18/04/2026
Staff to strike at Derby Catholic Schools against a decimation of jobs, pay and conditions
National Education Union (NEU) members across 8 schools in the St Ralph Sherwin Trust have announced 8 days of strike action against catastrophic cuts to jobs and job downgrading which will decimate schools, increase class sizes and adversely affect the most vulnerable pupils their schools serve. The Trust has schools in Derby, Derbyshire, East Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire.
The schools are: -
• Holy Rosary Catholic Voluntary Academy, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs
• The Priory Catholic Voluntary Academy, Eastwood, Notts
• Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy, City of Derby
• St Albans Catholic Voluntary Academy, Derby
• St Elizabeth’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Belper, Derbyshire
• St John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy, Ilkeston, Derbyshire
• St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, City of Derby
• St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy, Buxton, Derbyshire
The crisis-hit Catholic Academy Trust has a reported deficit of over £10 million which is the largest of any Trust in England. The Trust has already been subject to intervention by the Department For Education due to a chronic lack of oversight and its inability to manage its finances appropriately. Whilst this has led to some changes across senior management with a number leaving the Trust, others appear unrepentant and determined to attempt to balance the books by axing staff numbers and attacking pay and conditions. This includes making teachers redundant in multiple schools, removing responsibility payments, downgrading jobs and slashing the pay, conditions and jobs of the lowest paid support staff. This is being done in the face of opposition from staff, governors and the community. Parents have been left in the dark with many unaware of the crisis facing schools their children attend or will attend from September. Many have simply been told schools will be closed due to the strikes but not given the reason or told why the Trust finances are in such an appalling state.
Jobs will face the chop in 14 of the Trust’s 25 schools with strike action initially taking place in 8, with a 9th school following in 2 weeks. Staff at the affected schools have faced a nightmare few months in the knowledge that their schools will lose long-term dedicated staff, whilst worrying about what provision will be left for pupils. Of particular concern are the most vulnerable pupils, whose teachers face swingeing job losses which the union believes could lead to shortages and recruitment difficulties, which will adversely affect pupils for years to come.
The National Education Union represents the majority of staff in the schools and has issued 8 days of initial strike action at the 8 schools for Tuesday 21st April, Wednesday 22nd April, Tuesday 5th May, Wednesday 6th May, Thursday 7th May, Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th May and Thursday 21st May.
Despite receiving notification of 8 days of strike action, no-one from St Ralph Sherwin Trust senior management has contacted the union to resolve matters and avoid disruption. CEO Kevin Gritton has been silent. Some senior management in affected schools have been antagonistic towards affected staff, informing them that job cuts will go ahead regardless, that the Trust does not intend to negotiate and that it’s happy to sit out several days of disruptive strike action in order to address a deficit that it is the worst in England. These events have led to a serious deterioration of staff morale and relationships across several of the schools.
The strikes will begin on Tuesday 21st April and Wednesday 22nd April with picketing of all sites at 8am until 9pm. NEU members will be joined by colleagues in UNISON.
The NEU remains committed to resolve these matters amicably and to save jobs for the benefit of pupils, parents, staff and the wider community that we serve.
Nick Raine, Senior Regional Officer East Midlands Region said: -
“The situation at St Ralph Sherwin is dire and without precedent. Dedicated staff are now facing huge job losses due to a catastrophic failure of oversight and governance at the Trust which has failed them over many years. The attempt to blame the recent pay award won’t wash as St Ralph Sherwin has run up the largest deficit in England; hiding it from staff then deciding to decimate jobs when the DFE investigate and discover a black hole in the Trust’s finances.
The proposed cuts will lead to the loss of dozens of dedicated staff; roles being deleted that are vital to support pupils, and the destruction of pay and conditions which will mean that the most vulnerable pupils could miss out on the help they desperately need.
The Trust has kept parents in the dark to limit damage to its reputation. Staff feel angry and betrayed. Some feel intimidated into silence in their schools. They now have no choice but to come together and stand up for their pupils and schools against a distant Trust that appears to wish to plough on regardless. Colleagues are appalled that despite receiving notification of 8 days of strike action the Trust remain silent and have made no attempt to meet or negotiate with the union. We believe parents will be appalled at this as we enter exam season and schools across St Ralph Sherwin face a potentially long and protracted industrial dispute in several schools.
The NEU remains resolute in its willingness to fight for the future of St Ralph Sherwin schools and we are willing to negotiate a resolution in the best interests of pupils, parents and the community.
If the Trust remains intransigent, we could well be looking at a lengthy dispute as dedicated staff have no choice but to defend the interests of their school, community and the colleagues they work with.
ENDS
