21 members of staff are to be made redundant at the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA). 

The school has said that 21 posts are being made redundant, some of which are part-time, equating to 15 full-time members of staff being made redundant.

The redundancies are as a result of reorganisation.

The Portland academy has said that the ‘majority’ of these will be voluntary and that two are in teaching or senior leadership roles with the rest being made up in teaching assistants and support staff posts.

Principal at IPACA, Joss Hayes, has recently written to the school’s parents to update them on the change programme at the academy.

As reported in the Dorset Echo last year, 64 jobs were put at risk of redundancy at the school.

The reorganisation will see the school employ a schools within the school model to build a system where every child is well known with a head of school who alongside a key staff team will be responsible for the schools within the schools.

This new structure will be fully in place from September when the new Maritime House campus opens.

Mrs Hayes said: “This is a year of change for our community, a year when we will finally see the original vision for IPACA realised. I have an open door policy to discuss any questions parents may have about any aspect of the Academy and I am looking forward to giving them and the community the chance to see how the new structure will deliver the very best education and opportunities for our children.

“We will start to welcome visitors to experience the new campus in June and July and there will be opportunities for parents and learners over the coming months to participate in various events.” 

The academy has announced several appointments – with Jackie Thomas becoming head of discovery - covering nursery to year four, Marcus Stevens being appointing director or science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), Chris Wadley appointed as director of language and culture, Jon Smith as director of specialist provision – responsible for special needs and Maria Smith becoming head of resources and operations. 

Gary Spracklen has been appointed to one of the new head of school roles, each responsible for one of the three schools within schools.

There are still vacancies for the director of performance, creativity and community arts and the other two head of house positions with an internal and external recruitment process already being launched.