Anyone working in an academy who can shed light on maternity pay

[justtheonethen]

Just that really, I'm planning to start a family soon and I know that academies don't have to stick to the burgundy book agreement. My contract doesn't say what our policy is and I don't really want to ask! My union rep doesn't know. Anyone able to share if they got just SMP or something in line with state schools.

I got the burgundy book maternity rates but that's because it was TUPE'd across when we converted to an academy.

Thank you, I have joined one so no TUPE for me!

Most academies I'm aware of honour the burgundy book arrangements.

I would simply make sure your contract is watertight for your return, and be prepared for the answer to be "no" if you want to go back part-time. Part-time staff are non existent in every academy i've known.

My school was a converter academy so kept old arrangements ie SMP plus 6 weeks on 50% pay after the first 6 weeks of SMP. However they did not honour any previous service at other maintained schools as continuous service for the purposes of calculating mat pay so for my first pregnancy I didn't get the enhanced pay (ie the 6 weeks at 50% pay) because I hadn't been there long enough before the "qualifying week" which is 15 weeks before your due date. It is complicated!