'Short-sighted and damaging proposal'

A UNION has condemned the impending closure of the Skills Academy in Billingham, branding it a “short-sighted and damaging proposal”.

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

The University and College Union (UCU) has warned the closure will damage educational provision and take away a “lifeline” for vulnerable learners and threaten the jobs of dedicated staff, and has implored the collective which runs the site to rethink its plans. It says all eight Skills Academy staff members have been placed at risk of redundancy.

The UCU criticised a lack of transparency and said the loss would be a major blow to young people who cannot thrive in mainstream education.

The union urged the Education Training Collective (Etc.), the group of colleges and training providers which includes the academy, to consider the serious impact on Teesside’s most vulnerable learners and families.

The Etc. says there have been “extensive plans” to move provision for the 14 to 18-year-old students and there will be “no loss to the number of learner places”. It also says there are 10 potential “good opportunities for redeployment” for staff.

The Gazette has been told staff at the academy were as shocked as parents, and found out about the closure in a meeting last Wednesday, when they were informed all their jobs were at risk and they were entering a 10-day consultation period.

The news comes days before teaching and learning for students is due to end, with the academy's summer term breaking up tomorrow.

It is understood letters were sent home with students on Tuesday afternoon informing parents of the “important update”.