Sunday 30 March 2014

David Ross (Carphone Warehouse) talks about an academy turnaround

From the Grantham Journal: 'Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen is showing signs of a resurgence after it was taken over by the David Ross Education Trust last year.... (which) has taken more than 20 schools under its wing. Mr Ross, a founder of Carphone Warehouse, spoke to the Journal....'

Five schools to join new catholic Aquinas Catholic Academy Trust

From Chad: Catholic schools in Mansfield are joining forces to be part of a brand new educational trust... Mansfield’s All Saints’ Secondary School (Headteacher Maureen Cobbett) will become an Aquinas Catholic Academy on 1st April... Joining All Saints’ on 1st April will be Mansfield’s St Patricks Primary School. Later in the year St Philip’s Primary, Mansfield, St Joseph’s Primary, Shirebrook, and St Joseph’s, Boughton, will also come on board.

Only two non-academies left in Hillingdon

From Get West LondonRuislip High School (converter), and Pinkwell Primary School (join the Elliot Foundation Academy Trust) will formally make the switch on April 1... (the only two left are) Harlington School in Hayes, and Abbotsfield School for Boys in Uxbridge, both foundation schools.

Head appointed for two Watford free schools

From the Watford Observer: 'Helen Lockham has been unveiled as the executive principal of Ascot Road Community Free School and Watford Town Community Free School.

£45m Harris Westminster Academy - The Independent

The Independent: '...Michael Gove, has approved a plan to spend £45m on a free school (Harris Westminster Sixth Form), making it almost certainly the most expensive in the country even though it has just 500 students, The Independent has learnt' - The paper reports internal criticism and lists areas of underfunding.

New trust to take on two E-Act academies in Leeds

From The Yorkshire Evening Post: 'Leeds West and (Leeds) East Academies, were among 10 schools which E-ACT has agreed to give up amid concerns about its performance... Now the schools have announced that they are set to be sponsored by a trust created by Leeds City College - (The White Rose Academies Trust )

Friday 28 March 2014

Special needs free school planned for New Forest

From the Daily Echo: Principal designate of Eaglewood, Dr Mike Horswell, said: “This is a bid that has the collective support of many local schools to help meet a desperate need in our area. There are a growing number of children who are missing out on education because their needs are so specific they cannot be met through normal mainstream provision.

Head of Hartsbrook free school: business as usual til new sponsor found

From the Haringey Independent: Interim principal Brendan Plunkett said...
And Local Schools Network: 'raises a wider question about the use of inexperienced staff in positions of responsibility at free schools...'

DfE check list for becoming an academy

From DfE: 'Conversion usually takes around 5 months, but the process could move more quickly, or take longer depending on your school’s circumstances. Schools convert on the first day of the month.'

Summary of the 14 chains barred from expanding

The following academies have been restricted: - Local Schools Network outlines some other contenders.

Wokingham free school steps aside for council academy plan

From Get Reading: 'Parents have shelved plans for a free school  (South of Wokingham (SOW) Free School Group) after the council surprised campaigners by committing to build a new academy in the next two years.'

Thursday 27 March 2014

Academies can keep 10% of GAG payments for non-existent pupils

Following-up a piece in the Guardian and a tweet from Warwick Mansell it seems that academies can keep 10% of General Annual Grant (GAG) overpayments based on pupil estimates. This could provide a motive for consistently over estimating pupil numbers - which is what the DfE appears to be complaining about - it also puts into context the DfE's claim that it can recover money wrongly given to academies (i.e. only cash above the first 10%).

Property developers to fund Teesside free school

UPDATE (April 22 2014): Northern Echo: '... another plan to build hundreds of new homes on land adjacent to a planned new ‘free school’ in south Stockton has been rejected.'

From the Northern Echo: DfE has approved The Ingleby Manor Foundation Trust free school bid's funding agreement and 'For the first year, the school will operate from a converted warehouse... The money for the new building will come from housing developers who have permission to build 350 houses nearby... (a) related application to build 550 homes in the same area will be considered...'

Over-subscribed International Greenwich free school faces another years delay over site

From the News Shopper: 'The oversubscribed secondary school may fail to open for the second year running if no building is found which supporters say is partly down to resistance from Greenwich Council and the Church of England.'

