Academy jobs under threat

Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date published: 22 March 2011


ONE of Oldham’s newest schools has told staff they face redundancies.

All 250 workers at Waterhead Academy, including 115 teachers, were called to a meeting with principal David Yates yesterday.

The school, which replaced Breeze Hill and Counthill in September, is expecting a “significant” shortfall in funding from the Government.

Mr Yates confirmed to the Oldham Chronicle that there would be redundancies, but was unable to say how many at the moment.

That will depend on the final funding figure which is expected by the end of this month.

Oldham College, which sponsors the academy, has said that a new staffing structure will be given to employees in April.

Mr Yates said that he had wanted to inform staff now, rather than waiting until the final announcement which will be just before the Easter holidays.

He said: “My staff have been very professional and worked really hard to achieve the early successes that we have.

“I was informing them of the potential situation that we are in at the earliest opportunity because they have the right to know.

“If the situation changes for whatever reason, extra money comes in, then I would call another staff meeting immediately.”

Mr Yates added: “There will still be a substantial, first-class curriculum on offer.”

A meeting will be held with unions on Thursday.

Tony Harrison, secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers, said: “We knew there were going to be funding difficulties from the experience of at least one of the two schools which the academy replaced.

“We pointed this out to the sponsors constantly during the negotiations over the change to an academy, and they constantly denied there would be any possible financial difficulties. They went ahead ignoring what we were predicting.

“We will obviously do anything we can to protect the jobs of our members and we will support our members there.”

The academy, one of three which opened in Oldham in September, will move into a new building in Waterhead next year.

A statement from Oldham College said: “The organisation is undergoing restructuring following the indications on future funding from the government.

“Principal David Yates spoke to the 250 staff to inform them of the changes in staffing and to offer a fair and transparent process.

“The consultation process has commenced with the final funding agreement anticipated at the end of March and the new academy structure to be circulated in early April to all employees.”