Academy trust boss resigns following strikes

The chief executive of an academy trust where more than 800 members of staff took part in several days of strikes over potential job cuts has resigned.

Richard Gill formally resigned from his role after taking a leave of absence in January, a spokesperson for The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) confirmed on Friday.

The trust had previously revealed that it ended the last financial year with a near £9m deficit and had spent "more than its income over the past three years", with rising staff costs driving financial difficulties.

Gill was replaced by Lee Miller on an interim basis earlier this week and he would continue to lead the trust through this period, the spokesperson added.

In a letter to parents on Thursday, the trust said it was working to remain "financially sustainable" and had identified steps to financial recovery.

In a statement, their spokesperson said Miller, who was appointed interim chief executive officer and accounting officer, would continue in those roles and draw on his "extensive experience" of supporting academy trusts through financial recovery and organisational change.

"The board has full confidence in Lee's leadership and will continue to support him as he engages with colleagues, trade union partners and families," they added.

"Our focus is now on the next phase of work: Continuing to develop and implement a financial recovery plan that will restore stability and ensure the trust is on a sustainable footing, with pupils' education and wellbeing at the heart of every decision."

ATLP staff who are part of the National Education Union, took part in nine days of industrial action in January over the then-prospect of compulsory redundancies.

Further strike action was planned across nine days this month, before an agreement was reached between the trust and the union.

Schools affected by strike action were:

• 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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