Trust chief takes 'leave of absence' as strikes set to continue across Staffordshire and Birmingham
The boss of a Birmingham-based schools trust which is the subject of strike action by staff across its 20 schools including in Staffordshire and Sutton Coldfield has stepped down from his role.
The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) which has schools in Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth has seen two weeks of industrial action in a row over compulsory redundancies amid financial issues at the trust.
Now chief executive Richard Gill has taken a ‘leave of absence’ the Trust has confirmed.
Speculation had been rife for more than 24 hours that Mr Gill ‘had resigned’.
But in a statement issued this evening, the trust said he would be on leave of absence for a period of time.
The statement read: "During this time, Lee Miller will assume the interim responsibility of Accounting Officer and CEO of the Trust while also acting as interim Chief Financial Officer, the post he was appointed to on January 1 Lee has many years of experience successfully supporting other academy trusts through times of significant challenge and financial recovery.
“Alongside the board, led by our new chair of trustees, Lee is focused on working productively and transparently with our trades union partners to resolve the current industrial action as swiftly as possible so that all pupils can attend their school as normal.
"At the same time, he is working with Trust leaders to support the delivery of a sustainable financial recovery plan so that the Trust returns to financial health as soon as possible.
"While strike action is ongoing, arrangements remain in place to ensure pupils can continue their learning and we are working as hard as possible to reach agreement and bring the dispute to an end.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to again recognise the frustration many in our school communities feel at this time.
"We welcome support and challenge, but challenge must be constructive, and we would ask that there are no further instances of colleagues receiving abuse on social media or in messages.
"Everyone is working as hard as possible to resolve these issues and we would urge all engagement to be respectful going forward.”
This week staff are taking part in four days of strike action, today (Wednesday) being the third,
"It is the third of the first three weeks of strikes, which has seen thousands of pupils off school for eight days, with a ninth planned tomorrow (Thursday).
Nine more days of strike action have been earmarked with four next week and then teachers and staff set to then walk out for all five days in the final week before half term.
