A Wolverhampton primary school has paid over £19,000 to settle disputes with staff, raising questions about the reasons behind these payments.
Back in 2020, they paid two staff members a total of £8,450. Then, in 2022, one staff member received £10,851. That’s quite a bit of cash!
St Chad’s Academies Trust runs both Trinity and St Jude’s CE Primary Academy. They suspended two staff members in September 2024 after a whistleblower came forward.
However, the trust hasn’t confirmed who was suspended and hasn’t given any updates. When asked about it, they mentioned that there would be public disclosure eventually.
Interestingly, more than 30 teachers have left St Chad’s Academies Trust in recent years. The payout figures came from a Freedom of Information request.
The trust was asked how much they paid to settle cases to avoid going to an employment tribunal. These payments can help resolve disputes without the hassle of a tribunal.
A spokesperson for the trust said they provided the necessary information but didn’t disclose reasons for the settlements or names of those involved.
They emphasized that settlement agreements are a common HR tool for resolving issues amicably and cost-effectively. They also mentioned that more information would be shared in due time.
