school - Would you be concerned.... ?

[anolderandwiserkitten]

Would you be concerned if you heard (all gossip and rumour) that the school your DC were at had offered all its teaching staff voluntary redundancy and early release to leave at Christmas? Is this school in bother?

Its an independent school. I am a bit windy because two schools in the area have closed recently and many DC were left in the lurch in the middle of GCSE and A level. One of my DC has just gone into year 10. I dont know if this bodes well for GCSE.

I think anyone would be concerned. Because either

a) it's true, which raises a whole raft of other questions about the school's future direction, or

b) it's not true, in which case who is stirring and why?

(Or c) it's partly true, in which case you need to start digging. Do you have any reliable information routes? Could you just ask?)

I'm not sure. Offering voluntary redundancy to all seems very fair, perhaps allowing those close to retirement to go early or those who are thinking about changing career to go sooner rather than later. Probably due to falling roll.

I know of a school that made illegal forced "redundancies" that is now going through legal action because of what they've done. But in that case, despite it being a horrible time for the staff and students the school is now actually getting better. (That's not to say they were right).

Schools are complex. Rumours run rife. You'd be better speaking to the head. You'll get a sugar-coated version but it's more likely to be closer to reality that anything else.

Ultimately, schools and staff only want what is best for the students. People forget that.

Offering redundancy to all staff in a secondary strikes me as very off and I think, if it's true then you are right to be concerned. If schools need to make staffing cuts then I would expect it to be done in a targeted way... they should have some ideas of which subject areas they are reducing staffing in. For example my school might possibly need fewer teachers in English, maths, science, art and drama due to curriculum changes and a need to increase class sizes in core subjects (which are currently taught in small groups) due to budget. They might however need more staff in history, geography and languages. If they offered everyone voluntary redundancy we'd be stuffed if our humanities and languages teachers decided to take it.

What was this year's intake (Y7 & Y12) like? Up to usual numbers?
Can you get a copy of the latest accounts?
After the above, do the rumours sound likely.

To be totally downbeat, if two schools have already closed then there is going to be a squeeze on remaining places in the area. Make your DC your priority, not loyalty to the school, and start thinking about Plan B. (You are not necessarily putting Plan B in action, merely getting your ducks in a row for just-in-case.)

I would be concerned although as already said rumours/gossip about closure etc are not uncommon, we used to live near a school where rumours were constantly flying around about its very imminent closure that was four years ago and it's still going.
But this doesn't mean your school isn't struggling financially ( just like the one I mentioned and many others struggling). The school I knew was tiny, 200 pupils in yrs 7-13, non selective so no stunning results, in a very rural albeit wealthy location with mainly overseas boarders, and surrounded by either some of the countries top state schools, grammar in one direction or comps (with places) in the other, or very big name independent schools so you don't have to be a genius to work out that it was struggling and is probably constantly teetering on the verge of closing ( I knew a member of staff there of confirmed this). What is your school like? If the school is a registered charity you can get some idea about its financial position by looking up the account on line worth doing anyway it's quite an eye opener. I've become rather cynical in my old age I'm not convinced the head would be honest with you, he's hardly going to admit that the school is in dire straights financially because he knows this is likely to put the wind up you and that your likely to start looking for somewh??re else and unless he's sworn you to secrecy your likely to tell other parents who will do the same thing.
Another reason of course could be a new head who's running a fairly successful school but wants to improve it further and want to get rid of old stuck in their ways staff who he thinks are preventing changes and that offering voluntary redundancy would be a whole lot cheaper and less hassle than putting uncooperative staff through disciplinary procedures etc to get then to change their ways.

is the school run by a limited company? Can you check their accounts online?

Check the planning department, too. Any applications for change of use? Conversely, are there restrictions which says that the site can only be used for education.

Nope. (Been there) it wil be (if it's true) a first stage letter saying that due to financial/intake implications redundancies may have to be considered. They will Ask for anyone considering early retirement etc as well. If there is no takers then they will issue a second stage letter informing the departments targeted. And so on.
Happens most years in my school, usually someone either leaves or retires, or the sbm finds the savings so no problem. (School staff governors)

I am sorry to hear you are feeling windy!