Telford schools crisis: 'It is the greatest fiasco of my career'

The future was bright, we were told, writes Wayne Beese. Peter Lawley, the chairman of Telford Co-operative Multi-Academy Trust (TCMAT), made the vow despite all four of its schools being placed into special measures earlier this year.

Sutherland Co-operative Academy, Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy, Phoenix Academy and Lakeside Academy were all given the worst possible "inadequate" rating following visits from Government inspectors.

Sutherland and Wrockwardine are set to merge in the summer and move to a new site near Oakengates Leisure Centre.

It was one reason to believe that things could only get better, Mr Lawley said.

But there is still some way to go before they reach the light, if today's leaked letter by outgoing finance chief David Gumsley is to be believed.

It talks of a "fiasco" of the like he has never witnessed and talks of "angry, humiliated and hurt" staff looking to jump before they are pushed.

Mr Lawley, who is holding the fort until new sponsors The Communities Academy Trust (CAT) take over in September, said he was disappointed the letter had been made public.

He said the new sponsors wanted to look forward to the future now instead of being reminded of the past.

He said: "The letter in question was a private letter sent by an individual employee that was never meant to have been shared with the wider world.

"We are not happy that it has been leaked to the media and while we do not wish to comment on individual elements of its content, it does give an indication of the challenges that the organisation has faced.

"We have had many issues to resolve in a short space of time and feel we have made a huge amount of progress already.

"We have remodelled and restructured the organisation and we are excited about what the future holds for the schools involved as a result of all that work. We will have more announcements in the weeks to come as the new sponsor takes over."

It comes as the new sponsors came under attack for allegedly failing to consult residents in Dawley about plans to change the name of Phoenix Academy.

CAT bosses say the change – it will be known as Telford Langley School from September – is necessary as part of a signal of a fresh start for the failing school.

But Telford & Wrekin councillor Shaun Davies, a former Phoenix pupil, said parents and residents should have been asked what they thought.

"The issue is not so much the name education bosses have chosen but the complete lack of consultation with the community and partners," he said.

"In Dawley we have strong links with the schools and with many families, like mine, who have been sending pupils to the school for generations.

"This really is a very poor start for the new chain to come in the area and impose such a fundamental change.

"If the new chain really wishes to change the name, then I would ask them to take July and August to consult with the community to get views as to what the school should be called.

"A school name is important of course, but as a former pupil I hope the new sponsors can raise standards within it – they really must work for the community not against it."

Responding to Mr Davies, Mr Lawley said there had been consultation on the new name within the walls of the school.

He said: "The name of the academy will change following an internal consultation within the school, which included asking for suggested new names that centre the school in its community.

"Discussions around the name are just one of the many things that have been achieved in the last six weeks at the school as the board addresses the issues raised in the Ofsted report.

"The timing of the change is linked to the time in the academic year and the need for change to coincide with a fresh start for all in September."

He added: "We are now focused on providing good community education as we gear up to more new announcements going forward.

"Part of that is to find an image and name that places the schools at the centre of their community and we feel we've done that."

How finance director broke the news

This is the text of the resignation letter sent by David Gumsley, director of finance and business at the Telford Co-operative Multi Academy Trust:

"Dear all,

On June 2, 2014, I joined TCMAT keen to make a difference to the lives and futures of all the children in our four schools.

Many of these children are from immensely challenging backgrounds as I have so often seen in my work with the ambulance and police services in Telford.

Sadly, over the last 12 months, I have been party to the greatest fiasco in my career to date. I have witnessed bizarre behaviours and political machinations of the worst possible kind.

The story of TCMAT is well documented in the Trustees Report, for the period ended August 31, 2014, and has been subject to much interest in the local Press in recent months.

The comments on the Shropshire Star website have been largely, and quite rightly, supportive of the leadership and staff of all of the schools. It is clear that many continue to support us despite our performance against the political definition of success.

Despite assurances back in September that there were many sponsors who would be delighted to take over our schools we were visited by just two.

Only one remains in the running after Ormiston, one of the larger academy chains, walked away.

We were assured that the whole process would be completed by Christmas 2014 but still it rumbles on.

Over the weeks of the restructure process I have seen staff subjected to immense stress and worry.

At a key time for our Year 11 students, I must congratulate you all on the way in which you have maintained your focus and outward calm to the students at this immensely difficult time.

I had hoped that with the end of the restructure staff would feel more settled and there would be hope for a positive future – but sadly this does not seem to me to be the case.

Many staff have voted with their feet and are leaving of their own accord, having secured new and often better jobs elsewhere. Others have opted for redundancy.

Some staff have seen their roles downgraded, but are at least subject to pay protection for however long that continues, whilst a number of others have been subject to reductions in grade, hours or working weeks resulting in pay reductions of 20 per cent to 30 per cent which will significantly change their lifestyles.

This has left many staff feeling angry, humiliated, hurt and determined to leave the organisation as soon as possible.

This will, I fear, leave many vacancies in key areas and see a real struggle to provide appropriately qualified and experienced staff to educate children from September 2015.

I have remained with TCMAT, despite alternative options being available, because I wanted to try to provide some element of stability in order to support the best interests of the children I joined to serve.

Sadly, having seen the results of the restructure and I believe indications of what may be yet to come, I have now followed my own advice to ensure I am not part of it any longer than absolutely necessary.

It was with a heavy heart that I formally tendered my resignation to the board at last Thursday's board meeting so that I can leave the organisation at the end of August before the new year commences.

Until that date, I will be available to assist and advise anyone who I am able to help in their search for new employment – please do not hesitate to get in touch if I can help you in any way.

I will be ensuring an accurate press release is issued in due course after the Year 11 students have completed their exams.

I would be grateful if you would respect the timing of this and not publicise my departure outside of TCMAT until then as finance directors leaving tends to prompt much unhelpful and invariably inaccurate speculation.

Finally, I would like to thank you all, and particularly the team at Lakeside where I am based, for showing me that education is about much more than exam results and glowing OFSTED reports – it is about children and maximising their success in life whatever challenges that may bring with it.

I hope I have made a difference in some small way and the last 12 months have not been in vain.

Thank you all again.

David"