Schools

Unions threaten results day disruption as AQA staff plan three-day strike

Some AQA staff will strike over pay later this month, but the exam board said claims of results day disruption are 'wrong'

Some AQA staff will strike over pay later this month, but the exam board said claims of results day disruption are 'wrong'

22 Jul 2022, 17:21

More from this author

Staff at the country’s largest exam board AQA will go on strike for three days later this month, with a union warning it could disrupt GCSE and A-level exam results.

Unison said today strike action in a row over pay will go ahead, with plans for a walkout between Friday 29 and Sunday 31 July.

The union says it has 180 members, including some staff involved in the awarding of grades, and that the action “could affect the delivery of thousands of GCSE and A-level results”.

But an AQA spokesperson said it had “robust plans in place” to ensure any industrial action did not stop students getting their results on time.

“It’s a shame that Unison is claiming otherwise, as this is wrong and only serves needlessly to alarm students and teachers.”

Lizanne Devonport, regional organiser for the union in the north-west, said staff had been left with “no other option” than the walkout, plans of which were first revealed by Schools Week.

She said a three per cent pay offer “isn’t a wage rise, it’s a pay cut with costs spiralling”.

“Workers only strike as a last resort. They’d rather be doing the job they’re proud of. They don’t want to disrupt students and know how important exam results are to them.”

Workers were given just days to accept the offer, or face a “fire and rehire” scenario, Unison claimed.

But an AQA spokesperson said it was offering an “affordable” pay rise higher than many other organisations, with the average pay increase standing at 5.6 per cent – as staff will also receive a pro rata £500 payment. Those below the top of their bands will see incremental increases.

The lowest-paid staff will receive higher pay offers, he added. He also noted the ballot only included around 160 members, when AQA had around 1,200 staff overall.

He claimed most staff did not support the action, adding: “Nearly nine out of ten of our staff have already opted in to our new pay framework and agreed to the pay rise, including many Unison members, so it’s hard to see what this strike is trying to achieve.” 

Unison said 71 per cent of voters backed industrial action and minimum turnout rules were reached. But AQA said “well under half of Unison’s own members” did not back the action overall, as only 56 per cent voted at all.

Latest education roles from

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Solihull College and University Centre

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Dream Big Day: Empowering Every Pupil to Imagine, Create, and Flourish

In today’s rapidly evolving world, educators face an immense challenge: How do we inspire young people to envision ambitious...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Reframing digital skills for the workforce of tomorrow

No longer just for those with a passion for technology: why digital skills matter

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Safe to speak, ready to act: SaferSpace tackles harassment, misconduct and safeguarding concerns in schools 

In today’s education climate, where safeguarding, wellbeing and staff retention are under increasing scrutiny, the message is clear: schools...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Beyond exams: why ASDAN’s refreshed qualifications are key to real-world learner success

In today’s outcome-driven education landscape, it’s easy to overlook the quieter, yet equally vital, qualities that help learners truly...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Schools

Loss of £80m low-carbon skills fund could stop schools going green

Cash-strapped schools will be unable to afford bids for a wider decarbonisation scheme, consultants warn

Jack Dyson
Schools

Jewish school charities part of £22m cheque-cashing probe

Charity Commission launches inquiry following HMRC raid on a firm in Hackney

Jack Dyson
Schools

Schools wanted for AI lesson planning trial

Education Endowment Foundation study to assess whether AI tool can save teachers time while not compromising on quality

Rhi Storer
Schools

Poorer pupils ‘locked out’ of key subjects due to teacher shortages

Teacher shortages ‘block poorest pupils from some of the best-paid careers in AI-driven economy’

Rhi Storer

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *