Essex school support staff job losses would be 'devastating' for staff and children
Dozens of support staff in two Essex schools belonging to the Ortu Federation risk losing their jobs following a decision to transfer schools to a different trust and an ‘accounting error’.
GMB Union has circulated a petition calling on Ortu to reverse the proposed job losses, which would see over 30 support staff made redundant - including all pastoral support roles.
The petition has over 500 signatures so far.
These planned redundancies follow an admission from the Essex-based trust that it has lost £1.2 million due to an ‘accounting error’.
Ortu is also planning to transfer the affected schools to the Mossbourne Federation, an academy trust based in Hackney.
The CEO of Mossbourne is currently the interim CEO of Ortu.
GMB is extremely concerned about the impact of these job losses on our members and the children attending the affected schools.
Jasmin Deans, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“Support staff play a vital role in ensuring the wellbeing and safety of pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
“If these unacceptable and unnecessary job losses were to go ahead, they would not only have a devastating impact on the staff involved, but also on outcomes for children.
“We are deeply concerned that pupils with SEND and Education, Health and Care plans would no longer have the support they need.
“Our members and the pupils they support should not have to pay the price for an accounting error made by Ortu.”
