Several members of staff at the troubled Sandown Bay Academy have been given notice by Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), but the mix of voluntary and compulsory redundancies are said to be unrelated to the proposed merger with Ryde Academy.
It has been reported to Island Echo that the affected staff were told they were being made redundant by September just hours before a parent-led protest look place outside the school yesterday afternoon (Tuesday). Hundreds of people turned out to voice their concerns about the previously reported plans to merge Sandown and Ryde, with fears it could lead to the complete closure of The Fairway-based school.
According to AET the redundancies are as a result of decreasing budgets, as is the proposed merger itself.
A total of 7 voluntary redundancies have been confirmed, alongside 4 compulsory redundancies which are classed as ‘at risk’, as they are yet to be finalised. It means a potential total loss of 11 staff.
A spokesperson for AET has this afternoon told Island Echo:
“In March there was an internal consultation at Sandown Bay Academy on the need to reduce staff numbers due to budgetary pressures. At the time 11 support staff and 6 teachers were identified as being ‘at risk’ of redundancy with 5 TLR (teaching and learning responsibility) posts proposed to be removed from the staffing structure.
“Since then, following notice of staff departures and resignations, 7 staff have opted for voluntary redundancy. Of 6 teachers at risk of redundancy, only 1 is being made compulsorily redundant; the others having been redeployed or taking voluntary redundancy. Of 11 support staff at risk, we have 3 compulsory redundancies, the remainder being either redeployed or taking voluntary redundancy.”
