Around 30 jobs at university at risk but union vows to 'vigorously defend' roles

Dan Haygarth

25 April 2024 at 11:29 am·1-min read

Edge Hill University in Ormskirk -Credit:Ormskirk Advertiser

Around 30 jobs are at risk of redundancy at Edge Hill University.

The university in Ormskirk has begun a consultation with staff in its English and Creative Arts department. According to the University & College Union (UCU), around 30 jobs are at risk of redundancy.

The union says it will "vigorously defend" the jobs which are at risk. Edge Hill says the redundancies would ensure that programmes within the English and Creative Arts faculty can continue.

University and College Union regional official Matt Arrowsmith said: "UCU is aware of potential redundancies affecting around 30 posts at Edge Hill University. As is usual in these circumstances the employer has engaged with UCU representatives in respect of the proposals and timescales.

"We will vigorously defend jobs and are working with members and the employer to seek a satisfactory outcome. This is a difficult time for the affected UCU members, and they can be assured of robust support from their trade union."

An Edge Hill University spokesperson told the ECHO: "To ensure the continuation of the programmes within the English and Creative Arts department we have started a consultation with a small number of staff within this team.

“This process is being conducted in line with our Code of Practice, which respects everyone's right to confidentiality, and we will not be commenting further whilst this process is underway.

“We would like to reassure our current students that we are fully committed to offering a full range of existing programmes; all teaching, assessment and pastoral support will continue as usual and their learning will not be impacted. We are also providing comprehensive and ongoing support to our colleagues.”

The Liverpool Daily Post newsletter delves into the biggest stories on Merseyside

The Independent
Teachers could get protection against blasphemy claims under new laws
The report has been influenced by recent blasphemy cases, which has seen some teachers forced into hiding
The Telegraph
Oxford pro-Palestinian activists stage ‘die-in’ to disrupt graduation ceremonies
Pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to disrupt graduation ceremonies at Oxford University by blocking the entrances to the events as part of a “die-in”.
People
High School Senior Accepted into 231 Schools and Awarded More Than $14 Million in Scholarships: It's 'Heartwarming'
Madison Crowell will attend High Point University in North Carolina later this year
The Guardian
Pro-Palestine protesters vow to rally as La Trobe joins universities enforcing encampment ban
La Trobe on Friday followed Deakin in issuing a formal directive for protesters to end their encampment
The Guardian
Schools in England send police to homes of absent pupils with threats to jail their parents
‘Heavy-handed’ crackdown ignores underlying reasons for failure to attend classes, say critics
The Guardian
‘Scary’: public-school textbooks the latest target as US book bans intensify
A school district in Houston has voted to redact chapters on vaccines and climate change, and parents and educators are worried
The Telegraph
The grandparents sacrificing their retirement to pay for rocketing school fees
Doting grandparents – delighted by children’s offspring but equally thrilled they can “hand them back” – are often found dealing out favours where they can. A chocolate biscuit between meal times, perhaps even a new bike for Christmas. Then there are grandparents who find themselves in situations fortunate enough to provide substantially more: private school fees upwards of £20,000 a year, if such financial demands are beyond the means of cash-strapped parents.
Associated Press
The Israel-Hamas war is testing whether campuses are sacrosanct places for speech and protest
“Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making,” wrote poet John Milton, an alumnus of Cambridge University, in his 1644 treatise against censorship in publishing. “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.”
The Telegraph
Ben Miller says private school pupils often look bored by his reading sessions...unlike state sector
Ben Miller has said that pupils at top private schools often look bored when he reads to them, but when he visits state schools the students “nearly start a riot”.
The Hill
Did colleges give away the store in deals with student protesters?
Colleges that used police force to end their recent on-campus student protests are facing criticism for their handling of the situation, but so are the small handful that cut deals to end the demonstrations. The few universities that successfully negotiated to end the pro-Palestinian encampments — among them Northwestern, Brown, Rutgers and Johns Hopkins —…
Yahoo News
Biden acknowledges ‘heartbreak’ over Israel-Hamas war in speech to Morehouse grads
President Biden spoke about the Israel-Hamas war during his commencement address at Morehouse College on Sunday.
Eastern Daily Press
Leaders chosen for two new Norfolk schools - creating 270 much-needed places
Two new Norfolk special schools - in Great Yarmouth and Downham Market - have moved a step closer after leaders were selected to run the sites.
Yorkshire Live
Yorkshire council bosses u-turn on apostrophe ban for street signs after global outrage
North Yorkshire Council said all new street signs would be made without the punctuation to avoid problems with computer systems
CNN
UCLA faculty reject censure and no confidence resolutions against chancellor after attack on pro-Palestinian encampment
The UCLA Academic Senate rejected censuring and making a no confidence statement against university Chancellor Gene Block amid mounting criticism of his handling of a campus pro-Palestinian encampment that was violently attacked by counterprotesters.
Associated Press
6 Penn students among 19 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested during attempt to occupy building
A half-dozen University of Pennsylvania students were among 19 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested during an attempt to occupy a school building, university police said Saturday. Members of Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine announced the action Friday at the school’s Fisher-Bennett Hall, urging supporters to bring “flags, pots, pans, noise-makers, megaphones” and other items, the University of Pennsylvania Division of Public Safety said in a news release.
The Guardian
Gen-Z students are choosing a trade over college. That shows they’re smart
Young people are increasingly opting to train as plumbers, electricians, welders and carpenters and similar vocations
Associated Press
Pro-Palestinian protesters set up a new encampment at Drexel University
Up to 60 protesters were at the encampment on the campus' Korman Quad Sunday, Drexel President John Fry said in a statement, adding that the university was speaking with demonstrators — most of whom he said were not affiliated with the school —in an effort to end the protest. “This demonstration already has proved intolerably disruptive to normal University operations and has raised serious concerns about the conduct of some participants, including distressing reports and images of protesters subjecting passersby to antisemitic speech, signs and chants,” Fry said, declaring that “this encampment must end.”
Echo
Suspensions for racial abuse at schools on the rise in Essex
The Victim Support charity said schools should be encouraging pupils to develop skills to challenge racism when they see it.
ABC News
19 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for trying to occupy UPenn building
The University of Pennsylvania police arrested 19 pro-Palestinian protesters Friday night after they allegedly tried to occupy a campus building, the school said. The university's police department said the protesters, the majority of whom were not students, attempted to get into Fisher-Bennett Hall when campus officers and officers from the Philadelphia Police Department intervened. Officers were seen scuffling with protesters and several people were taken away in handcuffs.
People
‘Emotional Support’ Cat Gets Honorary Degree from Vermont College: 'Congratulations, Dr. Max Dow!'
The cat’s degree will come “complete with all the catnip perks, scratching post privileges, and litter box responsibilities”

Latest stories