VIDEO - MP writes to school head over the Bill Davies row

York Central MP Rachael Maskell has told parents who are supporting a popular teacher at Joseph Rowntree School in York that she has written to the head.

She says she shares their concern about plans for a reduction in the number of hours of P.E. and the loss of an "experienced" teacher.

Many parents are furious about changes and some staged a protest at the school to try and save Bill Davies.

A facebook group is still active.

Mr Davies had been with the school for 30 years.

VIDEO - Parents Protests a few weeks ago

Ms Maskell's letter to Head Richard Crane asks for an explanation for the loss of a popular teacher, reminds him of a 2,000 strong facebook group and points out that P.E lessons play a vital part in a child's development and mental health.

This letter from the Head, Richard Crane was sent to parents at the end of term, it says they are still in discussions with the colleague who is at risk of redundancy. There are still vacancies which need to be filled for September 2016.

Dear Parent/Carer

As you will be aware, significant educational changes are underway nationally; the current Year 10 cohort are already taking the first new GCSEs in English and Maths assessed on the new 1-9 scale. These new GCSEs will replace the existing qualifications over the next two years with the current Year 9 taking the majority of their options in the new framework. Looking ahead, more changes are likely to be made: for example, a current consultation by the Department of Education is looking at the practicality of making the English Baccalaureate compulsory for the majority of students. The Joseph Rowntree School has responded to this by increasing the time for core subjects which unfortunately has resulted in a redundancy process in the school.

As is normal with this process, colleagues who are in scope for redundancy are given notification of vacancies as they arise in school. As an employer we have a responsibility to ensure that employees are retained as much as is possible. This gives them the opportunity to be re-deployed into other areas. In early March, staff in P.E. were notified that there would be a reduction in the staffing structure in the P.E. department from September 2016. A formal HR process was followed which included a five week period of consultation, during which P.E. staff were notified of all employment opportunities which arose within the school. At the end of the process staff at the risk of redundancy were notified during the last week of May, and since that time, all other employment opportunities have been discussed with colleagues at risk of redundancy. This is an ongoing process, and we are still in discussions with the colleague who is at risk of redundancy. There are still vacancies which need to be filled for September 2016, which as part of the normal process have been passed to the colleague concerned prior to them being advertised in an attempt to mitigate redundancy which is always our primary objective.

Yours sincerely

R Crane
Headteacher

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