Focus-Trust achieves fairness and consistency for all support staff across the Trust
A North West and West Yorkshire Academy Trust have put in place a new policy and structure meaning that all of its 680 support staff will receive ‘fair and consistent pay’ across its 15 member schools – the scheme has had an overwhelmingly positive welcome across the trust.
Focus Trust initially presented its plans to introduce the new salary banding to its senior leadership team back in September 2017 before it was passed for approval by the board in Spring 2021.
The move, which means all people who do the same job now receive the same pay regardless of the local authority or school, was also supported by Trade Union Colleagues at Unison and GMB.
The Trust used the National Joint Council (NJC) evaluation scheme – which evaluates the job, not the employee performing the job in order – to evaluate all staff roles across the trust.
Focus-Trust began the process as they believe that two people employed to undertake the same role across the Trust should be paid the same
The trust also believes in upholding a living wage pay rate as the lowest pay point within their pay structure – not the minimum wage.
Commenting on the new pay structure and its success to date Natalie Harris, Chief Operating Officer at Focus-Trust, said: “Whilst with a project of this nature there are always lessons to be learnt and things which can be improved upon, I am delighted with the overall outcome”.
“To have achieved a fair and consistent pay and grading structure for all members of support staff across all roles and schools within the Trust has not been without its challenges, but it has certainly been worth every small collaborative step taken to reach this point.
“Feedback from the vast majority of staff has been complimentary, and the support we have felt has been overwhelmingly positive”.
“I would like to extend huge thanks to all colleagues involved across the journey.”
Liz Davison, Executive Headteacher at Thornton and Wilsden Primary Schools, Bradford, from the Job Evaluation advisory group, said: “Focus-Trust are committed to providing their employees with the very best support and conditions.
“They have recently undertaken a huge project which has seen the review of all job descriptions, working practices and pay for every member of support staff across the Trust.
“As a member of the advisory team, it has been clear that not a stone has been left unturned in so much as all questions have been considered, all staff have felt involved, and the project has been successful as a result. It has resulted in employees being treated more equitably across the Trust which covers 7 local authorities.”
Andrew Ross, Principal at Rudheath Primary School, Cheshire West and Cheshire, from the Team of Evaluators, said: “Evaluating the jobs has ensured that everyone is equally paid across the Trust.
“With the current ‘cost of living crisis’ it is important that everyone is paid fairly, equally and in line with each other across the Local Authorities.
“I am proud to have been able to help staff have equality in the job role and pay without any staff fearing that they would lose out.”
Ruth Holroyd, HR Advisor from Working with Schools, said “Working with Focus-Trust on their job evaluation has been challenging, insightful, fascinating, complex and rewarding – all these and more! I have been lucky to be part of the project from the start – starting off with a wish for fairness and consistency for all colleagues, then creating the plans and doing the work to make that vision a reality.
There have been bumps and even hurdles in the road on the journey but we have all shared the same determination to create something that we believe is fair and to bring pay in line across all schools, no matter the location or history.
“As with any change of this nature and on this scale, there have been lessons learned; however, we have always tried to be open, to challenge and to communicate and collaborate with unions and experts to get the right outcome. There is still more to do, but we have worked very hard in partnership to achieve that vision of fairness and consistency and I am proud to have supported the Trust in achieving that.”
Keith Bradley from the Support Staff unions said: “UNISON, GMB and the Trust have been working together in partnership to ensure that the Trust and its schools has a fair and transparent Job Evaluation Scheme for assessing what the pay and roles Support Staff jobs should be getting.
“The key to ensuring a fair system was to have a fair and transparent pay evaluation in process, and with the Technical help of the Trade Unions, we believe this is what we achieved.
“Our involvement at each stage we believe helped the process, which in turn ensured the scheme we all worked on had sound principles and was consistent with best practice.
“UNISON and GMB colleagues believe the result we achieved improved pay for a number of staff and created a fair and transparent grading structure going forward.”
Helen Rowland, Chief Executive Officer at Focus Trust, said: “Two of our Trust values are Care and Fair and when we initially considered Job Evaluation we agreed it was the right thing to do but seemed like an enormous undertaken.
“Thanks to the effective planning which involved the advisory group and the trained team evaluators and the advice from our HR Advisor from Working with Schools along with communication with all members of staff at all stages, I am delighted to say we have achieved what we set out to; fairness and consistency with pay for all our support staff.”
Focus-Trust is a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire with a vision of providing ‘great schools at the heart of our communities’ where children thrive, achieve and succeed.
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