Unions call for cost-cutting plan at The Bay CE School to be scrapped
Questions over rationale for proposals that could see 15 jobs axed at Sandown school
Trade unions have joined forces to challenge cost-cutting plans at The Bay CE School on the Isle of Wight which could see up to 15 jobs axed.
GMB, Unison, NASUWT and NEU UNIONS are concerned following the resumption of budget-slashing consultation meetings.
The Bay, which took over the former Academies Enterprise Trust, Sandown Bay Academy, has developed proposals which raise more questions than give answers, the GMB says.
The proposed changes could see up to 15 jobs axed, with remaining staff suffering detrimental changes to their working hours and other terms and conditions.
Meanwhile the academy’s financial statements are a mess, GMB says. Staffing costs are down as more than 100% of budget, whereas they were previously 74% with staff numbers down since then.
Other figures are out of date and in some instances, don’t match detail by the employer on Government websites.
Unions are requesting that the process be scrapped and a fresh review of all financial detail and potential impacts made.
A joint letter to be submitted to governors says unions are unanimous in calling for a new, fully comprehensive consultation document to be created, as it is strongly felt last year’s paper is not appropriate, with many changes to staffing levels during the past 12 months. [1]
Adrian Baker, GMB Union Regional Organiser, said:
“The strength of feeling of the staff on this matter is quite extraordinary. They feel that above all else, the pupils and the wider community will suffer as a result of these changes due to a heavily increased workload leaving less time available to both fulfil their roles to the best of their ability, and support the most important part of any school, the pupils.
“All unions have concerns relating to the figures given, the impact of the cuts on safeguarding, health and safety and morale at the school, as well as the impact on young people within the community.
There has been a stop-start mechanism to this process due to the pandemic and all unions involved believe that a fresh approach needs to be taken with a review of the proposals, an impact assessment on all roles going forward and that an updated set of figures be presented by the employer.”
A Bay School employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said:
“The consultation is being based on other secondary school models and not on our school or how it will operate under the staffing mechanism of others.
“We are dealing with an old school spread over three buildings, students from poor, vulnerable homes, higher rates of mental health problems after covid, more behaviour problems after covid, future building works, rooms not fit for purpose, large class sizes, teachers teaching many subjects and they should be taking all of these things into consideration.
“I am appalled by the treatment of the staff over the past few years. We had the news of the consultation previously which was stressful and upsetting with it then being put on hold as we were thrown into covid.
“It saddens me that the very people who are potentially being made redundant or loosing pay are the very people who kept the school going throughout all the lockdowns. The very staff who have been in for the children at their own risk, and many caught covid themselves. The very people who tested thousands of students and staff with less protection than the NHS. Only now to be treated like this: shown the door or forced to do the same job or joint roles for less money.
“I am genuinely worried about the safety, the level of education and the happiness of our students if this goes ahead. If they took away one member of the leadership team it would pay for 4fourof us, who are on the floor helping run the school.
“I'm so fed up with them putting money above safety, well-being, education, support and community.”
ENDS
Media enquiries: GMB Press Office on 07958 156846 or at press.office@gmb.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
[1] Letter at www.gmb-southern.org.uk/joint-union-letter-to-governors-at-the-bay-school
[2] Further comments from employees:
"Our students deserve the best. Not a cost-cutting exercise. The students and parents of The Bay CE School are our customers and they deserve to know what is being proposed in the restructure. They deserve to know because if the proposal is agreed, then it will directly impact THEM. Therefore, they should have just as much a say in this process as the staff who may be affected. They should know that there exists an obvious lack of understanding regarding the roles undertaken by existing staff.
The shoddily put together proposed job descriptions are testimony to this. Job descriptions that combine 2 or 3 major roles. Job descriptions that are virtually the same yet are 2 or 3 pay scales lower. In addition to unreasonable expectations, the restructure proposes that the time allocated to each role will be reduced; but no counter action has been taken to reduce responsibilities.
The goodwill at The Bay CE School is being rinsed away; morale is low. And ultimately it will be the students who suffer the most when staff are unable to cope. You can only do so much in so many hours. You can only reach a limited standard with limited time. Less staff, less man hours, and unreasonable expectations = poor provision."
“Support staff at The Bay are massively concerned about the impact of these proposals on the provision of education at the school and are calling for an urgent rethink”, said Mark Chiverton (Branch Secretary – UNISON). “The frequent cuts in staff numbers over recent years have already stretched all work areas to the limit and there are growing concerns that this new package of measures will leave the school unable to fulfil its statutory obligations in meeting key special educational needs as well as putting health and safety at risk”.
