More Islington primary schools plan job cuts to save cash

Published: 7 May, 2010
by ROISIN GADELRAB

TWO more Islington primary schools are drawing up plans to cut teaching and support staff after racking up deficits running into tens of thousands of pounds.
After the Tribune reported last week that Canonbury Primary School is looking to cut up to 30 posts in a drive to improve standards, it has emerged that Newington Green and Pooles Park primaries are considering job losses to plug holes in budgets.
The news has led unions to question if there has been “financial mismanagement”.
Unions have been told Pooles Park has a £100,000 deficit and is looking to cut up to five teaching assistant posts. Two class teachers and an assistant head have not been replaced.
Newington Green has begun consulting on plans to cut up to 15 posts, saving £100,000, which will go towards vital building repairs, increased security and plugging a £28,000 deficit. Two extra management posts will be created.
School meals supervisors, teaching assistants and teachers could lose their jobs in the face of falling roll numbers, which are linked to a school’s income. The school currently has 93 vacant class spaces.
A confidential report seen by the Tribune says staffing costs have placed an “unsustainable financial burden” on the school, leading to a deficit and “lack of spending” on improvement priorities. It recommends cutting five teachers, seven teaching assistants and three midday meals supervisors.
Nearly 95 per cent of the school’s total budget is spent on staff, with another seven per cent on buildings, leading to an overspend.
The report says the school has no money for vital improvements, boiler repairs and “urgent security measures highlighted by police”. It warns that the state of the building is “untenable”. Governors decided against reducing the number of entry classes but say they will keep this under review.
Unison education convenor Rosemary Plummer has negotiated with Newington Green and Canonbury to give staff training which will help them become more employable elsewhere.

But she warned: “Although it’s my job to prevent redundancies and we’ll do all we can, I don’t think we’ll be able to save many jobs. Newington Green are cutting potentially 10 support staff. It looks like our members have been mismanaged.
GMB branch secretary Vaughan West said some of the schools’ money troubles come from falling rolls “because a lot of school budgets are tied to student numbers”.
He said: “If the rolls are falling, is it because the schools are unattractive to parents? My worry is that there appears to be financial mismanagement of school budgets across the board.”
Mr West added: “Pooles Park are looking at up to five redundancies among support staff. We’re told they are £100,000 in deficit but we’ve seen no paperwork yet.
“The headteacher and governors have begun an informal consultation and asked if anyone was willing to take voluntary redundancy. It’s unlikely that five people will stick their hand up. Pooles Park can’t afford to lose any more teaching staff and that’s why it’s falling on support staff.”
Neither school was available for comment.
An Islington Council spokeswoman said: “Staff and parents at Newington Green are aware a consultation on proposals to change the staff structure is underway. This is being carried out to ensure the school is run in a way that provides best value for money and high standards of education – and to ensure the staff structure reflects these priorities.”
She added: “The downward trend in primary school admissions of the past is now levelling out. Until we know what government spending plans are, we can’t comment on school organisation issues.”