Education partner brought in to deal with complex free school bid

From Get Reading: Founders of the parent-led South of Wokingham (SOW) Free School Group say the project for a new secondary school... has entered a decisive phase after joining an education partner (the-learning-crowd) to help prepare their bid.'

Academy deputy head to become free school head

From the Surrey Comet: 'Sophie Cavanagh was unveiled yesterday as the principal-to-be for the new North Kingston secondary (free) school which is due to open in the North Kingston Centre in September next year - currently deputy headteacher at Graveney School in Wandsworth (recently a MAT) but will take up her Kingston-based post from September 2014.'

PFI deal may be modified to facilitate AET academy merger

From the Northern Echo: 'Eston Park and Gillbrook academies will now be brought together to create Hillsview Academy, which will be run by the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET)... Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is considering modifying a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to build a £3m extension at Gillbrook’s Normanby Road site, to accommodate the merger.'

New MAT takes on primary with financial troubles

From Local Berkshire: The Langley Academy 'has unveiled plans to create a multi-academy trust (MAT) including the two schools (The Langley Academy and The Langley Primary Academy, with plans to build it on its Langley Road site) and Parlaunt Park Primary School...(which)...came under-fire last year when a damning audit by council contractors exposed inadequate financial controls’.

When can a school be forced to become an academy?

A briefing from the NAHT and Browne Jacobson: 'A maintained school becomes “eligible for intervention” in one of the following three circumstances...'

Detailed account of multi-academy trust and executive head

From The Huddersfield Daily Examiner: 'Under the new arrangements, Mrs (Lorraine) Barker will be executive principal of both academies, similar to Andy Williams’ role as executive headteacher at Holmfirth High and North Huddersfield Trust schools.

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Emails suggest academies over-predict pupil numbers

From the Guardian: 'An email from the DfE says that "in the vast majority of cases", academies fail to recruit the predicted number of pupils.

Inspiration Trust appoints 8 former Ormiston senior staff

From the Guardian: 'The Norfolk-based Inspiration Trust, led by the recently honoured Dame Rachel de Souza, has appointed at least eight former members of staff from Ormiston Victory academy outside Norwich, where De Souza was once principal, to senior positions within the trust...'

Sponsor: Theodore Agnew


Aviva and Barclays to encourage staff to become academy non-execs

From City AMTheodore Agnew, chair of the DfE's Academies Board:
'I recently wrote to all the FTSE 100 companies to urge their executives to get involved, whether as academy sponsors, governors or as academy trust board members. Barclays and Aviva have said they will encourage senior staff to consider becoming non-executive directors of academy trusts where possible. Hopefully, many others will follow in their footsteps.'


Comberton Academies Trust school placed in special measures

From ITV:The Voyager Academy, which is part of the Comberton Academy Trust, was criticised for its pupils' achievements, the quality of teaching and the way poor behaviour disrupts lessons.

Monday 24 March 2014

IES escapes axe after damning Ofsted report

From the TES: 'TES has established that the Sabres Educational Trust, which has ultimate responsibility for the secondary in Brandon, Suffolk, could cancel the 10-year contract with the Scandinavian free school operator if it wanted to.

Still no home for Durham Free School

From the Northern Echo: 'Durham Free School (DFS) opened... in September, with 30 year seven pupils... grown to 37... expect more than 50... this September, taking the overall roll to about 90... the DfE is still yet to make an announcement on where the school will be located in the long-term.'

ARK deputy to head siteless free school

From the Croydon Guardian: Advance (free) School - a 630-pupil primary - 'is likely to launch this autumn using temporary classrooms... the DfE still locked in talks with the council about its permanent home.'

'Off the peg' classrooms opened in Lincoln

From Premier Construction News: 'Sunesis schools are high quality buildings which are delivered on average 12 months faster and 30 per cent cheaper than traditional approaches...

'Trojan Horse' governor allegations so far

UPDATE (APRIL 16 2014 - Birmingham Mail) West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims (said the appointment of Peter Clarke) was a “desperately unfortunate appointment”... suggesting that Mr Clarke’s previous experience - which includes leading the investigation into the July 7 bombings in London - would inevitably lead to people drawing “unwarranted conclusions” - BBC coverage

UPDATE (APRIL 9 2014 - Guardian) Schools defenders include trustee/governor David Hughes defends Park View Academy and Lee Donaghy, an assistant head at the academy - claim a witch-hunt and deny extremism allegations.

