Academy boss takes leave of absence amid strikes

The boss of an academy trust at the centre of strikes over potential job cuts has taken a "leave of absence".

Members of staff at the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership who are part of the National Education Union (NEU) continued industrial action on Wednesday.

More than 800 of them have been on strike across 20 schools over nine days in January, and they have extended action across nine further days in February.

On Wednesday, an ATLP spokesperson said CEO Richard Gill would be replaced by Lee Miller on an interim basis for a "period of time".

In a statement, the trust said Miller would assume the "interim responsibility of accounting officer and CEO of the trust" while also acting as interim chief financial officer, a role he was appointed to at the start of the year.

It added that Miller had "many years of experience successfully supporting other academy trusts" and was now "focused on working productively and transparently" with trade unions to "resolve the current industrial action as swiftly as possible".

The trust added that arrangements remained in place "to ensure pupils can continue their learning".

Recognising the frustration the presented situation was causing, the academy trust said it welcomed "support and challenge", but that any challenge should be "constructive".

It also called for an end of staff being abused 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," it added.

Schools affected by strike action are:

• Anna Seward Primary, Lichfield
• Coton Green Primary, Tamworth
• Curdworth Primary, Sutton Coldfield
• Deykin Avenue Junior and Infant, Witton, Birmingham
• Hill West Primary, Sutton Coldfield
• Mere Green Primary, Four Oaks
• Osborne Primary, Erdington, Birmingham
• Paget Primary, Pype Hayes, Birmingham
• Scotch Orchard Primary, Lichfield
• Slade Primary, Erdington
• St Chad's CE Primary, Lichfield
• St Michael's C of E Primary, Lichfield
• William MacGregor Primary School, Tamworth
• Two Gates Primary School, Tamworth
• The Coleshill School, Warwickshire
• The Royal Sutton School, Sutton Coldfield
• Nether Stowe School, Lichfield, Staffordshire
• Stockland Green School, Erdington, Birmingham
• The Arthur Terry School, Sutton Coldfield
• West Coventry Academy, Coventry

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