Support fairness for West Yorkshire schools and children

From April 2026, academies will be required to pay an average of 15.4% employer contribution to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, while maintained schools will pay 12.2% – despite educating the same children in the same communities.  

This petition supports a motion being debated at Bradford Council on 17 March 2026 calling on the Local Authority to apply equal pension contribution rates to academies and maintained schools.

✅ This does NOT affect staff pensions – benefits, entitlements and scheme membership remain fully protected.
✅ It is about fairness between schools delivering the same public service.
✅ Fairer treatment could help school budgets, better support children, staff and classrooms.

Schools across Bradford and West Yorkshire are working together to ask for a more equal approach that puts education first.

Please sign to show your support and help ensure schools are treated fairly for the benefit of our children and communities.