Ministers have been warned tensions are growing between unions and cash-strapped trusts, amid fears of job cuts to keep schools afloat.
Dozens of schools have been rocked by strike announcements this week over planned restructures dubbed “neither fair nor sustainable”.
But one multi-academy trust (MAT) chief emphasised he had already exhausted other cost-saving options, with academies struggling with falling rolls.
Stephen Morales, Institute of School Business Leadership chief executive, warned: “If we continue to find ourselves in a tight fiscal environment, then it is inevitable that we’re going to see more of this.
“You shouldn’t be surprised to see leaders make difficult decisions, and it’s inevitable disputes with unions will emerge.”
Walk out by support staff
Support staff in Unison will walk out next week at the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic MAT, affecting 14 schools in the east Midlands.
The union claimed trust plans will see “pay significantly reduced” and “substantial reductions across key roles”, including teaching assistants, administrative staff and chaplaincy teams.
Josie Lloyd, of Unison, said: “Slashing the wages of some of the lowest-paid employees, while expecting them to do the same or even more work, is neither fair nor sustainable.”
St Ralph’s latest accounts show it ended last year £9.2 million in the red.
The Department for Education issued a notice to improve in February, its second in three years.
It told the chain to “provide evidence it is expediting efficiencies to bring in-year savings, including staff restructuring”.
CEO Kevin Gritton said he has worked with the DfE on a financial recovery plan, with changes planned to “staffing structures at some schools and our central team”. Consultation is underway.
“We hope to achieve the savings we need to through voluntary means, and compulsory redundancies would always be a last resort.”
Falling rolls blamed
Unison staff will also strike at eight schools in the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic MAT in the same region.
James McGeachie, trust CEO, said the chain was working with academies to improve its finances.
But it has “a small number”, most with falling rolls, where savings “have not been high enough”.
McGeachie launched a consultation on “new staffing structures for these schools” to bring employee numbers “more in line” with DfE-recommended levels.
The Confederation of School Trusts’ (CST) annual survey revealed many CEOs were looking at cutting staff to balance the books.
But Unison said members working for Our Lady of Lourdes and St Ralph fear the proposals could mean children “lose access to essential support and supervision”.
iPad reviews and funding questions
Meanwhile in Rochdale, teachers at St Cuthbert’s RC High School went on strike last month over allegations of “violent and abusive behaviour from some pupils”.
Union NASUWT accused its trust, St Theresa of Calcutta, of stripping the school of staff and resources.
Councillors penned an open letter questioning the size of St Teresa’s top slice, and a planned restructure. The trust declined to comment.
Earlier this year staff across 20 Arthur Terry Learning Partnership schools also walked out over planned redundancies.
The trust – which has a deficit of over £8 million – later “agreed to end all current consultations linked to staffing restructures”.
Instead, it hopes to secure its financial recovery by “honouring all voluntary redundancy requests” and restructuring roles and responsibilities among central team members.
It is also consulting on the next phase of its controversial use of iPads, having bought 5,500 devices and leased 5,500 more.
In a letter to parents, Arthur Terry said their usage was “no longer financially sustainable in its current form”.
Lee Miller, its interim chief executive, said: “It is still the case that we need to make difficult decisions to reduce the trust’s deficit and secure the long-term future of our schools, but we are working in a transparent and open manner with our union partners.”
‘All trusts impacted’
More than 80 per cent of CEOs polled by CST said budgets were the biggest barrier to their priorities.
More than half (53 per cent) described falling rolls as the most immediate risk to financial sustainability, followed by SEND costs (46 per cent) and teacher costs (37 per cent).
Former trust chief Nick Hurn added: “There’s not enough money in the system to finance what we’ve had in the past. Unfortunately, this invariably means you’re going to shed staff.
“With the economic realities as they are, there will be increased tension and conflict moving forward between schools and unions.”
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