100 signatures reached
To: Dame Kate Dethridge - Regional Director of Schools
Tell Regional Schools Director to Consult over future of Uni. of Brighton Academy Trust schools
Dear Dame Kate Dethridge
University of Brighton Academies Trust Re-Brokering
I am writing regarding the University of Brighton Academies Trust (UBAT). We’ve been informed, by the Trust, of the decision to re-broker its schools to alternative multi academy trusts.
Parents and staff have been deeply concerned by recent events at the Trust - where millions of pounds of public money was taken from school budgets to fund central services. For example six executives were paid over ÂŁ100,000 annually, and ÂŁ800,000 was spent on marketing.
I understand that the decision on how and who to re-broker UBAT schools to now rests ultimately with yourself as the Regional Schools Commissioner.
I support the National Education Union’s campaign for local schools to be returned to local Council control.
Whether or not that option proves possible in the timescale needed for UBAT schools, I am writing to you to request that:
I understand that the decision on how and who to re-broker UBAT schools to now rests ultimately with yourself as the Regional Schools Commissioner.
I support the National Education Union’s campaign for local schools to be returned to local Council control.
Whether or not that option proves possible in the timescale needed for UBAT schools, I am writing to you to request that:
- Meaningful consultation is held with parents, staff and their unions and the local community over who will be running UBAT schools in the future
- Your decision ensures full transparency over UBAT schools’ funding - with no more than the average local authority amount (4-5%) being spent on central services
- Whoever runs UBAT schools in future must provide guarantees for teachers and support staff’s pay and conditions - discussed and agreed through their trade unions.
I feel very strongly about these issues which affect our children’s precious years in education, and I would appreciate your earliest reply.
Yours sincerely,
[your signature]
[Your name]
Why is this important?
The University of Brighton Academies Trust operates 14 schools in East and West Sussex teaching 1000s of children and employing 100s of staff.
In the summer, National Education Union members took industrial action over workload and job losses following revelations that the Trust was taking millions on pounds from school budgets to fund central trust services including excessive executive pay.
This autumn, the department for education decided that the trust would be wound down and all it's schools 're-brokered' to new academy trusts.
The NEU is calling on the Dept of Education to:
In the summer, National Education Union members took industrial action over workload and job losses following revelations that the Trust was taking millions on pounds from school budgets to fund central trust services including excessive executive pay.
This autumn, the department for education decided that the trust would be wound down and all it's schools 're-brokered' to new academy trusts.
The NEU is calling on the Dept of Education to:
- Return all schools to local council control
- Consult on the future proprietors of the schools with unions, staff and parents
- Ensure that national union negotiated pay and conditions and union recognition is maintained for teachers and support staff