Academy staff at risk of axe in budget cuts

Staff at The Ripley Academy may face the axe after it was revealed redundancies could be made at the end of this year.

Rob McDonough, the CEO of the East Midlands Education Trust, said: “The academy, and the vast majority of schools, will soon face tough decisions with regards to budgets – We’re facing a financial storm.

“But everyone is working together as a team, in a positive way.

“We are hopeful that we won’t have to make any compulsory redundancies and we are working hard alongside the staff to explore all other avenues – that will be a last resort.”

Principal of the school on Peasehill, Carey Ayres agreed.

She said: “We have held a number of meetings with staff and unions during which we have discussed a new proposed staffing model designed to deliver the curriculum in the most effective way possible, which would see the necessary savings being made. We’re considering requests for voluntary redundancy and changed working hours. Any forced redundancies would be an absolute last resort.

“A decision has been made through consultation with staff and unions that should we need to make any forced redundancies of teaching staff this would not happen until December 31, giving staff the time to explore other potential solutions and for staff to seek alternative employment should they wish to. It’s also entirely possible that we may not have to make any compulsory redundancies. It’s important to stress that this is not a result of academy conversion. The academy trust is positive about the future and has been very supportive.”