MP 'deeply worried' by academy staff cuts plan

An MP says she is "deeply worried" about reports of potential redundancies at schools run by a multi-academy trust.

Parents and carers of children at Queen Elizabeth (QE) School in Wimborne, Dorset, were sent letters from Initio Learning Trust informing them of plans to restructure.

Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade said staff and parents at QE, and at Corfe Hills School in Corfe Mullen, reported that teaching assistants and staff from the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) team were at risk of redundancy.

A Initio spokesperson said: "With inflationary pressures, fall in pupil numbers and funding constraints, we need to explore all options."

The letter, from QE headteacher Thomas Neill, did not give details but said the reorganisation was part of "wider changes across Initio Learning Trust".

He wrote: "We are now in a formal consultation period with affected staff and trade unions, which will run until 26 March 2026.

"We are committed to supporting our staff and exploring all possible alternatives to minimise redundancies."

An Initio spokesperson said "extremely challenging financial conditions across the education sector" required it to make its operations "more sustainable".

The spokesperson said: "While no decisions have been made, the consultation is intended to ensure that frontline teaching in our schools remains high quality so that our pupils continue to receive the very best education."

Slade, who is a former governor of QE School, said she was seeking a meeting with Initio.

She said: "It is clear that schools need to become more inclusive, and this will simply not be possible if those with additional needs are forced out because they cannot get the support."

Initio runs 19 schools across Dorset, independently of local authority control, teaching 7,000 pupils and employing more than 1,000 staff.

Its website lists 18 executives whose annual salaries and benefits exceed £100,000 - these include 14 head teachers and deputy heads.

It also includes the trust's CEO whose total emoluments are listed as between £170,001-£180,000.

Ms Slade called for reform of the academy system to ensure more money goes into teaching staff, adding: "I have shared my concern about whether there is any real benefit to large schools, particularly at the secondary phase, being in multi-academy trusts."

Dorset Council said it recognised Initio was "navigating complex decisions to ensure long term sustainability" but remained "committed to delivering a high quality education for children and young people".

A spokesman said: "Council officers will continue to work in partnership with the Initio Learning Trust and school leaders across Dorset to secure the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and their families."