Shrewsbury Sixth Form College staff in protest
Thursday 7th April 2011, 8:00PM BST.
Teachers at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College – Shropshire’s biggest A-level centre – will stage a protest today, Friday, April 8, over funding cuts and proposed job losses for up to 29 members of staff.
The National Union of Teachers has condemned a £750,000 reduction in funding for the college over the next three years and says that restructuring proposals will lead to compulsory redundancy for up to 29 teachers and support staff.
Union members are being asked to assemble at the college gates at 12.15pm to protest at the plans.
Members are also to be balloted at some point on taking industrial action.
Principal Martin Ward, in a statement on behalf of the college leadership, said today the college understood “the way that staff feel at this time” and was working with them to find a way forward.
He said representations had been made both to local MPs and the Education Minister Lord Hill.
The NUT argues that management could avoid compulsory redundancies as staff leave voluntarily during the three years of cuts, should wait to see how far student numbers might offset the funding cuts, and cancel spending on IT and building upgrades.
Mr Ward said the college was consulting on a plan, endorsed by governors.
“Unfortunately, this will mean staffing cuts,” he said.
“Through consultation, the college will aim to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum.
“The range and quality of provision will be maintained.”
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Cutting EMA, university tuition fees increasing to record levels and now cuts to education like this are damaging our children’s education and therefore their future. And it’s damaging the country’s future as a result. It’s time to stand up and say ‘no’ before it’s too late.
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I agree that some of the cuts are to much and far to quick. However the EMA is a benefit that should be cut(which it has) or even abolished fully. What people forget is the child’s parents while that child remains in education are still in receipt of child benefit and child tax credit combined this can equate to around £80 pw, the EMA is around £30 pw, lets face it this is what a teenager can get on a fairly small paper round or a teenager can get doing a sat/sun job week by no stretch of the imagination would this harm any of the education they do through the week if anything it gives them a taste of the work ethic. I question if the EMA goes on books/travel possibly in the poorest of cases however these can still get the EMA .
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What a feeble and pointless protest these lot have just done in the square Shrewsbury. No one was interested. Teachers always winge when there is talk of losing money. Your not the only people losing cash and the world does not just stop for you…
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I agree with Andrew in respect to the EMA payments. I went to college during 2002-2004 and didn’t receive EMA at that time; I had to do a weekend/evening job and I believe it set me up right for full-time employment after college.
Whilst I appreciate that it was an “incentive” to continue education, it seems more like a bribe. If they don’t want to further their education, then don’t waste money. They’re still under parental supervision, so if they parents can’t give them a kick up the a**e, who can?
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