We are a group of parents from schools across Excel Learning Trust (ELT) in York — including Carr Junior School, Knavesmire Primary School, Woodthorpe Primary School, Scarcroft Primary School, Millthorpe School, York High School, and Inspire Academy. We have serious concerns about how the Trust is governed, and we want our voices to be heard.
Read more about the issues, or sign our petitions below.
Reverse teaching assistant cuts at Knavesmire Primary School
The Teaching Assistant provision at Knavesmire Primary School is being cut to one TA shared across every two year groups; meaning a single TA is now responsible for supporting over 120 children. This decision has been made at the same time as opening new paid childcare provision at the school nursery, and while increasing executive salaries across the trust.
Teaching Assistants are not a luxury. They support children with additional needs, allow teachers to teach effectively, and are often the trusted adult a struggling child turns to. Halving TA provision across all year groups will have a direct impact on every child in this school, and profoundly impact the most vulnerable children with additional needs.
This is not the first time Excel Learning Trust has made cuts to TA provision. In 2023, TAs at across the trust had their salaries slashed by being moved to term-time contracts against their wishes and despite significant parent opposition.
We are calling on Excel Learning Trust to immediately reverse this decision and restore one Teaching Assistant per year group.
Please sign once per family.
I am a parent or carer at Knavesmire Primary School and I oppose the cuts to Teaching Assistant provision:
Number of families signed: 112
27% of all enrolled families
By signing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Your data will only be used for the purposes of this campaign.
Behaviour Policy
Excel Learning Trust has introduced a centrally-controlled behaviour policy that removes decision-making power from headteachers and school staff. Instead of behaviour being managed by the people who know our children, it is now dictated by trust executives with no direct relationship with individual Knavesmire students or families.
We believe that headteachers and teachers, not central administrators, are best placed to make judgements about children’s behaviour. A one-size-fits-all policy imposed across different schools ignores the individual needs of children and undermines the professional expertise of the staff we trust with our children every day.
We are calling on Excel Learning Trust to withdraw the centralised behaviour policy and restore full authority over behaviour management to our headteachers and school staff.
Please sign once per family.
I am a parent or carer at Knavesmire Primary School and I oppose the centralised behaviour policy imposed by Excel Learning Trust:
Number of families signed: 48
11% of all enrolled families
By signing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Your data will only be used for the purposes of this campaign.