Birmingham Teachers Vow to Continue Strike Action Over 100 Job Cuts
Striking school staff have declared they are prepared to keep fighting following a major protest against job cuts in Birmingham city centre. The demonstration, which saw teachers, parents, and pupils gather in Victoria Square, comes as up to 100 staff members face redundancy due to financial difficulties at the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP).
Widespread Disruption Across Multiple Schools
The ATLP operates 24 schools across Birmingham, Coventry, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire, meaning the dispute has far-reaching implications for education in the region. The National Education Union (NEU) organised the protest as part of industrial action that has seen a total of 19 strike days called for this month and next, causing significant disruption to school operations.
Sam Baggott, a drama teacher at The Royal Sutton School whose own job is at risk, expressed grave concerns about the impact on students. "Children would be worse off if the cuts went ahead," he stated. "They will be in larger classrooms with less funding and support, all for corporate greed." Baggott criticised the trust's response as "risible" and emphasised that the situation could have been resolved months or even years ago.
Union and Community Solidarity
Chris Denson, a physics teacher and NEU representative at West Coventry Academy, highlighted the strong support from parents. "What has been most apparent is the sheer number of parents who see that we're not doing this for ourselves, or for money," he said. "This is about standing up for education for children." While hoping for a swift resolution, Denson confirmed that union members are incredibly strong and prepared to keep fighting if necessary, though they do not want the dispute to spill into March.
The NEU has claimed that the proposed redundancies stem from financial mistakes at the trust. They point to a "top slice" of school budgets—where schools pay a percentage to the trust for central services—as a key issue. According to the union, the ATLP's central spend was around 28% last year, compared to a national average of about 5% for academies.
Trust's Response and Ongoing Negotiations
A spokeswoman for ATLP previously stated their commitment to tackling financial challenges to bring stability to the trust and schools. "We are committed to maintaining the high standards of education and care that our pupils and their families deserve and expect," she said. "Returning to a financially sustainable position means taking some difficult decisions. We continue to explore every area of expenditure and have identified numerous savings."
The protest underscores the deepening crisis in education funding and staffing, with teachers and the community uniting to oppose cuts they believe will harm student outcomes. As strike action continues, all parties express a desire for resolution, but the path forward remains uncertain amid ongoing financial pressures.
