Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy jobs to be axed

Plans for the school to join multi-academy trust Aldridge Education had met with protests from parents

Dozens of jobs are set to be axed at a troubled academy school that has recently been rated inadequate by Ofsted and seen its principal resign.

It is understood a minimum of 45 jobs need to go due to budget savings at Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA).

The school was placed in special measures by Ofsted in January, following an inspection in November.

Joss Hayes, the school's principal, walked out at the end of last month.

The chairman and vice-chairman of IPACA board of governors resigned last year, and the school was issued with a government warning over its finances. Its main sponsor also announced it was pulling out.

An Ofsted inspection at IPACA took place in November

In a statement, Kate Shaw, chair of the IPACA governing body, said: "Our current budget position means we need to make some bold decisions to achieve significant savings and put the academy on a sound financial footing.

"This is necessary to be able to continue to make the necessary rapid improvement parents and children expect."

Hannah Packham, from the National Union of Teachers, confirmed 45 full-time equivalent posts would be axed, which she described as "very significant".

She added the union was working with the employer in a bid to mitigate the losses at the school, which has 1,112 pupils aged from four to 19.

The Department of Education said it was aware the school started consulting staff over restructuring proposals last week.

It added it was working closely with the school "to ensure it has the support it needs to give each of its pupils the excellent education they deserve".

The school had been due to join multi-academy trust Aldridge Education in January.

The plans were met with protests from parents and in November Aldridge Foundation, the school's main sponsor, said the move would no longer go ahead and it would not continue to sponsor the school.