Staff at Sandown Bay Academy, were informed by unions this week that their Academy sponsor, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), are considering outsourcing all pupil support services to private companies.
A statement on the AET Website reads,
Our academies were advised before Christmas that we intended to test the market for the provision of a wide range of support services.
Although leaders may have been made aware of the situation, we understand that teachers and staff were only informed this week.
Teaching staff and leaders not affected
AET, which is also a sponsor for Ryde Academy, insist the move would not affect teachers, leaders or teaching assistants. Those affected would be staff currently providing the following services:
- Facilities management
- Finance
- HR
- Data
- ICT
- Business development
- School support such as library, education psychology, education welfare and speech and language
- Leisure services
Although Teaching Assistants (TAs) are not included in the list above (they were originally, but then removed) the GMB union have advised its members that AET will shortly be undertaking a review of the role of TAs in their academies, “to assess the value they’re making” in raising pupil attainment.
“High quality service provision”
AET’s statement goes on to say,
In order to test the market to see if we can provide more efficient, effective and economic services, we have issued a tender to seek expressions of interest from organisations who would be able to work with us in a joint venture to add value to what we do.
Our aim is to increase the money and resources that we are putting directly into our academies for teaching and learning; as a charity that supports our primary objective. We already work with a number of contractors who provide us with services such as school lunches and cleaning.
“By remaining in control of any arrangements we can ensure high quality service provision and that a significant proportion of any efficiency savings are reinvested into our academies.
Privatisation of services
The unions interpret the move as privatisation of services, whilst AET say,
Our Notice makes it clear that we are not looking to “privatise key frontline services in schools”. Our aim is to seek a partner, from the public, private or charity sector, who will bring additional expertise, experience and investment to strengthen what we do.
The GMB believe, “that to remove the control of most of the school from Principals and Head Teachers in order to put profits before pupils is a dangerous decision” and they urge AET to stop the privatisation process.
UNISON say,
“Our concern, borne out by experience, is that private companies will push for cuts to jobs and services in AET schools as part of their drive for profits.”
Union representatives met with AET on 20th January to make their opposition to the plan clear.
See the AET website for the full statement.
Image: Fran L Hughes under CC BY 2.0
