Find your “moral force” – it might come in handy if you’re about to make staff redundant, leader of academy sector group appears to suggest

Antonio Gramsci. Image: Alamy.
Leora Cruddas, of Confederation of School Trusts, raises eyebrows after citing Gramsci's thinking on staying strong.
The well-known leader of an organisation representing a large portion of the academies sector has provoked controversy after sending an email which appeared to accept redundancies in schools - and quoted the Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci on the benefit of being strong-willed in times of challenge.
Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), drew sighs of bemusement from several sources spoken to by Education Uncovered, after offering the thoughts in an email to its member organisations.
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By Warwick Mansell for EDUCATION UNCOVERED
Published: 20 May 2025
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That's hilarious but not surprising. Just like General Milley's citing Critical Race Theory as a way to combat it and Don't Divide Us coopting faux antiracism language and pretending that 'colourblind anti-racism' is a thing. Cruddas is shrewd and a fine capitalist, she knows what will get attention