Teaching unions say staff should not pay for 'crisis' at the Ridings Federation, which manages Yate and Winterbourne International Academies

A joint statement from the National Union of Teachers, National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, Association of Teachers & Lecturers and Unison, says staff should not “pay for a crisis they did not create”.

This follows the Ridings Federation announcing that it was planning to hand control of the two schools to another ‘multi-academy trust’ (MAT), after it was revealed that there was a £1million shortfall in the budget.

Both academies had been classed as ‘requiring improvement’ following Ofsted inspections, executive principal Adam Williams has now departed from the post he only took up in February after the previous incumbent, Beverley Martin, left the role following a series of strikes by staff who were unhappy with the management of the schools.

Last week, Claire Emery, the chairman of the Ridings Federation’s board of trustees, sent a letter to parents to say that three MATs had shown an interest in taking over the academies.

They are Greenshaw Learning Trust, Oasis and a third MAT which they were unable to give details of.

The statement from the unions said: “We do not accept that staff should pay for a crisis they did not create or that children’s education should suffer as its consequence.

“We have a concern to protect and advance the provision of education in Yate and Winterbourne and have principles on how best that be done. We advocate a structure for schools that is publicly and locally accountable and answers need rather than commercial interest or economic constraint.

“We will vigorously oppose any solution that involves the introduction of free schools or selection.

“We recognise that many staff support separate solutions for Winterbourne and Yate/Woodlands Academies. This is indicative of the failure of the Ridings Federation. If that is to be, we oppose any solution that protects one at the expense of the others. We also require the protection of staff who have a cross-federation role.

“There is no evidence that the wide spread of academies has improved education and our priority remains good, local schools that are accountable through the LEA, in the same way as most South Gloucestershire schools.

“If the schools are to remain academies, we would prefer a local multi-academy trust (MAT) rather than a national chain as there is the possibility of at least some local connection and they are usually easier to deal with for both staff and parents.

“We would be interested in and possibly support (depending on the terms) the federation schools joining the Co-operative Trust whose schools have some community connection and accountability.

“We are resolutely opposed to the Oasis Trust because of its poor record locally of relations with employees, its plan to make a 12 per cent budget reduction and its imposition of a particular ethos which Ridings staff and parents have not signed up to.

“The trade unions have no current or previous industrial relations issues with Greenshaw Learning Trust.”

“In conclusion, we must insist on the transparency of and participation in the decision-making process for staff, students, parents and the community.

“It must be free from overt or covert conflicts of interest. By allowing this situation to develop, the Ridings Trust and the Regional Schools Commissioner have forfeited any rights they may claim to confidentiality and arbitrary management.”