, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O Grady said: “These record results are a fitting testament to the hard graft that students and teachers have put in over the last two years.

“The predictable dismissal of these achievements from the usual suspects is not helpful. We need to support and encourage achievement, rather than giving young adults an early lesson in the British tradition of knocking success.

“We must also remember the one in four students who haven’t taken any examinations and have left our education system without any qualifications. The Government must continue its efforts to open up educational opportunity to all.

“Employers must also play their part in making our education reforms work. Rather than carping on about young people not being ‘job ready’, employers should be offering more and better work experiences places, and many more high quality Apprenticeships.”

Have You Registered?

As members are probably aware, following the introduction of government reforms in 2007, learning providers that deliver further education provision through a contract or funding agreement with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are required to ensure that all their trainers, tutors and teachers:

• register as members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) by 30 September 2008
• undertake at least 30 hours’ continuing professional development (CPD) each year (prorated for part-time trainers)
• abide by IfL’s Code of Professional Practice.

The reforms apply to learning providers operating in work-based, adult and community, offender and voluntary sector settings.

IfL will be hosting events for HR and staff development managers and senior leaders to understand the impact of the new regulations on their organisations, and the opportunities for staff development:

London: 2 September 2008
Birmingham: 3 September 2008
Leeds: 4 September 2008

For more details on these briefings, and to download a booking form, please see the Ifl website. To register as a member of the Institute please go to the IfL registration page.

Further Improvement in A Levels

Schools Minister Jim Knight welcomed news that increased numbers of pupils are passing A Levels, with rises in key subjects like sciences – and maths at its highest level in over a decade.

The latest A level results mean that there has been a 9.6 per cent percentage point rise in the pass rate at A Level since 1997 (from 87.6 per cent to 97.2 per cent), and a 18.2 percentage point rise in the proportion of A-C grades awarded (from 55.7 per cent to 73.9 per cent).

Compared to last year, the proportion achieving A-C grades at A Level has risen from from 72.8 per cent in 2007 to 73.9 per cent this year; and the proportion of A grades awarded at A Level from 25.3 per cent to 25.9 per cent.

Jim Knight, Minister for Schools and Learners, said: “I heartily congratulate all students who have successfully completed their A Levels and thank teachers for their hard work. This year’s results are a tremendous tribute to all the effort that has gone into achieving these qualifications by students, supported by parents and teachers. They also show a good return on a decade of record investment and policies which have encouraged more young people to continue and achieve in education.”

Unite Members Accept FE Pay Offer

Members of Unite (formerly the TGWU) have voted to accept the FE pay offer from the Association of Colleges. This means three of the six unions on the National Joint Forum in England have now agreed to accept the 3.2% rise, the others being our two AMiE partners, ACM and ATL. If as most people expect, Unison members also vote to accept the offer, then the AoC will be under pressure to recommend the pay rise regardless of the outcome of UCU’s consultation.

The Unite vote was overwhelming, with 72% voting in favour of accepting the offer.