Teachers in Birmingham are resolute in their determination to continue striking amid a growing dispute over job cuts. Yesterday, January 22, around Victoria Square, up to 100 school staff members threatened with redundancy gathered alongside supportive parents and pupils to protest against the cuts.
The dispute centers on financial difficulties within the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), which manages 24 schools across Birmingham, Coventry, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. The National Education Union (NEU) has organized 19 strike days across this and next month to oppose the planned redundancies.
Sam Baggott, a drama teacher at The Royal Sutton School whose job is on the line, emphasized the detrimental impact these cuts would have: “Our children would be worse off. Class sizes would grow, funding and support would shrink—all while corporate greed takes precedence.” He criticized the ATLP’s dismissive response, noting the issue could have been resolved much earlier.
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Chris Denson, a physics teacher and NEU representative at West Coventry Academy, echoed the desire for a swift resolution while affirming the union’s readiness to continue fighting. “This is about safeguarding quality education, not about money. Parents understand that,” he said. Denson warned that the ATLP’s proposed cuts would cause “enormous” damage, urging the trust to withdraw threats and prevent further disruption.
The NEU has attributed the redundancies to ATLP’s financial mismanagement, highlighting that schools are forced to pay a “top slice” of nearly 28% of their budgets to the trust—far exceeding the national average of around 5%. This, the union argues, diverts crucial funds away from classrooms.
In response, an ATLP spokeswoman acknowledged the financial challenges and emphasized the commitment to stabilize the trust while maintaining educational standards. She stated, “Returning to a financially sustainable position means taking some difficult decisions," adding that the trust is seeking savings across expenditures to protect schools and pupils.
As the strike continues, teachers, parents, and students alike remain united in pushing for a fair resolution that prioritizes education over cuts.