We, as parents, families, friends, and members of the wider community, call on St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi-Academy Trust and the Diocese of Nottingham to halt the proposed staff reductions at St Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy. Instead, the Trust’s £11 million deficit should be addressed through fair, transparent solutions.

St Benedict is a stable school and a beacon of the community and should not be forced to reduce staff to compensate for central financial mismanagement. Any cuts to staffing would have a serious impact on classroom provision, pastoral care, and support for pupils with SEND, ultimately affecting children’s education and wellbeing.

The Trust is proposing to reduce the number of teaching assistants, support staff, and teachers, while simultaneously expanding its central team. We urge decision-makers to protect frontline staff, review central spending and leadership costs, and ensure that any financial recovery plan places pupils, teachers, and support staff at its core.

We strongly oppose these proposals and wish to emphasise that every member of staff at St Benedict is highly valued for the essential role they play in supporting our children’s education.