Teachers in Walsall protest against plans to turn a SEN school into an academy - here's why

Teachers took to protest again against the alleged ‘lack of transparency’ around academisation plans for a SEN school in Rushall.

Proposals for the Matrix Academy Trust to take on Elmwood SEMH School on King George Crescent were revealed last year.

The announcement faced fierce criticism, with staff claiming no business plan or financial information has yet been provided.

The spokesperson for the National Education Union, Matthew Raine, said if the transfer goes ahead, it would result in a loss of £700 of funding per pupil.

The Matrix Academy Trust has not confirmed this claim but says its service ‘achieves value for money’.

In 2018, Matrix was one of 87 academy trusts in England that the government sent a letter to following scrutiny over tax-payer-funded executive salaries.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency wanted to know why Matrix had set a salary above £150,000.

The most recent salary data for Matrix Academy Trust from the financial year of 2023/24 states 13 staff members were paid between £80,000 and £150,000, excluding pension contributions.

One staff member was on a salary of up to £150,000, another was paid up to £130,000, five were paid up to £110,000, three paid up to £100,000 and another three between £80,000 and £90,000.

Matrix Academy said the trust’s ‘top slice’ is in line with other academy trusts.

As per guidance by the Department for Education, before a school can become an academy, it must hold a statutory consultation period with parents, teachers, and other stakeholders.

Teachers have been on strike since the beginning of March because they say they have not been consulted.

On Monday April 7, leader of the independent group at Walsall Council, councillor Aftab Nawaz, put forward a ‘modest’ notice of motion at a full council meeting calling for ‘straightforward’ answers on how much funding each pupil will receive after the transfer and senior staff salaries.

Several councillors spoke in favour of the motion, but when it came to the vote, only 19 were in favour of the motion, 34 were against and one member abstained.

A long term member of staff at Elmwood said: “Why would transparency be turned down by the council? Surely that is exactly what the council is supposed to be doing?”

Walsall Council react to protests

Portfolio holder for education and skills at the council, councillor Pardeep Kaur, said she felt that the consultation had been ‘open and fair’ to date and the council is ‘satisfied’ with the level of engagement by key stakeholders.

Leader of the council, councillor Garry Perry, said the council doesn’t have the authority to ‘instruct or dictate’ the consultation process.

In the meeting, it was heard that an anonymous independent survey will be carried out to consider the views of teachers and parents.

At the protest on Wednesday, staff armed with placards stationed themselves outside Matrix Academy Trust offices in Walsall town.

To date, Elmwood’s board of governors has not responded to any requests made by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'We are so excited about Elmwood joining our family of schools'

A spokesperson from Matrix Academy Trust said: “We are so excited about Elmwood joining our family of schools, each of which have their unique personalities. Elmwood’s leaders have shared their expertise with Matrix leaders for years and we are looking forward to strengthening this mutually beneficial relationship.

“The wellbeing of Elmwood’s children is and will continue to be our priority throughout this voluntary transfer process.

“Elmwood’s governing board made the decision to collaborate with Matrix Academy Trust on a voluntary basis due to our relationship going back over 10 years. This was approved by the regional director on 13th December 2024.

“As required under TUPE regulations we issued a measures letter to the current employer on 12th February 2025 confirming that there is no intention on behalf of the school or trust to make staffing changes as a result of the transfer.

“All trust salaries are set in accordance with the Academy Trust Handbook and are approved by the board of directors. These are audited and made publicly available for transparency.

“The trust’s top slice is in line with other academy trusts. The services we provide achieve value for money, focus on efficiencies and are significantly enhanced to include services that local authority schools are required to purchase additionally.

“The trust met with trade unions on 12th February 2025 and this provided them with an opportunity to raise any concerns. The trust also met with all staff and trade unions on 27th March 2025, and wrote directly to the NEU in an open letter on 2nd April 2025. We will continue to engage with staff and trade unions throughout the process.”