Teachers to lose jobs as school cuts deficit

St Catherine’s Catholic High School in Halifax wants to convert to academy status in January next year by joining forces with the existing Trinity Academy in the town, a school run by a Church of England Diocese.

If the move goes ahead pupils who want a Catholic education will be offered the chance of attending a school in Huddersfield.

St Catherine’s head teacher Patricia Sheard said the school was overstaffed as its sixth form had been closed. She said she hoped some posts would be cut through voluntary redundancy and redeployment within the school.

The school is carrying a deficit which it has to clear before it can become an academy. However Calderdale NUT branch secretary Sue McMahon said: “How is losing 10 teachers going to help the school to raise standards as an academy?”

St Catherine’s has been working with Outwood Grange Academy, in Wakefield, which has provided it with an associate head teacher and support from its directors of English, maths and science.

Outwood Grange is to receive around £100,000 for this work over the year which is being paid for through additional Government funding St Catherine’s has been given to raise standards.

The Yorkshire Post has revealed that Outwood Grange and a private company set up by the school has received £3.2m from other councils for its work raising standards through the National Leaders in Education Programme.

A statement from the Outwood Grange Academies Trust board of directors said: “Outwood Grange consultancy has provided Rob Tarn as an Associate Head at St Catherine’s on a temporary basis.

“We do not run the school nor do we have a role in any restructuring decisions being made by St Catherine’s which are a matter for that school’s head and governors.”