Inspections are being carried out at Hutchinson Memorial Church of England School in Checkley this week following parent protests over staffing issues.
In April 2024, parents protested outside the school in response to concerning staff absences. Mum Finola Bandrick stated that “every single one” of the teachers who were present at the start of the school year had since left. This was said to include teachers, teaching assistants, and receptionists.
The school, which is run by Uttoxeter Learning Trust, is said to now rely heavily on supply teachers. According to parents, this resulted in one class having six different teachers in a single week.
In response to the protests, the trust acknowledged that they had been using a high level of supply teachers to resolve issues related to staff absences.
A spokesperson stated, “Unfortunately, we have had a number of staff from Hutchinson Memorial CE First School off sick and have been taking steps to support these staff as well as ensure the education of our children is not affected.”
As a result of the staff issues, one parent has decided to home-school their child instead. Several parents have complained to the trust as well as Ofstead, who deemed the school to be “outstanding” in 2016.
Inspections are ongoing.
Experienced writer and journalist James McKean leads the daily editorial output at StaffsLive. To contact him, email news@staffslive.co.uk
