PRESS RELEASE
27th January 2026
‘Too soon to put jobs and pupil needs at risk, says UNISON’
Central Learning Partnership Trust plans to close Blossom Hill Residential Unit at the Vale of Evesham School from the 27th March 2026 citing financial viability. This will impact the current pupils, the wider school and the Care Support Team, who are at risk of redundancy says UNISON today' (27/01/2026)
Vale of Evesham school is one of Central Learning Partnership Trust’s SEN schools in Worcestershire. Currently the school runs a residential unit of 15 beds to provide pupils who meet a set criterion, additional educational support. It is not a respite provision, and pupils only stay during the school week.
There are 10 associate staff at risk of redundancy and other staff at risk of losing hours worked at Blossom House. UNISON say that this will put pressure on pupil’s families who will have to find alternative provision meaning potential increased travel costs or even a withdrawal from education if no suitable provision can be found and the loss of experienced and skilled staff from Vale of Evesham School.
UNISON is calling for this proposal to be scrapped and Central Learning Partnership Trust to use its £23.4 million reserves to support this provision whilst alternative funding options are explored with partners including Worcestershire County Council.
UNISON has started a petition to gauge the strength of feeling about this matter and it has already received 890 signatures.
UNISON Worcestershire Branch Secretary Andy Buncle, said " these proposals will have a negative impact on our members’ jobs, workload and wellbeing and risk damaging vital services for SEN children. UNISON cannot understand CLPT’s haste in this matter, their reserves show that this does not need to be a crisis response and we call on CLPT to engage with Worcestershire County Council to resolve this matter and save our members’ jobs.
Notes to editors:
– CLPT reserve figures to be found in Central Learning Partnership Trust Accounts 2025 Financial Documents – CLPT
- Petition Link: https://www.change.org/Valeofevesham
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.