Teachers and school support staff now eligible for a Blue Light card

[noblegiraffe]

In case any teachers don't follow Mr P and aren't aware, teachers and school support staff (including sixth form colleges) have been added to the list of people eligible for a Blue Light card. If you pay £4.99, you get two years of discounts at multiple places.

https://teachers.bluelightcard.co.uk

Because teachers love a bargain there's currently over an hour waiting time to sign up, but it was only announced yesterday so will hopefully calm down soon.

It feels nice to be recognised as essential community workers!

Yes they are. I'm a midday supervisor. I took a photo of my badge and uploaded it... All worked fine.. ☺ ☺ ☺

I work in a school office and got a card. All I needed was my .sch.uk email address, and I got automatically verified. I think where we are a new addition, the website is poorly worded.

All these "blue light" workers bellyaching on social media that it's not for the likes of us don't understand that Blue Light Card is a business, not an employer benefit, that needs to make money and they've just expanded their customer base. They make their money from affiliate links and their cut on discounted vouchers. I'm slowly going through the list, and I've not found anything that wildly differs from the CSSC card I already have, or the KAARP scheme my employer provides.

Sorry. It's a bit of a thing for me, like rich people don't ever face what everyone else faces. It needs saying on threads like these, I think.

As for pay levels, my school goes out of it's way to advertide that we're paid more than the state sector - in my case that works put at the princely sum of £16 more a year before deductions. I'm a bit cynical that teachers are mainly paid more in in the independent sector, as I'm sure you understand.

Coming out of pensions schemes and being cautious about payrises has certainly hammered private school pay. DH is now paid roughly the same as a mainscale state counterpart (he does get free lunch and way more free periods, though!) but, yeah, at the end of the day, it's still teaching!

It's a bit of a thing for me, like rich people don't ever face what everyone else faces.

Money can't buy you happiness, but it can pay the rent.

Child poverty is a massive issue in this country.

Of course. And as I said, having money to throw at problems is undoubtedly helpful in managing many of the things life throws at us.. But it doesn’t stop all problems. Pretending independent school children and their families are somehow exempt from all of life’s shit is unreasonable. Acknowledging g that shit things happen to all of us doesn’t take away from the many social issues this country is experiencing - I am fortunate to work in an independent in the midst of an area which ranks top/bottom in just about all social indices that exist. The contrast is stark. But not always in the ways you would think.

And I’m still a teacher and would like access to discounts!

If a discount card would get you to move from private to state, then please do, you'd be very welcome!

If it wouldn't be enough to get you to move from private to state then I guess that the sectors aren't that similar?

No. I have done my time in state in a school that is pretty much permanently RI. Sent my kids there too. I have freedom with my curriculum in the independent, can exercise huge amounts of creativity over content and delivery. I have about 4 years left, maybe 5 or 6. I will do early retirement if necessary.

I've applied and sent my id off. Still not been approved. Any idea how long it will take?

I sent a photo of my work lanyard. I didn't get any notification of being approved but I seem to be able to use the app.

How is it all cleaners in schools are never included in these discount cards ie Blue light. We always seem to be over looked . We are key workers we keep all established companies buildings clean . We work unsociable hours and yet if every cleaner said not today . Most business would be moaning how dirty it is . We are an important. We should be able to have a perk here and there .

a) you are included as support staff
b) it's not a perk, it's a sales pitch that makes the company lots and lots of money from convincing you it's a perk

You're included in discountsforteachers too.

It's got absolutely nothing to do with key workers. Nothing. It's a private business who make business decisions for financial reasons.

And...cleaners are included.

It's probably been answered in the thread i did skim over but coulnt see.
Do school office staff qualify

Yes,

So from reading this thread I’ve realised that despite the fact I have absolutely nothing to do with teaching whatsoever, other than our paying for kids to go to independent school whose teachers don’t qualify for the BLC scheme, because… child poverty… … I qualify for discounts for teachers scheme through my job. Who knew?!

I’m sure @noblegiraffe will be thrilled for me to be classified as a teacher and receive discounts accordingly, given that she’s a fully signed up supporter of teachers being classified as blue light workers!

Snap !

I've made a point on this thread of telling higher education professionals, lunch ladies, TAs and school cleaners that they are eligible for discountsforteachers.

Independent school teachers are also eligible.

The more the merrier. Why would I care about it being open to people who aren't teachers?

Absolutely ridiculous!!

Not entirely sure why you seem to think this is a triumph of some kind? You're just a customer demographic that might make them more money.

The original owner of Blue Light was a copper. So he was flogging it to a group he already had contacts in and that he knew the right things to say to make it sound like a favour instead of a bog standard click through referral system just around the same time as Top Cashback and Quidco first popped up and the money being made was silly, as a small discount would result in an increase in demand. Making it out to be exclusive creates a false sense of desirability, funnelling a small percentage off into a charitable organisation made it appear to be wholly altruistic - rather than a damn fine example of GCSE Economics and Media Studies in how easily convinced people are when appeals are made to their vanity/identity.

And let's not forget that unlike Quidco and Top Cashback, Blue Light and DfT are keeping all the commission, not paying it to customers - considering that some retailers will pay £180+ for a new mobile or TV contract net of the referral commission already, that's a shitload of money Blue Light and DfT are making somebody.

But hey, it makes you think you've got one over a random teacher on the internet, crack on and click through. Make the company more money.

What is your job that qualifies you for the scheme? If you don't think it should then maybe don't sign up?

@GeneralReflection
Why would anyone care?

So from reading this thread I’ve realised that despite the fact I have absolutely nothing to do with teaching whatsoever, other than our paying for kids to go to independent school whose teachers don’t qualify for the BLC scheme, because… child poverty… … I qualify for discounts for teachers scheme through my job. Who knew?!

It says a lot for the way you think that it would even cross your mind that other people would be put out by this.