Teaching and support jobs to be axed at three schools
UNIONS CRITICISE THE TIMING AS ‘MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE’
DOZENS of teachers and support staff are set to lose their jobs in a big shake-up at three local schools. Archway Learning Trust has proposed a reorganisation of Lees Brook Community School in Chaddesden, Merrill Academy in Alvaston and Long Eaton School after taking over last month. Nick Raine from the National Education Union said ble”.the decision to go ahead with the restructure in the midst of a pandemic was “morally reprehensiBut Sian Hampton, chief executive of Archway Learning Trust said: “This restructure has been driven by our desire to see every child receive the best possible education within the context of a caring and nurturing environment.”
A MASSIVE shake-up of staff at three local schools is set to result in the loss of dozens of current teaching, support and administration jobs.
The proposed restructuring of Lees Brook Community School in Chaddesden, Merrill Academy in Alvaston and Long Eaton School is being undertaken by the Archway Learning Trust, based in Nottingham.
But the trust says it is introducing new roles across all of the schools, such as year leaders, teaching assistants and new administration roles “to support ongoing and improving student behaviour”.
This would mean 25.5 job losses overall after old posts were lost and new ones introduced.
As well as the job losses, dozens of staff are scheduled to receive salary reductions after the learning trust proposed ending their teaching and learning responsibility payments for carrying out additional duties over and above their teaching work.
One member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said that this could mean a reduction in salary of between £7,000 to £14,000 for some staff, and that the restructure would “rip the heart out of the schools”.
They added it had been a “massive shock” for everyone”. The reduction in salary is protected for three years.
Some staff will be eligible to apply for the new roles, but others will not, according to the teaching unions.
The trust has stated in its consultation documents that it is likely to save in the region of £880,761 annually on salaries across the three schools.
It took over the schools, which used to form the Northworthy Trust, on February 1 and staff were notified last week that consultation on the new structure was beginning.
Archway says that a review of the schools aims to balance the books and is a “desire to see every child receive the best possible education within the context of a caring and nurturing environment”.
Two major teaching unions have condemned the Archway Learning Trust’s actions, saying it is “ill-timed” because of the pandemic and appealed for the restructure to be postponed.
The senior management structure in each school would be reduced, together with a loss of teaching, technician and administration jobs. The role of lunchtime supervisors would no longer exist in any of the schools.
Sian Hampton, chief executive of Archway Learning Trust said: “Last week, Archway Learning Trust began formal consultation on a staffing restructure at each of the former Northworthy Trust schools on proposals for September 2021.
“This restructure has been driven by our desire to see every child receive the best possible education within the context of a caring and nurturing environment. In order to facilitate the best teaching and learning and best behaviour possible, it has necessitated a full curriculum review at each site and the need to propose bringing in additional staff.
“We have taken a targeted approach that focuses on an efficient curriculum design and to bring in expertise that will help each school to improve.
“At Archway, we see ourselves very much as a ‘family,’ not only of learners but also of staff.
“We appreciate the enormous efforts that all staff have been making through this pandemic and are extremely grateful for all the work that staff have put in to make this time the best possible learning time for the young people.”
Ms Hampton said that the restructure was about “sustainable, outstanding education into the future” and not a comment on current staff.
She said: “We continue to work hard with trade unions and our HR colleagues to provide as much support for staff as possible during this process. We trust that all staff will understand that these are important changes to safeguard the continuing success of these schools and is done in as open, transparent and fair way as possible.
“All those affected by the proposals are encouraged to engage in the consultation process and no decision on final structures have yet been made.
“We do accept that some staff will find this an anxious time and we have done everything in our power to try and reduce any concerns whilst this process is under way.”
But Nick Raine, NEU senior officer, said that the decision to proceed with restructure at this time was “morally reprehensible”.
He said: “Staff in schools have been working non-stop and very hard to adapt to new ways of working in the past 12 months so that children can still be in learning despite the pandemic.
“Our members are working more hours than ever and are overworked, and then they are faced with redundancy.
“We are speaking with our members to see what they want to do and to give them advice and support. We don’t want to take industrial action, but this is completely unreasonable.”
Sheila Rollinson, Derby NASUWT branch secretary, said: “We do find it extremely disappointing that Archway Trust has started this process whilst we are still in the middle of a global pandemic with teachers working flat out to try to maintain children’s educations under such difficult circumstances.
“We have asked them to at least postpone the process as recognition of the negative impact this will have on the wellbeing of our members.”