About unite in schools
Most young people today don’t know what trade unions are – and they are not aware of their rights and responsibilities at work. Our national programme Unite in Schools sets out to fix this problem; to bring young people together to discuss and understand the importance of workplace protection and campaigning for equality at work and in our communities.
‘We have worked with Unite the Union on a number of occasions in Social Studies to help deliver really important information about the world of work. The achievements of the trade union movement are often taken for granted by the students but it is the importance of trade unions in their futures that we like to emphasise to the youngsters. They will face a different labour market with zero hour’s contracts and the like and we want to help prepare them for their future. Knowing the role a Trade Union can play seems to be one way of being able to understand working life.’
- Deb Holland, Assistant Head Teacher and Head of Social Studies, the Pingle School, Swadlincote, E.Mids.
What we offer
Classroom based and online sessions: using interactive student-centred learning: debates, games, short films, scenarios, role play and groupwork to enable understanding and ultimately to facilitate learning. All of our sessions are free of charge. Our basic session runs for an hour, and was originally developed to link in to the National Curriculum under PSHE (Citizenship) for Key Stage 4 - with an optimum number of 30 students.
The sessions were great and the boys really enjoyed them. ..we would love to make these regular sessions. It will help the Citizenship boys and girls answer any future exam questions about Trade Unions as well as inspiring them to join a Union in future.
- Fiona Finni, Head of Yr 9 Teacher i/c GCSE Citizenship, Newman Catholic College, London.
OUR CORE MESSAGE
We aim to demystify trade unions and to raise awareness (and confidence) around workplace rights and responsibilities, and the need for collective action around inequality in general.
We can also tailor our sessions to suit your curricula needs.
Nationally, we are currently running UiS programmes in a number of schools in a variety of contexts:
- PSHE citizenship for years 10 &11
- Rolling all-day programmes on Careers /Drop Down /Deep Learning/Democracy/Student Voice days for all years
- Building and supporting school councils for all years
- Student Assemblies
- The Power of Protest
- Women, Work and our Rights
- British Values
- Unity over Division (anti racism and unconscious bias)
“Sessions were interactive, engaging and relevant!"
- Juliette Henry, Assistant Head teacher/Head of Skills Development and Progression, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, London.