Review of Staffing Structure by 31st December, 2005 - Review of Progress

Colleagues will recall that under the Education (Review of Staffing Structure) (England) Regulations 2005 that all maintained schools (and Pupil Referral Units) were required to undertake a review of their staffing structure and prepare, by 31st December, 2005, a plan for the full implementation of any changes arising from the review by 31st December, 2008.

As part of this process, each school was required to consult staff and trade union representatives and then produce an implementation plan.

Helpfully, the Rewards and Incentives Group (RIG) published joint advice in May 2005 on how this review process should be taken forward. This included advice that draft revised structures and job descriptions should be sent to the recognised trade unions and made available to staff, so that they could comment on the proposals prior to the Governing Body making the decision.

You will be aware that in Norfolk we have a joint employer/trade union group, which is essentially, a local version of the national Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group (WAMG), which meets in a local social partnership type framework. That group feels that the time is now right, following over two and a half years since the advice was first issued, to take stock of the position and remind schools of their obligations relating to the consultation process during the review of school staffing structures. We are aware that by now all schools will have formally published - and, in most cases, implemented - new staffing structures and will have drawn up new job descriptions for all teachers and support staff in accordance with posts in their new structures. There is an assumption that details of these new structures and job descriptions are readily available and that schools will be able to share that information with any relevant trade union that requests it, in accordance with the RIG guidance.

A critical outcome of the revised structures is the number of staff subject to Safeguarding under Teachers Pay and Conditions. As we move towards 31st December, 2008, the end date for Safeguarding we thought it might be helpful for schools to self-assess their position in accordance with the Safeguarding Guidance and Examples and the Guidance Notes on General Safeguarding for Teachers. For your easy reference, click here to download the latest advice issued in September 2007.

If you have a query or need further information, please contact your school's HR Consultant or HR Officer; or alternatively contact Peter Simmonds on 07795 265669 or email or Virginia Wakely on 01603 638092 or email.

This MI has been produced in liaison with the local Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group (WAMG) representing teacher and support staff unions - signatories to the National Agreement, and also the NUT.