The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama has begun consultations with staff on a proposed voluntary redundancy scheme. The drama school, which is a constituent of the University of London, told The Stage it ‘must work to reduce its cost base’ to ensure ‘financial sustainability’.
RCSSD, which employs 240 staff members, has confirmed it has no ‘set target’ for the number of staff on the severance programme. The scheme is currently under consultation with staff and unions and, if confirmed, would be made available to all eligible staff from across the school.
A spokesperson for RCSSD told The Stage the consultation was a result of a difficult financial context for higher education. They said: ‘The educational landscape is constantly evolving and, like many institutions, Central is navigating a challenging sector environment. With staffing and operational costs projected to rise further, the next few years are going to be increasingly challenging for the sector.’
They added: ‘The decision to consult on a proposed voluntary severance scheme has not been taken lightly and is only one part of Central’s strategic response to the challenges ahead. At the moment, the school is only exploring voluntary severance. This is being explored alongside other cost-saving measures and without a set target for applications to the scheme.’
RCSSD is one of many higher education institutions to face financial difficulty, with Surrey, Kent, Middlesex, Goldsmiths and Queen Mary University of London all making cuts – particularly to arts and the humanities – in recent months.
Founded as The Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art by Elsie Fogerty in1906, RCSSD’s notable RCSSD alumni include Dame Judi Dench, Sir Laurence Olivier, Sonia Friedman, Andrew Garfield and Riz Ahmed.