MKFM has been contacted by parents and staff concerned at potential job losses at one of the biggest secondary schools in the area.
Ousedale School - which has campuses in Newport Pagnell and Olney - joined the multi-academy trust E-ACT last year.
One member of staff told us that a 'selection of support staff have been told that half of them will lose their jobs in the coming months...The proposed cuts are to jobs that support the most vulnerable within the campus and the Director of Education for the school could not answer how cutting the lowest paid roles will save on the large defecit they say the school is in and projected to be in from September.
"Before joining the trust Ousedale was a very self sufficient establishment," they said.
Another called for E-ACT to be investigated, and said: "Shocking and so disappointing. Ousedale has always been so amazing. Joined E-ACT and now this...and an obvious impact to the students and local community."
A petition has now been launched 'prevent the redundancies' by one of those affected members of staff: https://c.org/YFX5BB6dRj
“E-ACT Ousedale Academy has begun a formal consultation with staff and trade unions regarding a proposed restructure of some non-teaching administration and support roles," said a spokesperson for E-ACT, "This consultation is part of a careful review of the academy’s staffing and resources to ensure long-term financial sustainability while maintaining the high quality of education for pupils.
“Since joining E-ACT in 2024, the academy has made significant improvements, with exam results rising and its most recent Ofsted inspection awarding Outstanding for Leadership and Management. The school continues to enjoy high and stable pupil numbers, reflecting its strong local reputation.
“Despite efficiencies introduced since joining the Trust, the academy is projected to face a deficit of approximately £1.4 million in 2026/27 if no further action is taken. The academy currently has a larger proportion of non-teaching support staff than elsewhere in the country. Department for Education benchmarking against similar schools places the academy in the top 20% nationally for non-teaching support staff costs. The proposed restructure aims to align non-teaching support and admin staffing with similar schools, allowing resources to be focused as much as possible on teaching and learning.
“The consultation process allows staff and their representatives to provide feedback before any final decisions are made. There are no proposals affecting teaching posts or SEND support roles, and the academy does not anticipate any changes to the curriculum or pupils’ educational experience.
The spokesperson added: “We are committed to conducting this consultation with care, transparency, and respect for all colleagues involved. Our priority remains ensuring that every pupil continues to receive the high-quality education and support that parents and the community expect.”
“The consultation will run until 8th May, with the full process expected to be completed before the start of the next academic year.”
