Teachers, support staff, parents and grandparents join pickets amid strikes at six Derbyshire schools

Teachers, support staff, parents and grandparents have joined picket lines at six Derbyshire schools to strike against planned “catastrophic” job cuts and job downgrading at St Ralph Sherwin Trust schools.

This comes after the crisis-hit Catholic Academy Trust, which has schools in Derbyshire, East Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire, reported a deficit of over £10 million – the largest of any Trust in England.

The Trust has been subject to intervention by the Department For Education, which has led to some changes across senior management with a number leaving the Trust.

Now changes to staffing structures at the trust’s central team and some of the schools were proposed to tackle the financial difficulties.

The proposals have been met with strong opposition from staff members and education unions who raised concerns over making teachers redundant in multiple schools, removing responsibility payments, downgrading jobs and slashing the pay, conditions and jobs of the lowest paid support staff.

National Education Union (NEU) has proposed eight days of strike in response to the proposals, which are set to affect six of Derbyshire schools including St Elizabeth’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Belper, St John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy in Ilkeston, St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy in Buxton, St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby, Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby and St Albans Catholic Voluntary Academy, also in Derby.

Speaking about the first day of strike action, Nick Raine, National Education Union’s Senior Regional Officer for East Midlands, said: “We had a fantastic response from teachers, support staff, parents, grandparents and members of the Catholic Community on our pickets.

“It was wonderful to see and hear the support from parents who value the work and commitment of staff who work with their children and support the stand they are taking to defend our schools, our jobs and our communities.”

The proposed job cuts are set to affect staff members in 14 out of 25 of St Ralph Sherwin Trust schools.

The National Education Union represents the majority of staff in the schools and has planned eight days of initial strike action to take place on Tuesday, April 21, Wednesday, April 22, Tuesday May 5, Wednesday, May 6, Thursday May 7, Tuesday, May 19, Wednesday May 20 and Thursday, May 21.

The NEU representatives will be joined by colleagues from UNISON as well as members of school communities including parents and grandparents.

Mr Raine added: “The situation at St Ralph Sherwin is dire and without precedent.

"Dedicated staff are now facing huge job losses due to a catastrophic failure of oversight and governance at the Trust which has failed them over many years.

"The attempt to blame the recent pay award won’t wash as St Ralph Sherwin has run up the largest deficit in England, hiding it from staff then deciding to decimate jobs when the DFE investigate and discover a black hole in the Trust’s finances.

“The proposed cuts will lead to the loss of dozens of dedicated staff; roles being deleted that are vital to support pupils, and the destruction of pay and conditions which will mean that the most vulnerable pupils could miss out on the help they desperately need.

“The Trust has kept parents in the dark to limit damage to its reputation. Staff feel angry and betrayed. Some feel intimidated into silence in their schools.

"They now have no choice but to come together and stand up for their pupils and schools against a distant Trust that appears to wish to plough on regardless.

"Colleagues are appalled that despite receiving notification of 8 days of strike action the Trust remain silent and have made no attempt to meet or negotiate with the union. We believe parents will be appalled at this as we enter exam season and schools across St Ralph Sherwin face a potentially long and protracted industrial dispute in several schools.

“The NEU remains resolute in its willingness to fight for the future of St Ralph Sherwin schools and we are willing to negotiate a resolution in the best interests of pupils, parents and the community.”

St Ralph Sherwin Trust has apologised for distress by the proposed staffing changes and said further discussions with unions would take place to “avert any strike action”.

Kevin Gritton, St Ralph Sherwin Trust CEO, said: "We are deeply sorry for any distress caused around proposed staffing changes at some of our schools and we recognise the impact of strike action on pupils and families.

"We continue to pursue all possible options with Union colleagues and with staff in each school but we do have to ensure that the overall Trust budget is in a balanced position come September 1st 2026.

"We have already implemented and continue to focus on other areas where we can reduce costs and increase income.

"Ultimately, we have to ensure that all of our schools, and our Central Team, are spending in line with the income that we receive and that we are operating within DfE benchmarks.

"We will continue to hold discussions with Union colleagues and will seek to avert any strike action."