MPs write to crisis-hit schools trust over job cuts and strikes

MPS have added their voices to a growing call for clarity over the funding crisis and job cuts at an academy trust as staff at 14 schools embark on their latest strike days.

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The trust, based at Chester Green in Derby, and whose schools include The Priory Catholic Voluntary Academy in Eastwood, English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary Academy in Long Eaton and St Thomas's Catholic Primary School, Ilkeston, has been struggling to balance its books for the past three years and is now just under £10 million in the red.

This has resulted in two notices of financial improvement from the Government after having the worst financial position of any of England's 2,200 other academy trusts.

The trust has been restructuring to save money but with around 40 people, mainly support staff, due to be made redundant, the National Educational Union (NEU) and Unison, have been staging a series of strikes, closing or partially closing the schools up to three times a week.

Three strikes are due this week and three more are scheduled for next week, with striking staff due to head to London on Wednesday, June 10 to lobby the Department For Education (DfE), to remedy the financial situation to save their schools.