‘WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOL?’
Protest following an exodus of staff
PARENTS are staging protests outside a school amid claims all teachers, teaching assistants and a receptionist have left.
They say lessons at Hutchinson Memorial CE First School in Checkley, near Cheadle, are instead being taught by supply teachers and staff brought in from another school within the multi-academy trust.
Mum Finola Bandrick, who has one child at the ‘outstanding’ rated school, said since September ‘every single one’ of the teachers left unexpectedly. The 38-year-old has taken the drastic decision to home educate her child instead until a resolution has been reached.
Uttoxeter Learning Trust confirmed to The Sentinel that a number of staff were off sick and ‘steps were being to support staff’ and ‘ensure the education of children is not affected.’
Finola, a spokesman for the concerned parents, said their issue was not with the school itself but the Uttoxeter Learning Trust. She added: “Every single one of the teachers has left. My son heard that his teacher had left and he was really worried about him. I will now be home schooling my child until something is sorted.
“The parents have not got a problem with the teachers or the school. It’s still an amazing school because of all the groundwork the staff have put in over the years. It was rated outstanding by Ofsted two years ago.
“The Trust wants to change everything that was working so well. They’ve upturned a perfectly brilliant school.”
Parents were invited to a meeting at the end of February after many had raised concerns about staff welfare to the Uttoxeter Learning Trust leadership.
Finola, who works as a primary school teacher elsewhere, said: “At the meeting the Trust promised us that they wouldn’t lose any more
members of staff. They said staff welfare is a massive concern.
“Since the meeting more staff have left. It’s been over two months since the meeting, and they’ve been aware since November. If the children were a priority then why haven’t they done anything about it? As parents we need to do something.
“I keep reiterating, what has changed since September 2023? What the hell is going on in our brilliant school?”