MORALE is low among teaching assistants facing possible redundancy at Swindon Academy, according to a relative of one of the workers.

The flagship academy, which caters for children of primary and secondary age, wants to shed 30 classroom assistant roles and six other support staff, along with an unspecified number of teaching posts.

The relative, who did not want to be named, also said employees with up to 15 years’ unbroken service would only receive the statutory minimum payout.

Parents were told last week that public sector cuts had necessitated the move and a consultation process had begun with staff to reduce the size of the workforce.

The relative said. “Morale is low, with nobody knowing how many staff will be made redundant until May 28.

“They are also being told they will not be able to work in a different school until the end of October.

“The redundancy payout is the basic legal minimum. Some of the teaching assistants have 15 years’ unbroken service, but the academy is not paying that far back.

“One teaching assistant who has been in the role for 12 years has been given the figure of £3,000."

The proposals include reducing 48 teaching assistant posts to 27 at primary level and from 26 to 17 at secondary, according to Unison.

The trade union has described the proposed cuts as the most severe ever contemplated at a school in Swindon.

The other employees represented by the public service union – which has 100 members at the academy – occupy back-up roles outside the classroom. Teachers are being represented by their own unions But the academy rebuffed the claims.

A spokesman said: “The reason that staff will not know who is made redundant until May 28 is that the academy is following the statutory redundancy policy. We are in a period of consultation about the proposed restructure and during this time staff have an opportunity to meet with the principal on a one-to-one basis, or to make representations. Once the consultation period is over, we will consider the representations and make a response.

“It is only when the consultation is concluded that redundancies will be announced.

“The academy is working hard to ensure staff have access to support and guidance during this period.”

The spokesman said redundancy payments have been calculated using the United Learning Trust redundancy policy and the Swindon Council redundancy policy for staff who were transferred when the academy opened.

He added: “The academy is honouring all continuous service for the purpose of redundancy."