'Upset, undervalued' staff on strike at 8 Sheffield schools led by INOVA over risk of cuts to support teams
“Support staff, who are essential to the day-to-day running of our schools, have been left feeling upset and undervalued”
Union staff a eight Sheffield schools from a single academy trust are on strike today over claims support staff are at risk of job cuts.
Teachers at INOVA MAT - which operates schools such as Tapton, Forge Valley, and Hillsborough Primary - have walked out in a dispute over the chance of looming redundancies following the trust’s rebrand in 2025.
It comes amid exam season for Y11 & Y13 pupils, while several schools have had to ask some year groups to learn from home.
Duncan Blackie, Sheffield District Secretary for the NEU, said: “Our members are taking action because they no longer have confidence in how this process has been managed. This has not just been about proposals on paper - it has been about the real impact on valued staff in our schools.”
Which schools are on strike and when?
Five days of industrial action are planned this month - June 10, June 11, June 16, June 17 and June 18.
Schools with NEU staff on strike today and Thursday (June 11) include: • Bradfield School • Forge Valley School • Hallam Primary School • Hillsborough Primary School • Meynell Community Primary School • Southey Green Primary School • Tapton School • Wisewood Community Primary School.
(Editor’s note: The NEU previously stated two of the schools on strike were Chaucer School and Wisewood Community Primary, which was reported here. Mercia Learning Trust, which is set to take over Chaucer, contacted The Star to say the school is not on strike. Wisewood also contacted to say it did not have ‘any teachers’ on strike. This story was updated to reflect this.)
Why are staff on strike at INOVA Multi-Academy Trust schools?
The National Education Union has accused the trust of “placing support staff at risk of compulsory redundancies or being forced into reduced or downgraded positions.”
Namely, it levelled criticism at the rebrand into INOVA led by CEO Lee Barber in 2025, and the arrival of a team of highly-paid senior-level staff at the trust named Project Pioneer which it says has led to increased costs and the decision to cut jobs.
A statement from the NEU reads: “The dispute centres on the impact of Project Pioneer, which had placed support staff at risk of compulsory redundancies or being forced into reduced or downgraded positions.
“NEU members have raised serious concerns about how the restructure has been managed and the impact it has had on staff.
“Members say they have lost confidence in the Trust’s management of this process.
“Changes to the roles of support staff — who play a vital role in keeping schools running effectively — have been handled poorly, leading to significant distress among staff.
“Teachers, who rely on the work of support staff behind the scenes, have also expressed concern and frustration at both the process and its impact on their colleagues.”
What is Project Pioneer?
The only information about the Pioneer team on Inova’s website is a page listing five senior members of staff, which reads: “The Pioneer Team are partners in operational effectiveness and resourcing. The team supports schools by removing operational barriers so that the educational experience of young people can be brilliant.”
There is no other information about Pioneer available on the trust’s website, or on any of the eight striking schools’ websites.
The Star contacted INOVA for more information about Project Pioneer - as well as another team, titled Pinnacle, a team of eight senior staff which also has no other information on the Trust’s website except: “The Pinnacle Team are partners in academic and cultural leadership” tasked with “driving performance in the Trust Quality Descriptors.”
The Star contacted INOVA for more information.
Are staff being made redundant?
The NEU clarified that INOVA Trust agreed in negotiations “that there will be no compulsory redundancies and that affected staff will receive two years’ pay protection.”
An NEU statement reads: “While this represents a step forward, significant concerns remain about workload, the implementation of the changes, and the wider impact on staff and students.”
‘Upset and undervalued’
Duncan Blackie, Sheffield District Secretary for the NEU, said: “Support staff, who are essential to the day-to-day running of our schools, have been left feeling upset and undervalued.
“Teachers stand alongside them and share those concerns. We remain deeply concerned about the potential for increased workload as a result of these changes and the knock-on effect this could have on the quality of education for pupils.
“Our members are proud to serve their communities and are committed to the children and families they work with every day.
“However, they cannot accept changes that risk damaging both staff wellbeing and standards in our schools. Strike action has not been taken lightly, but members are prepared to act to defend their colleagues and the education our young people deserve.”
The Star contacted INOVA MAT about the NEU’s comments.
A spokesperson said: “Despite constructive engagement, and confirmation that no compulsory redundancies are being made as part of our recent organisational review, we can confirm that the National Education Union (NEU) has notified the trust of planned industrial action.
“We respect the right of staff to take industrial action and remain committed to ongoing engagement with unions and colleagues. Our priority is minimising disruption to pupils, families and staff wherever possible. We are working closely with affected schools to confirm arrangements and to communicate with families.
“We would encourage stakeholders to rely on information shared directly by the Trust and schools with regards to the recent organisational review, which was focused on strengthening operational support services across the Trust so that schools can continue delivering the highest quality education and support for pupils, now and in the future."