UK ’ s largest academy trust ’ s caretaker cuts pose serious risk to pupils, say unions

Some schools face losing 50% of caretaking staff under an academy chain’s ‘controversial’ plans released today (Tuesday). Education unions have issued a warning over plans by London-based Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) to slash £1.4 million from its schools’ estates budgets. Under the plan AET is proposing to cut the number of buildings and estates staff in schools by over 25%, resulting in at least 34 redundancies across its 66 primary, special and secondary academies. Schools across the UK are affected – including those in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Gloucester and Milton Keynes. Some schools would see the number of caretakers cut by 50%, with one earmarked to lose two-thirds of its estates staff. Education unions are warning of the impact the cuts will have on the safe running of schools. To date the trust has not provided the unions with a health and safety risk assessment of its plans. The unions are calling on AET to halt the plan immediately in favour of a proper period of genuine consultation with the schools, staff, and parents. As part of its cuts plans, the trust is also proposing to take the management of site staff and estates budgets away from schools. This will undermine the ability of individual heads and principals to make urgent decisions in the best interests of their pupils and staff, say unions. AET’s recently appointed chief executive Julian Drinkall is reportedly receiving an annual salary of ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release academy schools Caretakers education and training education services Source Type: news