Future of staff on agenda at meeting over Telford crisis schools
A meeting was due to be held tonight in Telford to discuss staff redundancies at two academies placed in special measures by a Government watchdog after being described as "inadequate".
Sutherland Co-operative Academy and Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy are to merge in the summer, moving onto a new school site and reopening as Telford Co-operative Academy in time for the start of the new school term in September.
Both schools, along with Lakeside Academy and Phoenix Academy, are part of the Telford Co-operative Multi Academy Trust (TCMAT). All four received the worst possible rating from Ofsted following inspections earlier this year and will now be closely monitored.
TCMAT chairman Peter Lawley said because of the merger it was "inevitable" there would be redundancies.
Rumours had been circulating that teachers and staff would learn whether they were to keep their jobs or not at the meeting, due to take place at Wrockwardine Wood.
But while Telford & Wrekin Council has confirmed a behind-closed-doors meeting will take place, chiefs said it was just to update staff on the latest position and no firm decisions had been made.
Mr Lawley said: "With Sutherland and Wrockwardine schools merger announced back in 2013 it was inevitable that there would be staff redundancies.
"The consultation process for re-structure due to merger has been going on for some time now via a series of meetings with staff and staff representatives within the statutory framework for such provision, which will shortly be completed.
"The re-structure process for the Telford Co-operative Academy is not yet completed, and I cannot therefore comment on the question of how many staff posts will be lost."
The Community Academies Trust (CAT) has been announced as the new sponsor of the four academies following the Ofsted reports and directors have joined the TCMAT board to begin work with a view to taking full control in September.
