Central School layoffs scheme could open next month

Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD) has revealed that a proposed voluntary redundancy scheme, which it is currently consulting on with staff, could open as early as next month as it seeks to secure financial sustainability for the future.

A spokesperson for the North London drama school said that staff and unions are being consulted on a voluntary severance scheme and its terms until the end of October.

Depending on the outcome, and provided that all queries and issues raised have been considered by the end of the month, the scheme will open on 1 November.

There is no set target for the number of applications to the scheme, and if agreed, it will be made available to all eligible staff across the school.

Reducing employee numbers is just one of several areas the school said it is exploring to reduce its costs, in addition to efficiencies and income opportunities.

CSSD said the decision to launch the consultation had “not been taken lightly” but resulted from a “challenging sector environment”, with staffing and operational costs projected to rise further.

However, it added that the decision earlier this year to remove audition fees for undergraduate courses at the school had not been an economic factor.

Reducing the school’s cost base

“The educational landscape is constantly evolving and, like many institutions, Central is navigating a challenging sector environment,” said the spokesperson.

“With staffing and operational costs projected to rise further, the next few years are going to be increasingly challenging for the sector.

“Central is in the fortunate position of being able to build on the foundations of its excellence in teaching and research, but the school must work to reduce its cost base to protect and ensure its financial sustainability for the short, medium and long term.

“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.

“The proposed scheme is voluntary and is intended to provide an opportunity for eligible colleagues who may wish to pursue new directions or explore other opportunities outside of Central.

“Throughout the consultation, the school will be working closely with the unions and staff and will be supporting colleagues whilst they consider whether this voluntary scheme is right for them.

“Central’s commitment to its students and to their education will remain a top priority, and all programmes, services, and facilities that form part of the academic experience will continue to operate as usual.”

Job cuts across higher education arts

Central is just one of dozens of financially stricken universities to announce job cuts impacting arts subjects this year, including Kent, Queen Mary University of London, Goldsmiths University of London, Middlesex University, Surrey University and Winchester, with institutions citing falling student levels and rising costs coupled with frozen tuition fees since 2017/18.

Specialist conservatoires for music and the performing arts, such as Central, have also faced struggles in recent years. In May 2024, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama announced plans to cut its youth services, including closing some junior programmes. The college said it was making difficult decisions to ensure it could meet future challenges.

Leeds Conservatoire cut around a fifth of its full-time academic staff in its Music and Performing Arts School in 2023. Meanwhile, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts proposed compulsory redundancies in 2022, which later became a voluntary severance scheme.