Unions blame ‘shameful’ ALRA closure on school’s senior management
Hattie Fisk
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Equity and the University and College Union have released a joint statement in response to the school’s sudden closure.
Following the closure of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA), unions have released a public statement claiming that the school’s senior management have handled the situation ‘disgracefully’.
On 4 April, the school revealed in a public letter that the sudden closure was due to financial struggles, with a ‘lack of any significant new income streams in 2021/22’ meaning the organisation was ‘not financially viable’, and was to cease teaching immediately. Find out more about the school’s closure here.
In the joint statement from Equity and the University and College Union, the unions condemn ALRA for the lack of support given to its students and staff - many of whom are currently facing a ‘long and hard battle to receive any compensation’.
‘However difficult the financial situation was, there can be no excuse for such blatant disregard for the wellbeing and livelihoods of staff’, the statement continues.
‘ALRA's financial difficulties were the predictable consequence of the poor regulation of private providers and an ideological reliance on fees. The government's vindictive attacks on funding for creative and performing arts and its refusal to support these subjects in higher education form the background to ALRA's collapse’, reads the statement.
A spokesperson from the Department for Education (DfE) said: ‘The closure of ALRA was hugely upsetting for both students and staff, so it is important to be accurate.
‘This government supports and recognises the value of creative providers and we provided a £10m uplift to world-leading specialist providers through funding allocated by the Office for Students for 21-22, and up to £5m more for 22-23.’
‘We have been supporting the OfS and ALRA’s advisers in identifying a solution and supporting students to complete their studies and that is why every student was offered an alternative place at Rose Bruford, including for those based in Wigan.’
Read the full statement here.
Find out more about the school’s closure here.
