Becoming an academy - staffing

[Returntrip]

An academy has apparently agreed to take on our secondary school. We have heard senior management are the first to be given the chop, that everyone is offered a chance to reapply for a job ( lesser or unsuitable roles included) and unsuccessful candidates booted out and a host of other possibilities.
Anybody actually been through the process and what are teachers and TAs likely to face. Quite of few of us are happy to leave but unsure of the best way to do it.

[noblegiraffe]

Surely they can’t make you apply for your own job? TUPE regulations say you automatically become employees of the new employer so they would be in effect sacking you?

[Returntrip]

As a school we have a very mixed bag of teachers, associate teachers, HLTA's etc. I am assuming the academy might " restructure" in which case the old jobs would effectively be eliminated.
I haven't been able to research what the reality for staff is anywhere. I have looked on TES and read a few Guardian articles but it's hard to get a sense of what a good response for current staff should be,

[noblegiraffe]

They’re going to have a hard time arguing that teaching jobs are eliminated in a restructure. I think I’d be talking to my union (regional) as they’d likely have experience in this area and be able to tell you what is and isn’t allowed.

[Piggywaspushed]

When you say we have heard that do you mean that as a general thing as in ' we have heard that this is what often happens'? Or as in 'we have heard that this is going to happen'?

If this is juts based on rumour of the 'big bad wolf' academy. then this doesn't happen on most occasions. It also makes a difference whether your school is just converting by itself , or if an academy chain is coming in and gobbling it up, to extend the analogy!

When my school converted, nothing at all changed, not even the name! We still sue the LA for huge numbers of things.

They should keep you informed via staff meetings and so on and often school and regional union reps are involved in presentations / discussions. There are rules about how the process is undertaken.

I think Mumsnet has actually played quite a role in making 'academy' a taboo word. It definitely does not have to be any different for you.

[Piggywaspushed]

To be clear, we don't sue the LA, we use them!!

[MaisyPops]

Only going to echo what others have said.

In a conversion or merger or restructure there's TUPE protection. They can't just get rid (one of my friends had her pay protected under TUPE when the 2 schools didn't need 2 of her post).

If the school is being taken over and has been failing then a change in SLT isn't uncommon.

In terms of teaching and TA staff, I don't think they can make massive changes without going through correct procedures.

When we went to academy, one day we were an LA school and the next we were a separate legal entity.

Some academy chains are awful and I have an issue with carving up state education on a personal level, but not all academies are an issue just because of their legal status.

Wait for fact instead of hear say and then seek union advice.

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

Get the unions involved. If you are NUT (NEU) contact the AdviceLine and be referred for a local rep.

You should TUPE across. In a restructure it is a post that is made redundant, not a person. As noblegiraffe said they can't make loads of teaching posts redundant as they won't be allowed to reappointed them.

There has to be a consultation period with an academy transfer.