Words by Erdington Local editorial team / Photography taken from Erdington Local archives
The Government has told the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), which runs five schools in Erdington, to urgently address their financial problems – issuing the trust with an official Notice to Improve “on financial grounds”.
In a joint letter from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Department for Education (DfE), ATLP was told it had been found “in breach of… the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH)” as it had been “unable to approve a balanced budget for 2023/24.”
The letter also stated how “The ESFA has also provided the trust with exceptional financial support” and went on to acknowledge “the open and constructive way the trust has engaged” and “the actions undertaken so far by the trust”.
ALTP, whose head office is based in Sutton Coldfield, run the following five schools in the Erdington constituency: Stockland Green School, Brookvale Primary School, Paget Primary School, Slade Primary School, and Osbourne Primary School.
One of the most recent additions to the trust, Paget Primary School in Pype Hayes, only joined the ALTP portfolio on 1 June 2024 alongside Deykin Avenue Junior and Infant School in Witton.
Having grown rapidly grown in the last decade, ALTP now employs more than 1,500 staff and is responsible for the education of over 10,000 students in its 24 primary and secondary schools across Birmingham, North Warwickshire, and Staffordshire.
However, after failing to balance their books for 2023/24, the trust has now been put in financial straight jacket with any major decisions needing approval by the EFSA until the situation is rectified.
In the joint letter from the EFSA and DfE, sent to the ALTP Chair of Trustees Mr John Vickers on 9 September, it continues to explain how ALTP has lost several powers due to the Notice to Improve.
Ahead of a list of financial restrictions, the letter states ALTP “must seek approval in advance from the ESFA” over a litany of spending criteria, including “special staff severance payments, compensation payments, writing off debts and losses, and disposals of fixed assets beyond any limit in the funding agreement.”
The letter further warns if ALTP does not carry out its obligations under the Notice to Improve, and adhere to the Academy Trust Handbook rules, it would be “deemed a funding agreement breach and may lead to termination”. ALTP could then be referred to the Charity Commission and Insolvency Service for “further investigation, as deemed appropriate in the circumstances.”
ALTP will only be released from the Notice to Improve restrictions if the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, decides its finances are in order.
The letter further recognises what “may be an uncertain time for the trust and its staff” and urges ALTP to “ensure appropriate provision is in place to support all its staff” – directing the trust to the Government’s ‘Education staff wellbeing charter’.
It also states the trust is “required to publish the Notice on its website within 14 days” of it being published on the DfE website, as it was on 20 September 2024.
Erdington Local contacted the ALTP head office for comment and was directed to a statement published on the trust’s website by ATLP Chief Operating Officer Richard Gill CBE.
In the statement, Mr Gill said: “I would like to update you on our current financial situation. Despite our diligent efforts to manage resources efficiently, we find ourselves facing a budget deficit. The situation is complex and sector-wide and, in this letter, we would like to give some context and assurances.
“The deficit is the result of a variety of factors including climbing energy and catering bills, staff costs, inflation and our determined commitment to support all children including those who need it most in what remain complex times.”
He adds: “While we have taken proactive measures to mitigate these issues and indeed have made significant progress, the current financial landscape presents challenges. As a result, the ATLP has been issued with a notice to improve (NTI) from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).”
At the time of writing, it was unclear when the statement from Mr Gill was published, or if the parents and carers of children who attend ALTP schools have been notified directly.
Erdington Local could not find any communication about the issue on the individual school websites and has asked ATLP to clarify how those responsible for children at their schools have been informed of the ongoing financial difficulties.
In the statement published on the ALTP website, Mr Gill concludes: “Children remain at the heart of everything we do. Despite the financial challenge, we will continue to provide support to sustain the improvement of schools and the services we provide for our learning communities.”
For more on the Arther Terry Learning Partnership visit wwwatlp.org.uk
