Moorland School, Clitheroe Pays Out at Employment Tribunal

The Collapse of Moorland School: Leaving a Community in Crisis

The sudden closure of Moorland School in Clitheroe last year shook the community to its core. Families where left scrambling for alternative educational options, while staff faced financial instability and uncertainty. The school,which catered to students from nursery through secondary level,announced its closure citing the need for restructuring,claiming a split into three separate entities – nursery,primary,and secondary schools – was necessary.

But behind this official narrative, former employees paint a different, more disturbing picture.

“All staff were made redundant and asked to reapply for their jobs,”

revealed an anonymous former employee. “I refused to do this, but was offered the same job under a new contract. That would have meant they didn’t owe me the year of redundancy and notice period, and I would have been starting the year again in September as a fresh member of staff with no service history.”

This unsettling offer, extended to almost all staff except senior leadership, some of whom accepted, highlights a rift between the school’s stated reasons for closure and the reality experienced by its employees.

This abrupt and seemingly unplanned separation ultimately led to legal action. A recent employment tribunal exposed Moorland School’s failure to provide proper notice periods, unpaid annual leave, and redundancy payments to former staff. The school was ordered to pay over £7,000 to one former employee, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of its actions.

Moorland School closure: A Severely Broken trust

The sudden closure of Moorland School last year left a deep scar on the clitheroe community.More than just the staff who lost their jobs, the entire town felt the impact of this abrupt decision. We spoke to former teacher Helen Smith,who shared her firsthand experience and shed light on the events leading up to the school’s demise.

“I hope by bringing attention to what happened, we can prevent similar situations from happening in the future,” Helen said.

The school’s official reason for closing was restructuring, claiming a need to split into separate entities for nursery, primary, and secondary levels.However, Helen paints a different picture. “we were all made redundant and asked to reapply for our positions,” she explained.”It felt incredibly odd and out of the blue. It felt more like a legal maneuver than a genuine restructure. I refused to reapply under those conditions as it meant giving up my accrued rights to redundancy pay and proper notice.”

Helen’s experience wasn’t an isolated incident. The school’s handling of the closure had notable financial and emotional repercussions for both staff and families. A subsequent tribunal case revealed a lack of proper consultation and notification regarding redundancy risks and proposed dates, as Judge Johnson stated: “No formal notification of him being at risk of redundancy or a proposed date of redundancy was given. No formal consultation took place.”

The tribunal awarded damages totaling £7,100 to a former employee, encompassing issues like inadequate redundancy pay, unpaid annual leave and failure to provide correct notice periods.

The school attempted to justify its actions by blaming the Covid pandemic and the change in VAT on private schools. However,the damage was done.Families were left scrambling to find new educational settings for their children,while former staff grappled with unexpected financial strain.

The abrupt closure of Moorland School raises serious questions about accountability and the obligation of educational institutions to their employees and students.

It serves as a stark reminder that ethical business practices, especially in sectors directly impacting children’s lives and familial well-being, are not optional. Transparency, fairness, and respect should be paramount, even during difficult times.

The Lingering Impact of Moorland School Closure

The abrupt closure of Moorland School sent shockwaves through its community, leaving many staff members grappling with the sudden loss of income and the uncertainty of the future. “Many of us were left financially vulnerable,” shared Helen Smith, a former employee. “We had mortgages, bills, and families to support. The lack of notice and unpaid leave caused meaningful hardship.” Smith, along with other affected individuals, took legal action, leading to an employment tribunal that exposed a disturbing pattern of disregard for employee rights. “The judge even noted the complete absence of proper consultation and notification regarding redundancies,” smith recounted.

This case raises critical questions about the ethical responsibilities of educational institutions, particularly when it comes to handling staff transitions.

“I hope it serves as a stark warning about the importance of ethical business practices, especially when dealing with the education of children and the livelihoods of dedicated professionals,”

said Smith, emphasizing the need for transparency and respect for employees.

Smith believes that schools have a moral obligation to prioritize clear and honest communication, especially during times of change or uncertainty. “Schools should prioritize clear, honest communication with their staff and parents,” she stressed. “The abrupt closure of Moorland School left a deep wound in our community,a wound that will take time to heal.”

The Moorland School case serves as a potent reminder that the well-being of educators directly impacts the quality of education provided to children. It underscores the need for a shift towards greater accountability and transparency within educational institutions, ensuring that ethical considerations remain at the forefront of decision-making processes.

Do you believe schools have a social duty that extends beyond simply providing education? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Based on Helen Smith’s experience, what legal advice would you give to teachers facing unexpected job losses or restructuring within their school?

Interview with Helen Smith: Unmasking the Truth Behind Moorland School’s Closure

The sudden closure of Moorland School in Clitheroe sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many employees grappling with the sudden loss of income and the uncertainty of the future. We spoke with former teacher Helen Smith, who shared her firsthand experience and shed light on the events leading up to the school’s demise.

Helen,thank you for speaking to us. Can you paint a picture of what happened at Moorland School in the lead-up to its closure?

“It was a whirlwind. One day, everything seemed normal, and the next, we were being told we were all made redundant and needed to reapply for our jobs. It felt incredibly abrupt and out of the blue. it felt more like a legal maneuver then a genuine restructure.” she recalled, shaking her head.

This restructuring claim was the school’s official reason for the closure. Was that your understanding at the time?

“We were told that splitting the school into separate nursery, primary, and secondary entities would be beneficial. However, the way it was handled felt far from a well-thought-out plan. The rush to make redundancies, coupled with the request to reapply for positions under new contracts, raised serious questions. It felt like they were trying to circumvent our rights.” Helen stated emphatically.

What were the implications of this “reapplying” process?

“For many of us, it meant giving up our accrued rights to redundancy pay and proper notice periods. It was a very tough situation. The school tried to justify it by claiming financial difficulties,but many of us felt like we were being pressured into accepting unfair terms.

Did you and your colleagues take any action against this process?

“Unfortunately,many of us felt powerless. We were scared of losing our jobs entirely and were unsure of our legal options. However,some of us,including myself,refused to reapply. I knew my rights and wasn’t willing to be treated this way. As it turned out, this decision ultimately led to an employment tribunal case.”

What was the outcome of the tribunal case ?

“Judge Johnson was very critical of the school’s handling of the redundancies. he stated that there was a complete absence of proper consultation and notification regarding redundancies. The tribunal awarded significant damages to a former employee, including unpaid annual leave and failure to provide correct notice periods. this case highlighted the school’s disregard for employee rights and solidified our belief that we had a right to be treated fairly.”

Looking back, what message would you like to send to other educational institutions?

“Schools have a moral obligation to prioritize clear and honest communication with their staff and parents. The abrupt closure of Moorland School left a deep wound in our community, a wound that will take time to heal. They should prioritize ethical business practices, particularly regarding staff transitions – transparency and respect are paramount.” Helen concluded, her voice firm with conviction.

The closure of Moorland school raises serious questions about accountability within the education sector. Do you think schools have a social duty that extends beyond simply providing education?