Boss resigns ahead of controversial Whitehaven Academy meeting

Teaching staff protesting at the Academy. Credit: ITV Border

The boss of the Trust that runs a trouble-hit Cumbrian school has quit, ahead of a meeting to discuss its future.

Teachers at Whitehaven Academy have carried out a series of strikes, to protest against the way the school has been run by Bright Tribe.

Concerns include the state of the school buildings, changes to teachers' pensions, their workload, and their conditions of employment, including pay and pay progression.

Staff have also said the futures of children at the school are being "ruined".

Bright Tribe Trust says it is working with staff to resolve the problems, and a public meeting organised by the town's mayor is taking place at Whitehaven Golf Club this evening.

Representatives from the academy's action group, Cumbria County Council, Copeland Council, the Department of Education, Bright Tribe and MP Trudy Harrison have been invited to the meeting.

The Chief Operating Officer of Bright Tribe Trust has now resigned.

Staff at Whitehaven Academy have written an open letter outlining their concerns: