Commenting on the passing of Motion 22 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Pregnancy and maternity discrimination against women in the education sector is much too common. Existing legal protections are not understood and are flouted. Many women staff face discrimination after they inform their employer of their pregnancy. Much better support is required around pregnancy sickness, and around pregnancy loss and during maternity leave. Education falls behind most other jobs in terms of the support and openness on offer about returning part time.
“The profession is losing great women teachers because requests for flexible working are not accommodated. Although teaching is a female dominated profession, it lags behind other sectors around flexible working and support for teachers when they become parents. Women continue to lose out in terms of progression and pay compared to male peers.
“NEU research, to be published this year, shows that it doesn’t have to be this way. Many school and college leaders recognise the benefits of supporting, coaching, and valuing pregnant women and new mothers. We have found exemplary practice; heads and deputies going beyond the law to protect the health of pregnant women, to support women in their career choices, and devising creative arrangements to reward committed women teachers at work.
“The government must do more to strengthen the rights of pregnant women, bereaved parents, new mothers and women returning to work. The DFE must take the intensification of teacher workload much more seriously, which many new parents find incompatible with their important caring commitments.”
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2023-075-NEU