Chief Executive of strike-hit academy trust to take leave of absence
More than 800 staff at the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership have downed tools over nine days over fears of compulsory redundancies
The boss of a West Midlands academy trust which faces hundreds of teachers striking over potential redundancies will take a leave of absence, it has been announced.
Members of staff who are in the National Education Union (NEU) continued strike action on Wednesday at 20 schools in the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership.
One teacher told the Press Association staff are on strike at schools which are part of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership after being told there could be about "100 redundancies" because of the trust's financial issues.
More than 800 NEU members at the trust have been on strike over nine days of action in January, and have extended action across nine days in February, over concerns there could be compulsory redundancies.
A spokesperson for the trust said on Wednesday that Arthur Terry Learning Partnership's chief executive Richard Gill "has decided to take a leave of absence for a time".
The trust's interim chief financial officer, Lee Miller, will also assume interim chief executive responsibility.
"Alongside the board, led by our new chair of trustees, Lee is focused on working productively and transparently with our trades union partners to resolve the current industrial action as swiftly as possible so that all pupils can attend their school as normal," a trust spokesperson said.
"At the same time, he is working with trust leaders to support the delivery of a sustainable financial recovery plan so that the trust returns to financial health as soon as possible.
"While strike action is ongoing, arrangements remain in place to ensure pupils can continue their learning and we are working as hard as possible to reach agreement and bring the dispute to an end.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to again recognise the frustration many in our school communities feel at this time.
"We welcome support and challenge, but challenge must be constructive, and we would ask that there are no further instances of colleagues receiving abuse on social media or in messages
"Everyone is working as hard as possible to resolve these issues and we would urge all engagement to be respectful going forward."
Teacher and NEU representative, Connor Herron, told PA on Wednesday a lot of multi-academy trusts "are being run like businesses".
"Because they're being run like businesses, it's just a case of where can we save money?" Mr Herron said. "But, often, the most expensive part is the teachers, it's the staff, but they're the ones who really make up the schools.
"This is really going to affect our students. Especially for year 11, year 13, and in our primary schools for year 6 as well."
The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, which runs 24 schools across the West Midlands, announced last year it was consulting with staff on voluntary redundancy and early resignation programmes.
The trust was served a notice to improve by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2024 due to being unable to produce a balanced budget.
The NEU balloted members in December asking if they were prepared to strike over workload and the trust not being able to guarantee it would protect jobs in the next three years.
Mr Herron said: "We've had so much support from parents, which has been incredible, because it's not like anyone can assert this is just greedy teachers.
"For a lot of these parents, they are understandably upset, but they're more upset at the trust because they know that every single member of staff behind me, all of the other teachers and every other member of staff, we got into this business because we're trying to give them the best education, and we're going to continue to do that.
"We want these strikes to end as soon as possible."
In an information document published on Wednesday, the trust said it is prioritising students in exam years during the industrial action, and online learning has been made available for students unable to attend school in person.
The trust put a renewed offer to the NEU on Monday, it added in the document, and said it aims to pursue a voluntary approach to redundancies "wherever possible".