Academy trust CEO to retire as staff cuts loom

The chief executive of a multi-academy trust that is making cuts to its teaching staff has announced her retirement.

Initio Learning Trust is restructuring Queen Elizabeth (QE) School in Wimborne and Corfe Hills School in Corfe Mullen. A staff consultation is under way.

In Parliament on Monday, Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade raised concerns that QE School was paying Initio nearly £750,000 a year for "central services", including executive pay.

Initio said it had launched a consultation to "deliver savings within the central function of our organisation" but said CEO Liz West's decision to retire was "entirely separate" from the restructuring process.

Initio runs 19 schools in Dorset and charges them an annual fee for central services, including executive management, human resources and IT.

According to Initio's website, Queen Elizabeth School pays the highest annual charge at £748,000 in 2024/25 - a jump of more than 50% from the previous year when it was £497,000.

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

This includes West's total pay and emoluments, listed at between £170,000-£180,000 in 2024/25.

Slade, who is a former governor of QE School, said parents were "deeply concerned by how much money is spent by Initio on central costs and executive pay".

She added: "Liz has been responsible for massive growth within the trust but, as she enjoys her retirement, I hope that Initio take the opportunity to review where true efficiencies can be made through sharing costs, and where schools would be better off keeping areas like IT and facilities in-house."

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Slade said: "Two of my local schools - Queen Elizabeth and Corfe Hills schools - are facing cuts of £700,000 or £800,000 next year.

"One is cutting subjects, and the other is slashing teaching assistants and support staff while the trust charges it £750,000 for central support.

"What can the Secretary of State do to ensure that more money reaches teachers and children, and is not eaten up by executives in trusts?"

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was planning "to introduce inspections at trust level" and would "renew trust standards".

A spokesperson for Initio Learning Trust confirmed West was stepping down "after more than 11 years of dedicated service".

The spokesperson added: "Liz's decision to retire is entirely separate from the current consultation process within affected schools.

"Her planned transition reflects her wish to ensure the trust is well positioned for the future, whatever the outcome of the consultation.

"The Board recognises the need to deliver savings within the central function of our organisation and has commenced a consultation process this week to achieve this."

Initio said West would begin handing over to an interim CEO in April - appointed from within the senior leadership team - and they would remain in place for 18 months, with West leaving at the end of August.

The spokesperson added: "We are immensely grateful for Liz's contribution since the trust's inception and wish her every happiness in her retirement."

Initio is in a formal consultation period with affected staff and trade unions until 26 March.

It previously said "extremely challenging financial conditions across the education sector" had required it to make its operations "more sustainable".

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

Initio's academy schools are run independently of local authority control, teaching 7,000 pupils and employing more than 1,000 staff.