UPDATE (April 5 2014): Birmingham Mail reports 'NUT claims thousands of schools have already been taken over by religious hardliners'

From the Daily Mail and Sunday Telegraph: The Telegraph claims that many of the allegations surround a man called Tahir Alam - who says the plot is a fabrication and denies any involvement.

Private school's bid to become a free school discouraged by catholic church


(UPDATE: May 2014 BBC reports free school bid abandoned due to church pressure.)
From the Independent: St Mary's College in Crosby, Merseyside, is seeking to become a free schools... 'However, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool has come out against the plan because the Government insists on a cap of 50 per cent on the number of faith pupils admitted to any free school... (it) said: 'It would be extraordinary, if not contrary to Canon Law... to set up a school or allow a school designated as Catholic to be set up, which turned away Catholic pupils on the grounds that they are Catholic.'

Everton free school gets permission for new site

From Everton FC: Planning permission was approved last week on the £4.2 million Free School building and the first phase will open in September 2014. The school will be constructed as part of the Government's Free School programme and will cater for a maximum of 200 students.

Canary Wharf free school plans expansion

From the Wharf: Increasing need for more school places on the Island coupled with the support of the community has meant Canary Wharf College is returning to its original ambitious vision... (to) cater for children throughout their primary and secondary studies.

School opts to become a co-operative rather than an academy

From the Huddersfield Daily Post: 'Honley High School... will change its status after school officials confirmed that it is to become a Co-operative Trust school from September 1. It will be run by the charitable Honley Co-operative Learning Trust.'

Free school with 350 competing for 120 places could be delayed

From Westend Extra: Parents are worried the council oppose Marylebone Boys school. The paper reported that council leader Philippa Roe claimed to support the school before adding: 'I should also highlight the fact that the council’s own Schools Organisation and Investment Plan indicates that a new secondary school is not required to meet current and projected levels of need in the borough until at least 2020.'

Sunday 23 March 2014

Gove confirms Harperbury will not open til Sept 2015

From the Watford Observer: 'Mr Gove has now confirmed the school (Harperbury Free School) will open in September 2015... the school is now considering taking year 8 pupils into the school in 2015, alongside the year 7s. This would allow families let down by this recent deferment to attend the school, albeit a year later.'

Ixworth free school confirms blogger claims that a third of available places filled


From the Bury Free Press: The Seckford Foundation confirmed it had 120 pupils signed up for its Ixworth free school - last week a blog claimed the foundation was poaching pupils and claimed the same 120 figure.

Saturday 22 March 2014

Academy's new teaching format needs new architecture

From the Northern Echo: 'pupils in each year group will have their own set of teachers and will spend most of their school day in the same few classrooms... Shelagh Potter, principal of Grangefield Academy said: 'It allows students to develop a greater sense of ownership about their school and to build strong relationships with the same teachers throughout their school career.'

Friday 21 March 2014

£25k grants for academy trusts to employ SBMs

The Education Funding Agency has said it will make £25k grants available 'for small groups of schools, consisting mainly of primaries, to collaborate to employ a School Business Manager in a leadership role. This match-funded grant of £25,000 is for the financial year 2014 to 2015.'

Thursday 20 March 2014

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Hackney Police station sold to free school for £7.6m

From the Hackney Citizen: Following an open bidding process... the site has been bought for use by the school, with the Education Funding Agency – the government body responsible for finding sites for free schools – paying for the site.

Council pulls plug on free school property deal before September opening

From This is Lancashire: Trustees of Burnley High School had hoped to use the old Habergham High School buildings, in Byron Street, from September... but Lancashire County Council (LCC) leader Jennifer Mein has blocked the move... the refusal of a long-term lease is set to spark a legal tug-of-war between Labour-led LCC and the Department for Education (DfE)...'

School cuts energy bill by 9% with student-led energy project

From the The Local: 'Year 5 pupils... have been enthusiastically leading the project as our Lincolnshire Carbon Ambassadors... We are very proud to announce that the school have seen a 9% decrease in the energy used in comparison to last year...'

Academy trust signs partnership deal with council

From The Shields Gazette: An education partnership has been signed by South Tyneside Council and South Tyneside College Academy Trust.

Monday 17 March 2014

Will data managers become more vital and more isolated?

From Data Educator: In his latest blog post data Manager Peter (Twitter: @dataeducator) points out 'that the backbone of data for many years is being phased out... Schools are expected to develop their own curriculum and with that they will be expected to measure their own things that define attainment and progress in their setting...'

