Worried teachers launch petition against redundancies at Milton Keynes secondary school facing huge £1.4m deficit

Ousedale School, which operates across campuses in Newport Pagnell and Olney, officially joined the E-ACT Multi-Academy Trust 18 months ago.

But this year it is predicted to face a budget deficit of approximately £1.4 million in 2026/27 if no further action is taken.

As a result, school leaders have started a formal consultation with staff and trade unions about a “proposed restructure” of some non-teaching administration and support roles.

This has left some of the staff with fears of redundancy and the impact it will have upon pupils. And one of them feels so strongly about it that they have launched a petition on the Change.org campaign site, directing it to the Department for Education, the council and the E-Act Trust.

Yopu can view the petition here.

It states: “I am one of the staff affected by the impending redundancies at Ousedale School... This isn't just about my job—it's about the profound and detrimental impact these cuts will have on our students, particularly the most vulnerable among them.

"Ousedale School has long been a beacon of excellence and support in our community, nurturing students of all backgrounds with dedication and care. However, the financial shortfall threatens this legacy, forcing us to consider redundancies that will strip away essential support systems for students. Our most vulnerable students—those who rely heavily on extra assistance and dedicated teaching staff—will suffer immensely if these redundancies proceed.”

The petition adds: "Evidence points to the critical role teachers and support staff play in student success and wellbeing. According to a study by the Educational Policy Institute, reducing staff impacts not only on academic outcomes but also on the mental health and social development of students. Furthermore, the disruption in student-teacher relationships is known to have lasting negative effects on student confidence and engagement.

"The £1.4 million deficit... needs urgent addressing without resorting to cutting jobs. We need to explore alternative solutions such as financial grants, budget reallocations, or increased local authority funding to bridge the gap and preserve the quality of education at our school.

"We need your help to ensure that Ousedale School can continue to thrive as a nurturing and effective educational institution. Preventing these redundancies will protect the quality and accessibility of education for all our students, particularly those who need it the most.”

The Citizen asked E-ACT and Ousedale Academy for a comment. A spokesperson told us: “has begun a formal consultation with staff and trade unions regarding a proposed restructure of some non-teaching administration and support roles. 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.”

They added: “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. It is important to note that the academy joined the Trust with a significant in-year budget deficit, which has contributed to the current financial position. The academy currently has a larger proportion of non-teaching support staff than elsewhere in the country, and 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 concluded: “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.