Redundancy and central services charges from MATs in the North

Two redundancy related stories for MATs in the north of England - and an increase in central service charges from a MAT in the North East.


North East 
According to the ChronicleLive the threat of 30 redundancies was reduced down to one at Thorp Academy (Ryton, Gateshead). The school is being taken over by Northern Education Trust.

A comparison between Northern Education Trust's 2012/13 and 2013/14 accounts show:

1. Central service charges are up from 3% to 4% of income
2. Net funds or fund balances for its academies have fallen in a number of cases - particularly at Kearsley Academy and the trust provides a note explaining its plans to deal with the 'financial challenges faced and current deficit' at that particular academy. The combined fund balances held by the trust's academies that were featured in its 2012/13 accounts have fallen from £2.3m to £1.4m (page 39, note 21)


North West
This report in the Liverpool Echo said cuts would lead to redundancies at three local schools and mentioned 'Wallasey School (which is in the process of becoming The Kingsway Academy) - part of the Northern Schools Trust.

The paper reported: 'Kingsway Academy declined to comment on whether their staff are facing redundancies but said in a statement: “The Kingsway Academy has engaged in a period of consultation with staff and relevant professional associations to allow for a better focus of resources..."'

The 2013/14 accounts of the Northern Schools Trust show that two of the three academies it already runs have net funds deficits. According to the accounts the trust saw an operating deficit of £119k excluding restricted fixed assets funds.  The trust charges a 3% central service charge but does not provide individual figures.