Teachers at Birmingham Schools Part of Arthur Terry Learning Partnership Begin Strike Over Job Cuts

Chris Denson, a teacher at one of the academies in the West Midlands and a representative on the National Executive Committee of the National Education Union (NEU), explained why members are taking action.

“Members across the partnership are striking because of serious financial issues and proposed cuts that could see around 100 job losses,” said Chris. “Such significant cuts won’t just affect staff losing their jobs — they will increase workloads for remaining staff and, most importantly, impact the quality of education students receive.”

Chris highlighted concerns over how funds are being allocated. “The trust spends a large portion of its budget centrally — nearly 20% compared to an average of 5% in other academies. We believe cuts should focus there, not on frontline teachers and support staff who directly impact students.”

Responding to claims of overstaffing, Chris was clear: “Our members overwhelmingly reject that idea. Nearly 99% voted to strike, showing their serious concerns about the proposed cuts and their impact.”

Chris also addressed worries from parents and pupils about disruption: “We’ve had lots of supportive messages because people understand this strike is about protecting the long-term future of children’s education. Short-term disruption is unfortunate but pales in comparison to what these cuts would mean for students.”

The NEU representative concluded with a hopeful message: “We want a negotiated resolution that saves jobs and protects education. Our members’ main concern is ensuring children have the best opportunities — which simply can’t happen if their teachers and support staff are being lost.”

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