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Original poster

Not advertising jobs

19 replies

cocolepew · 03/07/2008 13:13

My DD school have a lot of Classrooms Assistants in it, but I have never seen a job advertised in any papers for them. The Head has been getting 'Mummies she likes' in to 'cover' and then they are taking permanent jobs, and getting (or not) qualifications once they have the job. Any thoughts?

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baffledmum · 03/07/2008 13:17

If you are 100% sure that the positions have not been advertised anywhere, then this is illegal.

If a post is temporary, it should still be advertised and it has to be advertised again if the position is made permanent.

Izzywhizzy · 03/07/2008 13:20

I don't know what the policy is for schools, but I work in local government.

In my sector, you don't have to advertise temporary jobs, but permanent positions have to be externally advertised.

If you're interested in the classroom assistant jobs, surely you should approach the head or the local council directly and ask how it works.

Original poster

cocolepew · 03/07/2008 13:20

I have a feeling she is doing it so she doesn't have to give them contracts, i.e. long term subbing with no benefits. All jobs for the school are put in our local paper and I've only ever seen one in it.

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Original poster

cocolepew · 03/07/2008 13:23

I already work as a C.A at a special school and I know you can just be put on a subbing list at the school. I'm concerned that the positions are always filled by the head this way, so nobody with qualifications gets a look in. It probably all boils down to money.

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flowerybeanbag · 03/07/2008 13:24

It is not illegal. There is no legal requirement to advertise jobs.

However as it is (presumably) a state school and public sector I would expect there to be a strict policy of advertising all jobs openly.

baffledmum · 03/07/2008 13:25

I agree with IzzyWhizzy, find out how your council operates its recruitment process. The Head may be unaware that she is falling foul of Equal Opportunities guidlines here.

Tommy · 03/07/2008 13:29

you don't have to advertise them in local paper. Jobs like that in our school are often advertised in the school and church newsletters

Original poster

cocolepew · 03/07/2008 13:34

I think the Head knows actually what she;s doing. The C.A.s over here went on strike in September and most of us have signed a new contract. But if I was to be made redundant the Board would try to place me in another job locally, I would keep the pay scale I'm on now even if I got a P.1 or 2 C.A.s job, therefore I'd be on more than £4 per hour more than the others. It is going to cause her problems in the long run. If a job is being subbed someone like me will have to be offered it and the person who had been doing it will have no protection.

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baffledmum · 03/07/2008 13:38

I don't work in the education sector but could Unison or ACAS give you some advice here?

Original poster

cocolepew · 03/07/2008 13:46

My Union would be interested, but I think it would be more appropriate if someone in the actual school contacted them.. There was a lot of problems with unqualifed people being brought in over the strike.

Thanks for all replies.

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RibenaBerry · 03/07/2008 14:18

What Flowery said. It is not illegal not to advertise, but the school/education authority might have policies. It might be worth surfing the website of your education authority to see if they publicise a policy - often part of equal opps.

love2sleep · 03/07/2008 14:32

If you're interested in working there why not send her a copy of your cv with a cover letter expressing your enthusiasm to work with her?

Original poster

cocolepew · 03/07/2008 16:13

love2sleep - I'd hate to work for her. She's a nightmare, snobby, rude and she has her favourites (I don't think I would be filed under 'favourites' )

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AuntieSocial · 03/07/2008 16:15

Where I work we frequently only advertise internally.

mazzystar · 03/07/2008 16:20

It's bad practice on many counts but its not illegal. She maybe saving quite a lot of money for the school in terms of recruitment costs - although obviously a photocopied sheet on the noticeboard costs very little. L.A.H.R depts can also be somewhat lumbering and take several months to get a position filled. Don't really see what you can do about it though.

Original poster

cocolepew · 03/07/2008 16:37

She sends note out asking for people to help at dinnertime 'temporarily' and then they get given C.As jobs. We stopped advertising internally a few years ago (I work for the same Ed. Board). She'd be saving money by paying he unqualified rate and not having to pay them any annual leave.

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flowerybeanbag · 03/07/2008 19:04

Why would she not have to pay annual leave coco? I see what you mean about unqualified people not earning as much but people are entitled to annual leave regardless.

Original poster

cocolepew · 04/07/2008 10:14

Anyone who subs in our schools doesn't get any paid holidays as they don't have a contract. They would just have to take the school holidays.

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flowerybeanbag · 04/07/2008 13:06

Sounds highly dodgy to me coco. I don't know how subbing works but everyone's entitled to paid holiday and a contract or a written statement. I am very surprised the Head is able to get away with employing people this way- as I said, I would expect there to be fairly stringent procedures in a school.

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