11/06/2026
An open letter to Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education with regards to the St Ralph Sherwin CMAT dispute with the NEU.
Dear Secretary of State,
We write to you on behalf of members of the National Education Union (NEU) working within the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust (CMAT), following what will be fourteen days of sustained strike action. This level of disruption reflects the depth of concern among our members about the ongoing restructure being imposed across the Trust.
Despite repeated attempts to engage constructively with the employer, our members remain firmly opposed to proposals that threaten jobs, undermine professional standards, and risk the quality of education delivered to pupils. Staff have taken industrial action only as a last resort after exhausting all reasonable avenues for negotiation.
The current dispute centres on a restructure that our members believe is both unnecessary and harmful. It has been pursued without sufficient transparency, meaningful consultation, or regard for the impact on staff wellbeing and retention. The potential loss of experienced educators, alongside destabilising changes to staffing structures, risks long-term damage to our school communities.
In addition, the proposed removal of six out of nine school-based chaplains raises profound concerns about the future of the Catholic life and ethos within our schools. Chaplains play a vital role in supporting the spiritual development of pupils, providing pastoral care, and sustaining the distinctive Catholic identity that is central to the mission of the Trust. A reduction of this scale would significantly diminish that provision, undermining both the values and expectations placed upon Catholic education.
It should be noted that the CMAT has been subject to two Notices to Improve and yet, has failed to implement change in a measured and sustainable way. These interventions should have led to greater care, scrutiny, and strategic planning. Instead, the current approach suggests a continuation of reactive and destabilising decision-making. This is not the careful stewardship expected of a publicly funded academy trust.
Throughout this dispute, the NEU has sought to put forward constructive, reasonable alternatives to mitigate the impact on staff and pupils. These include widening access to the voluntary redundancy scheme, enhancing pension arrangements to support those considering early retirement, and extending the timeframe for any necessary staffing reductions to allow for a more measured process, allowing for schools to adapt to any changes. Regrettably, these proposals have not been meaningfully engaged with.
Furthermore, our members, alongside many in the wider community, have growing concerns regarding the financial rationale underpinning this restructure. There is a clear and urgent need for transparency. We are therefore calling for an independent inquiry into the Trust’s financial position and decision making, to establish how resources have been allocated and why such drastic measures are being pursued.
After fourteen days of strike action, it is clear that this situation has reached an impasse. The Trust has thus far failed to respond adequately to legitimate concerns raised by staff and their representatives. Meanwhile, pupils and families continue to experience disruption that could and should have been avoided.
We therefore call upon the Department for Education to urgently intervene to help resolve this dispute.
Specifically, we ask that the Department:
• Instruct the Trust to halt and withdraw the current restructure proposals;
• Ensure that any future organisational changes are subject to genuine consultation and are evidence-based;
• Support a fair approach to workforce change, including consideration of voluntary redundancy, enhanced early retirement options, and a longer implementation period;
• Commission or support an independent inquiry into the Trust’s finances and use of public funds;
• Safeguard the interests of pupils by prioritising stability and continuity in staffing, including the preservation of essential pastoral and chaplaincy roles.
The Department for Education has a responsibility to ensure that academy trusts operate in a way that is fair, transparent, and focused on educational outcomes, while respecting the distinctive character of faith schools. Where disputes escalate to this level, it is both appropriate and necessary for central intervention.
Our members are committed professionals who want nothing more than to provide the best possible education for the children in our care. We are ready to return to work without further disruption. However, this requires a resolution grounded in fairness, respect, and, with regard to the long-term future of our schools.
The NEU remains willing to engage in constructive dialogue at any time. However, without decisive action from both the CMAT and the DfE, the risk of further escalation remains.
We urge you to act swiftly to bring this matter to a just conclusion.
Yours sincerely,
National Education Union
