Commenting on the decision today (Thursday) by the Academies Transformation Trust (ATT) to announce jobs cuts and a major restructuring across its secondary and primary schools in the East and West Midlands, and the East of England, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said:
“This decision has come as a bolt from the blue, and will have left hundreds of staff feeling shocked and disorientated.
“The severe cuts of £500,000 a year mean school support staff will either lose their jobs, or have to apply for new ones, some on much less pay. The top two highest paid executives at ATT earned £360,000 a year between them – roughly three quarters of the cuts being proposed.
“Ministers claim academy status gives heads a greater degree of autonomy over the running of their schools. But today’s decision has completely pulled the rug from under the feet of the 21 ATT head teachers, undermining them completely.
“UNISON is seeking early talks with ATT to discover why it’s making these damaging cuts now, and to protect as many jobs as possible.”
Notes to editors:
– Trustees remuneration obtained from the ATT accounts for 2014/15 p36.
- All UNISON press release can be found at https://www.unison.org.uk/news/media-centre/
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Alan Weaver T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07939 143310 E: a.weaver@unison.co.uk
