Staff at ‘outstanding’ school are facing axe
TEACHERS at an ‘outstanding’ school have been asked to take voluntary redundancy or face reapplying for their jobs.
Staff at Smithy Bridge primary have been told the school has to make cuts to its teaching staff, including both full-time teachers and teaching assistants.
The school has reportedly invited voluntary redundancies and warned that if they do not get the required number, certain positions will be made redundant and given the option to reapply.
It is understood parents have not been informed of the redundancies.
Headteacher Jane George said: “The school has had to make budget savings this year, like lots of other schools.
“We are making a small number of redundancies but it is unlikely to be more than five per cent of our staff. We are going through a consultation period at the moment and have made no decisions.”
A final decision will be made during the summer term, said Mrs George, which begins on April 18.
The total number of staff is believed to be between 60 and 70.
Smithy Bridge primary, which has about 470 pupils, was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted at its most recent inspection.
The job cuts come as schools across Rochdale has raised concerns about budget cuts under a new government funding formula.
As the Observer has reported union chiefs fear 420 teachers’ jobs are at risk as funding to Rochdale schools is slashed by £15m, under the new system, which could come into force by 2019.
Darren Randle, head at Hollingworth Academy in Milnrow, has previously said he fears the impact of the cuts would be ‘toxic’.
He added: “Everyone who works in education wants to make a positive difference to the lives of young people, but I am really concerned that this budget will harm the quality of education we are able to offer.
“It’s also crazy that we are talking about the Northern Powerhouse and improving the infrastructure of the north at the same time that we are cutting education budgets.
“It does not feel like a shared society.”
The Department for Education says the new formula will end the ‘historical postcode lottery of school funding’ ending the current ‘unfair, opaque and outdated’ system.