Three Catholic Multi-Academy Trusts with schools across the East Midlands have signed UNISON’s Learning Charter which commits them to support the learning needs of their staff.
St Thomas Aquinas, Saint Ralph Sherwin, and Our Lady of Lourdes, who are part of the Nottingham Catholic Diocese, have committed to work in partnership with UNISON East Midlands to support the skills needs and development of all trust staff.
The trusts run 86 schools across the country with over 70 in the East Midlands Region and employ over 3500 staff.
Mary Robson HR Director for the Nottingham Diocese said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with UNISON, to expand the opportunities available for our colleagues to develop and grow.”
UNISON Regional Organiser, Emma Roberts said: “It is refreshing to see all three Trusts commit to our charter. As a Trade Union we continually fight for better terms and conditions for our members and ensuring access to development opportunities is an essential part of this. Offering training demonstrates to our members that they feel valued and provides a route to progress within the school”
UNISON East Midlands is calling on employers to address skills needs in schools to ensure staff develop and are better able to support children in their care.
The Learning Charter initiative comes on the back of UNISON’s 2019 learning survey, which was one of the biggest of its kind, and found that 21% of school staff wanted to improve their literacy skills, 27% wanted to improve their maths and 69% their digital skills. UNISON represents all support staff members in schools, from caretakers and cleaners, to office staff and technicians and of course Teaching Assistants.
