Published at 16:30, Thursday, 07 March 2013

TEACHING jobs are set to be lost in a third wave of redundancies at a Barrow school.

Furness Academy has started consulting on 13 proposed teaching staff redundancies, with voluntary redundancies being sought.

The roles affected are two in English, two in maths, two in technology, one in PE, one in art, and five in humanities, RE and personal development.

The redundancy programme is primarily driven by a site merger from two sites to one. In September the academy moves into a £22.5m new facility on Park Drive.

The academy said the redundancies are “deeply regrettable, but completely unavoidable,” and that every effort is being made to continue to identify other operational efficiencies in order to guarantee no further pressure on jobs.

The school has said that if suitable alternative opportunities arise during the notice period, vulnerable staff, if suitably qualified and skilled, will be considered first for any such posts.

Notice to teaching staff will be served by May 31, which is the statutory period, with contracts being officially terminated at the end of this academic year.

Principal Douglas Blackledge said: “It is with deep sadness and regret that we have to announce these redundancy proposals as part of our merger to a single site facility in September.

“The staff affected, whoever they transpire to be in the end, are all good people who have showed great commitment and professionalism in their work to date at the academy.

“I feel tremendous compassion and sorrow for the affected staff and their families, as do our sponsors, governors and those staff fortunate enough not to be facing this very difficult but unavoidable situation.”

In January the academy started consulting on redundancies among support staff. This involved 38 people.

The academy said this process is now almost complete, with the majority of reductions needed being met by voluntary solutions.

A senior leadership restructure and redundancy programme was first completed last term to prepare for September and to ensure maximum possible capacity to protect as many front line jobs and services as possible.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk