Low predicted intake for Reception

[Serendipityme]

Does anyone know what happens to teaching staff if the school has low predicted intake numbers for next academic year? The worst case scenario is that there will not be enough children to fill all the classes in our Primary school. If no one wants to stand down ie to retire or move schools, what is the process for reducing staffing numbers? Thanks

How many form entry? Maybe job share?

Redundancy. However, surely somebody will be moving on naturally? Or is it a very tiny school?

So if it comes down to redundancy, how is it decided who is made redundant?

Your school will have a redundancy policy.

However, if the intake only dips for one year, will they make a teacher redundant? How low numbers are we talking? There were low numbers for one of my DC's reception classes, but it's a one-form entry school and the other classes were full so they just had to run with a smaller than normal class.

When we had a restructure, people were allocated points and the ones with the lowest made redundant, unless others decided to volunteer.

Not a teacher. Feel free to say I have no idea what I'm talking about.

If it is 'all the classes' that sounds like a multi form entry. Would the school maybe have scope to keep the extra teacher on to cover random staff absences, therefore saving money on more expensive (?) supply?

A low intake in reception, for 1 year, is unlikely to trigger an immediate restructure.

Many factors need to be considered, not least how many pupils will actually be in reception. Eg if it is a 2 form entry and more than 30 pupils are expected then the school will still need 2 forms.

By the same token, if only 10 pupils are expected then possibly the school will need to take drastic action but there is the possibility that another teacher will leave before the end of the year anyway in which case the answer will be to simply not replace them.

Re structuures are expensive and ime only done when the savings are more than the cost.

Redundancy like that is rare in schools. Are you an LA school or in a MAT? These are all important factors. If in worse case scenario, it would be a voluntary redundancy process first if everyone was on permanent contracts but it's very protracted and has to go to Union consultation etc.

I'm not actually the teacher but a friend is and she was voicing some concerns she had about positions in her school. I'll pass your comments on and tell her to enquire about the redundancy policy, if that looks a possibility. The school is in a MAT. I think she'll know much more once actual numbers are confirmed in April. For now it's a lot of speculation and understandably a bit of concern for her and her colleagues. Thanks.

Surely if in a MAT they would look to redeploy rather than make redundant anyway?

With my employer it was voluntary redundancy first, then forced redundancy where they selected the highest paid most expensive teachers and kept the cheaper ones. Between teachers on the same salary it was a game of favourites.

@PurpleDaisies what were the points awarded for?

She should check her contract as she may be contracted to work in any schools in the MAT, or any within the region. Anyway, if she is a good teacher they may have other opportunities. Does she know if the trust is planning to reduce the PAN at her school?