Plans to close a Loughborough school, leaving up to 90 staff facing redundancy and forcing dozens of families to find alternative places for their children, could have been avoided, NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union believes.

Last week governors of the Loughborough Schools Foundation voted to close Amherst School. Amherst is one of four schools belonging to the Foundation and next month celebrates its 175th anniversary just months before it closes its doors for good.

NASUWT has opposed the closure since plans first emerged. The union has concerns about the way in which the consultation process over the closure was handled, including the failure of the Foundation to fully consider alternative options which may have avoided closure.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“We are concerned that the employer treated the closure of Amherst as a forgone conclusion rather than seeking to genuinely explore whether options existed for the school to remain open.

“Up to 90 hardworking and dedicated members of staff now face the prospect of redundancy as a result of this decision.

“Closing this school will be deeply damaging to pupils, staff and the wider community.”

Alan Hackett, NASUWT National Executive Member for Leicestershire, said:

“NASUWT is convinced that Amherst School should not be closing. We believe talks began on closing the school a year ago, but this information was not shared with unions, staff or parents. If discussions with the school community had been initiated earlier, it may have been the case that alternative solutions could have been found.

“However, it is our belief that management at the Foundation never seriously looked at alternatives to closure in the short consultation period.  As a result, the area has lost an inclusive, non-selective school with a proud record of educating and developing children with diverse needs.”