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7:57am Thursday 12th March 2009
Teaching staff at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham face redundancy as a result of financial difficulties caused by falling pupil numbers.
Up to six teaching posts and a number of administrative roles could disappear at the end of a consultation period. But headteacher Trish Shubrook says she still hopes to avoid redundancies.
All teachers at the school in Stanley Lane, Chippen-ham, were given a letter warning of redundancies and asked to list their skills.
Unlike Chippenham’s two other senior schools, Sheldon and Hardenhuish, Abbeyfield is undersubscribed for September.
Only 102 pupils put the school as their first choice this year, although it could take 180.
This year the school has made 160 offers to pupils to start in September, compared to 166 offers last year.
It is likely that a number of pupils will accept a place after failing to get into either Hardenhuish or Sheldon.
Mrs Shubrook has spoken out about how she has to juggle largely unpredictable budgets and pupil numbers while still providing a first class education.
She described the situation as “very disappointing” and said the complex finances of the school, built in 2001 through the Private Finance Initiative, meant she had to start any redundancy programme very early.
“The school is a complex being and the amount of money coming into the school is in some aspects quite unpredictable,” she said.
“It is my job to respond to this unpredictability.
“Because we are a Private Finance Initiative school, a certain percentage of our budget has to be spent on rent and does not allow us the flexibility that other schools might have.
“There is a clearly laid out procedure for redundancies and you have to start this process extremely early even if you are not going to make any redundancies at the end of it.
“We might have to but we are hoping it will not come to that.
“It is obviously very disappointing that we are in this situation. I am very proud of every success we have had over the years.”
Chairman of the board of governors David Sage said: “The Local Authority has an agreed procedure which the school needs to follow and it is currently too early to say what the outcomes will be.”
A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said: “Every year at this time, schools have to draw up their budget with due regard to their anticipated pupil numbers.
“As part of this process staffing levels are reviewed, along with a range of factors that have budget implications. “Once the budget is finalised schools can increase or reduce staffing levels according to their needs.”
Wiltshire county secretary for the National Union of Teachers Mike Harrison said: “I am aware there are potential redundancies at Abbeyfield School and that they are in the middle of a consultation process.
“Hopefully there will not be any compulsory redundancies.”
The total number of staff, at Abbeyfield, including teaching assistants, is 94, plus 21 administrative staff.
marley., Chippenham says...
8:51am Thu 12 Mar 09
TURKEY GIRL, says...
11:49am Thu 12 Mar 09
marley., Chippenham says...
12:06pm Thu 12 Mar 09
chipsticks, Chippenham says...
12:15pm Thu 12 Mar 09
bambi80, says...
2:11pm Thu 12 Mar 09
Your Mum, Chippenham says...
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blueboy1, chippenham says...
3:14pm Thu 12 Mar 09
bambi80, says...
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chippenette, chippenham says...
8:16pm Thu 12 Mar 09
Blue-Moon, Chippenham says...
12:07am Fri 13 Mar 09
Blue-Moon, Chippenham says...
12:11am Fri 13 Mar 09
Sneezy, Wilts says...
12:29am Fri 13 Mar 09
The Maxter, Chippenham says...
12:54am Fri 13 Mar 09
JesseLake, Chippenham Cepen Park South says...
8:19am Fri 13 Mar 09
chippenette, chippenham says...
10:22am Fri 13 Mar 09
lordbuckethead, chippenham says...
2:13pm Fri 13 Mar 09
Blue-Moon, Chippenham says...
2:25pm Fri 13 Mar 09
lordbuckethead wrote:Yea, as I apologised in my earlier comment for my spelling, I was half asleep when writing the comment.
"I" - pronoun - 1st person singular. Capitalise it please!!!
What do schools teach they're/their/there (delete where applicable) kids these days?!!
engels, Chippenham says...
2:32pm Fri 13 Mar 09
sevenb85, chippenham says...
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gumley37, chippenham says...
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Paul Tucker, Chippenham says...
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The Maxter, Chippenham says...
7:11pm Sat 14 Mar 09
Sneezy, Wilts says...
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sixthformer, bromham says...
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6thFormGod, 'Nam says...
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bambi80, says...
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6thFormGod, 'Nam says...
3:56pm Tue 17 Mar 09
bambi80, says...
5:42pm Tue 17 Mar 09
6thFormGod, 'Nam says...
7:10pm Tue 17 Mar 09
TURKEY GIRL, says...
9:18pm Tue 17 Mar 09
springgirl, Chippenham says...
11:48am Fri 20 Mar 09
bambi80, says...
4:22pm Fri 20 Mar 09
publicservices, chippenham says...
4:58pm Sat 21 Mar 09
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Johnboy1138, Chippenham says...
8:28am Thu 12 Mar 09
My daughter is due to go to secondary in 2 years, this is the closest school to us, so I am naturally a bit worried.
Are these rumours unfounded? If they are not then no wonder they are seeing dropping applicants.