17/02/2023
Dear Ms Keegan,
I am sure that upon being appointed to the role of Secretary of State for Education, you immediately began to read around the subject. As a result, I am certain that you will have come across Maslow's hierarchy of needs in some form or other. In the unlikely event that you haven't, let me explain why this theory is so important and how an understanding of it might just help in the latest round of pay negotiations.
In Maslow's theory, those whose lowest level needs have not been met will make decisions based on pay. In addition, you need to remember that personnel will also default to this lowest level if their higher-level needs are no longer being met.
For example, if school staff are feeling a lack of self-esteem, a lack of respect, are subject to violence, must work without the materials they need, don't have time with their families as they are so busy with work, are under such pressure from for example OFSTED that they don't have time to relax, have disturbed sleep patterns due to work, don’t have time to eat or drink much during the day as they are so busy and actively need to plan toilet breaks then the one thing they feel they have a little control over is negotiating their pay. This does not mean that pay is the most important thing to be negotiated but at a national level more can be done to solve the pay situation than it can solve issues concerning toilet breaks or the supply of glue sticks.
Maslow also introduced the idea that our needs change constantly. As one need is met, we move onto the next. Motivation from rewards is finite. The unfunded pay rise we have already received, won’t motivate us for the next five years. The letter of thanks from the Chair of Governors won’t satisfy our need for appreciation much beyond the end of the academic year. The tub of Haribo in the staff room will cheer us up until it is empty, so about five minutes after it has been opened.
I hope you can take the time to look at the attached image too. If you really want to improve school staff retention, engagement of school staff and the wellbeing of school staff that OFSTED constantly bangs on about, spend time understanding how and why continuing to adapt to meet the needs of school staff isn’t a weakness on your part. It is all about building a strong, successful and stable workforce so that our children can thrive. It is about getting the foundations firm so they can be built upon. Take one final look at the diagram. If you want those higher level outcomes, you must make sure the lowest level of needs are met first.
Yours,
Mrs Smith.
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