Sunday 16 March 2014

Reading borrows £34m to expand primaries, hopes free schools will deliver secondary places

From the BBC:  '...In addition to £19m from the government, Reading Borough Council has had to borrow £34.5m, which will cost the authority £2.5m per year.'d

Four failing schools (2 of them E-Act) make Brent the worst in London for failures

From Brent and Kilburn Times: 'A total of 84 (Brent) schools were inspected last year with 18 of them (21 per cent) being rated outstanding, 49 (58 per cent) good, 13 (15 per cent) required improvement and four (five per cent) inadequate.'

Cavell Primary School academisation fast-tracked - judicial review threatened

From EDP24: 'Michael Gove issued an academy order... Cavell Primary School will be fast-tracked in the process so that it can be opened as an academy on July 1, said the minister in a letter sent to parents yesterday.'

Local blogger claims academy trust is 'poaching' to fill surplus places

From James Hargrave's Blog (The only geek in the village): 'The Seckford Foundation have already opened two schools with disappointingly low numbers...Perhaps this is what has prompted... writing to parents who have already confirmed a place for their children at Thurston Community College and “inviting” them to consider switching...' (A copy of the letter shown)

Gateway Learning Trust and Ormiston primary free school opens

From the Thurrock Gazette: The £7.5million (Gateway Primary Free School, on the site of Gateway Academy) project will enable pupils and staff to share resources with the academy, as well as Lansdowne Primary Academy, in Tilbury, and Herringham Primary Academy, in Chadwell St Mary.

Friday 14 March 2014

Another later-stages free school opening delayed by site problems

From the Richmond and Twickenham Times: 'Hundreds of parents and children are desperately scrambling for secondary school places... Uncertainty over a permanent site for the Turing House (free) School meant the minister for schools and Department for Education (DfE) deferred the opening until September next year, despite giving it the thumbs up last spring.'

'Legal side' blamed for two-year status change

From the Oxford Mail: Head 'Ms (Joan) Morters said: 'It has been really great to become an academy again. The legal side took a while... it will just mean that we will swap Oxfordshire County Council as the Local Education Authority for the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (ODST).

Five-strong Cornish primary MAT goes ahead

From The Falmouth Packet: 'Chairman of the newly formed board of directors Pam Miller welcomed the creation of the Keskowethyans Multi Academy Trust, which has now come into force involving Coverack, Grade Ruan, Manaccan, St Keverne and St Martin primary schools.'

Cabot Learning increases Bristol influence

From the Bristol Post: 'IT is a growing academy chain which is starting to dominate the education scene in Bristol, with 12 schools... Now Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) is set to expand further, by opening a new primary school in Kingswood.'

Head's speech to staff on academy status

From the Brighton and Hove News: The paper provided a pretty long transcript of the speech by Hove Park head teacher Derek Trimmer... '(academy status) would give us a greater degree of freedom and flexibility about how we spend our money... It doesn’t guarantee money but the landscape is changing and you’ve got a better chance as an academy.'

Three potential sponsors respond to Cumbria tender

From the Times and Star: 'Information received from the would-be sponsors, which have not been publicly identified, is being examined by council officers. Their assessment will be reported to the council cabinet on April 3, which will then be able to recommend a sponsor. The final decision will be made by the Government.

Falmouth primaries merge into MAT

From This is the West Country: 'Claire Fortey, who is head of St Francis (Outstanding) and has been interim head of King Charles since the school was placed in special measures last year, said: 'the governing bodies of both King Charles and St Francis Schools have been working closely to investigate ways of moving forward to secure the best possible education for the children in each school and the opportunity to be part of a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) has now become a reality.'



Thursday 13 March 2014

Lincoln College - growing sponsor with a £250m Saudi deal

From The Lincolnshire Echo: Trent Valley Academy (TVA), one of the 'E-Act 10' is considering Lincoln College as its new sponsor - Lincoln College currently sponsors The Newark Academy and the Lincoln University Technical College which is due to open in September 2014. It also recently announced a £250m deal with Saudi Arabia.

Head of Ex E-Act academy says he wants a local sponsor

From the Chester Chronicle: Andrew Taylor-Edwards, head of Winsford Academy, told the Chester Chronicle that charging parents for a new school uniform if the name changes will not be tolerated, adding: ' we hope for a sponsor led by experts who will offer further inspiration and who have the capacity to effectively coordinate an academy trust so students feel the direct benefits.

