Consultation on Academisation

Below is the joint press release that covers the current consultations relating to Industrious Education Trust.  Included are the names of the two other schools who also in the process of consultation.  Governors and Trust Partners met on Monday evening to consult which was a very useful process.  The consultation period ends on Friday 15 November – please use the opportunity to provide feedback through the relevant link – with a decision on whether to proceed or not due to be made early in December.

https://www.nhtschool.co.uk/academy-consultation/

Consultation Feedback Press Release Nov 24_FINAL

I wanted to make everyone aware of a further meeting for Governors and Trust Partners that will occur before the end of November.  This will focus specifically on how the capacity of Trust Partners can be utilised within and across a Multi Academy Trust.  Those of you who attended the consultation or have had the opportunity to look into the available information will appreciate that the Trust Partner role is not automatically incorporated into the Governance structure of a Multi-Academy Trust so will require further investigation which will be presented at the forthcoming meeting.  There was a collective strength of feeling (in the meeting on 4 November) that a formalised role for our Trust partners within the proposed MAT is essential and also that the potential growth across a group of schools is an opportunity that cannot be missed.  It was very reassuring to hear the passion for and belief in the importance of this work at NHTS and across the wider community.

The above meeting, whilst outside of the official consultation window, will inform decisions going forward.

Support Staff Local Government Pay Award 2024 – Agreement Reached

The National Joint Council and representative trade unions have reached an agreement on the level of the local government pay award for 2024.

Effective from 1 April 2024
• An increase of £1,290 (pro-rata for part-time employees) up to point 43

The new rates, along with arrears from 01 April 2024, will be implemented as per the following schedule:-

KM (Monthly payroll) – pay day 13.12.2024

NB. In order to process the pay award in time for December pay across multiple payrolls, the changes to pay details are being made over the next few days. This means unfortunately due to time constraints we are unable to make arrangements to stagger the backpay.

Negotiations at a national level should now commence for the 2025 pay award, which should be applicable from 01 April 2025. Further details of the 2025 negotiations will be issued in due course.

Teachers Pay Award 2024 Update

The timescales for the STPCD 2024 to become final are as follows;

18 October 2024: STPCD 2024 Teachers Pay Order was laid in Parliament
18 October – 8 November 2024: 21-day praying period (this allows MPs to raise any objections on the Teachers’ Pay Order)
8 November 2024: the Praying period ends in Parliament, which is the formal end of the process

Once the formal process has ceased and the Pay Order comes into force, a revised Teachers Pay Policy will be circulated via Governor Services for schools to adopt with details of when all uplifts will be applied to salaries, backdated to 01 September 2024.

School employees who qualify, can access Specsavers VDU Eyecare Scheme which includes a free eye examination. A designated DSE user for work purposes would be someone who, for example normally use DSE for continuous or near-continuous spells of an hour or more at a time; and use DSE in this way more or less daily; and have to transfer information quickly to or from the DSE.

A VDU voucher will be issued to you by Employee Healthcare (either by email or via the post). All you need to do is book your eye examination with your chosen Specsavers optician and let Lindsay know so that a referral can be done for a voucher.

You can find your nearest Specsavers optician by telephoning the following freephone number 0800 0680 241 which will also give you the option to be put through to your chosen store. You can also find your nearest store by visiting the Specsavers website and there is the option to book your appointment online.

With over 800 Specsavers opticians it is easy to find a location close to your home or work.

When you go for your eye examination you simply need to present the voucher to the store staff at the beginning of the process or show them the voucher on your smart device.

Entitlements with the VDU e Voucher
The voucher entitles you to a full examination at any Specsavers store.

If you are found to require glasses solely and specifically for VDU use you will then be entitled to a pair of single vision glasses from the £49 range. If you wish, you can upgrade to a higher price range and use the voucher as a £49 contribution towards a pair of glasses.

Any employee requiring glasses whether for VDU use, or for any other reason, is entitled to use the Premium Club element of the voucher. This entitles you to £20 off a pair of glasses if chosen from the £99 range or above in store. This discount applies to most in-store offers, such as the 2 for 1 offer, but it cannot be used in conjunction with over 60s discount, the student discount, the sale, contact lenses or easycare.

Importance of eye examinations
An eye examination is a vital health check for your eyes because it can pick up early signs of eye conditions before you are even aware of any symptoms. And it is not just eyes, other health issues can be identified during an eye examination including: diabetes, high cholesterol, glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.

(Huddersfield Specsavers 01484 544566 / Dewsbury Specsavers 01924 469565).

Some further positive feedback from a colleague who has used our new SAS wellbeing service.

Wellbeing newsletter EHC Nov 2024

On the afternoon of 22nd October, West’s sister, Demi, and her familly, suffered a house fire.  Thankfully, West’s sister and nephews got out of the house unharmed but sadly they did lose a family pet.  The family have lost everything as a result of the fire and came out with just what they were wearing.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up for anyone who may wish to support.

Go Fund Me