Liaison link lost

ALUN FRANCIS... many staff are multilingual

Redundant job worries
CONCERNED parents have spoken out about the redundancy of the Waterhead Academy’s community liaison officer.

They say a vital link with the school is being lost.

The full-time member of staff formerly worked at the predominantly Asian Breeze Hill School before it amalgamated with Counthill, whose pupils were mostly white, to create an academy in September.

She is among the 48 staff — out of a 246 workforce — whose jobs are being axed in a restructure following a £1.8 million funding shortfall for 2011/12.

However, the school is retaining a full-time primary and community liaison officer.

One parent who contacted the Chronicle did not want to be named but said: “She had done the jobs for 22 years. She is a very important link and works very closely with parents at the Pakistani Community Centre.

“She speaks several languages and is always in the community, even on her day off. I speak to her to ask how my children are doing and she is very effective in getting that across.”

The parent said that the community liaison officer had helped address community concerns about the academy’s uniform and added: “I am expressing concern on behalf of a number of parents because they can’t speak English. We are worried.

“As parents we feel we are not gong to have the support there.”

Alun Francis, principal of Oldham College which sponsors the academy, said: “For 2011/2012, the academy has reduced its expenditure for both staff and non-staff costs with 48 posts made redundant.

“This difficult decision was not taken lightly but was a necessary step as we work to deliver the vision for the academy and improve attainment for students.

“Waterhead Academy is committed to maintaining and developing links with the community in Oldham. We have retained a full-time primary and community liaison officer at the academy and many staff are multilingual.

“Parents who have concerns are always welcome to share them with the academy directly.”