Three colleges on the Isle of Wight have introduced a voluntary redundancy scheme in order to keep a balanced budget, it has been announced.
Support staff are likely to be hit first at Carisbrooke College, Medina College and the Island Innovation VI form campus at Nodehill.
In a statement issued today (Thursday), Chair of Governors, Terence Hart, said:
“Our aim as a federated body is to ensure Carisbrooke College, Medina College and the VI Form Campus build on their existing progress and achieve ‘good’ and eventually ‘outstanding’ Ofsted judgements.
“In order to do this and create high quality teaching and learning for all our students, we have to face some difficult decisions.
“With the support of the trustees, governing body, local authority, guidance from Ofsted, and the dedication of our two headteachers and their staff, we are determined to make the federation financially sustainable by balancing the budget available to us. This will secure a basis for growth and development whilst continuing to offer the most appropriate curriculum pathways for our students.”
Peter Shaw, headteacher for Carisbrooke College, added:
“Like many other public organisations, a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Carisbrooke College budget has been underway for some time now.
Article continues below this advertisement “This obviously needs to include staffing and our logical first step is to explore whether some voluntary redundancies are possible in the first instance.
“This will not distract us in any way from our primary goal of removing Carisbrooke from special measures as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, headteacher for Medina College – Nathan Thomas – said:
“In order to maintain a balanced budget in the next financial year, we are reviewing our staffing structure.
“In the first instance we are talking to support staff to explore the possibility of voluntary redundancies.
“Our key priority has always been and will continue to be, to provide a system that underpins the raising of attainment and ensures all our students are safe and well supported.”