Academy head and chair of governors resign as Ofsted criticism intensifies

From the St Helens Star: 'THE principal (of Hope Academy, John Gannon) and chair of governors at a £33million academy have both resigned after the school was engulfed by crisis following its most recent Ofsted visit.'

Employment freedoms limited to those at a sponsor's existing academies

From the Guardian: Responding to news of short holidays and not recognising unions at Nottingham University academy of science and technology (Nuast) the university told the Guardian: '(it) was not aware of this condition regarding union recognition. As sponsors we will be discussing with the Nuast board to ensure that the terms and conditions align with the other schools that we are sponsoring, such as the Nottingham University Samworth academy, where unions are recognised.'

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Two C of E primaries form 'Aspire' MAT

From the Nottingham Post: 'St Peter's CofE Primary School, in East Bridgford, and Archbishop Cranmer CofE Primary School, Aslockton, have created the Aspire Multi-Academy Trust (Not Aspire Academy Trust).'

Academy restructure puts teaching assistants in 'redundancy pool'

From Western Gazette: 'Preston Academy (Yeovil) confirmed this week that the future of 15 of its teaching assistants was in doubt in a bid to comply with the Special Educational Needs code of practice.

Ofsted puts IES Breckland into special measures

From EDP:  IES Breckland Free School’s principal, Alison Tilbrook, told parents today that a report to be released on Thursday will show that the school has been found to be “inadequate” and placed in Special Measures.

Monday 10 March 2014

North East England nearly one in three secondary schools now an academy

From the BBC: 'Around three in 10 secondary schools in the North East are now academies, according to new official figures' - believed to have been gathered for BBC Sunday Politics (6 days on iplayer - 52 mins and 50 seconds into the piece).

Council wants to sponsor ex E-Act academy (short term?)

From The Chester Chronicle: At a full council meeting on Monday night, executive member for education and children Cllr Mark Stocks said he would write to the Government to say that the council is ‘prepared to provide school improvement support to Winsford (E-Act)Academy in the medium term, until another suitable sponsor is found for the school’.

School defects to all-through academy away from two-tier council

From the Bury Free Press: Howard Middle has resigned from the Bury Schools Partnership and will instead receive support from the break-away Bury St Edmunds Academy Trust.

Bedford Academy pioneers the Knowledge is Power Programme

From The Independent: Bedford Academy is the UK pioneer for a learning programme from the United States called Kipp (Knowledge is Power Program (me)) - which provided part of the model for the free school programme – eschews the "exams factory" approach in an attempt to give pupils the character they need to battle against the odds academically in disadvantaged areas.

Pretend lessons at The Gatwick School

From the Crawley News: 'The Gatwick School is organising an event this weekend for parents and children to take part in activities and see how the building will be developed.

Mentions -  Paul Reilly, the school's executive head teacher, (Mr Reilly will combine his position at the new school with his existing role at Glenleigh Park Primary Academy, in Bexhill.)

Bluecoat deputy head to become head of sponsee academy

From The Nottingham Post: 'Hadden Park High School in Bilborough will become Bluecoat Beechdale Academy... overseen by the highly-regarded Bluecoat Academy in Aspley...The deputy principal from that school, Derek Hobbs, will become principal of the new academy at the same time.'

Forced academy governors 'sacked' despite deal to stay


From This is Lancashire: Governors at Elton Primary School were told they would be replaced by an interim executive board (IEB), put in place by the Department for Education (DfE)... governors accepted the switch to academy status on the basis that they could continue in their roles.'

Friday 7 March 2014

Free school trust seeks dept head for £58k

From Hemel Today: Education chiefs behind a new school for Hemel Hempstead are offering up to a whooping £58,000 for the right deputy headteacher.' (One of 11 vacancies)

12% of headteacher workload is 'school policy and financial planning' says DfE survey

The DfE's report:'Teachers’ workload diary survey 2013' showed that 'school policy and financial planning' was among highest of the categories in a chart showing: 'Average hours spent on individual activities by full-time teacher - Weighted' - it was the biggest single time consumer for headteachers in primary schools (12%) but for secondary schools, where it was also 12% - it came below 'General staff/management meeting' which took up 15% of a head's time.

Merger, MAT and possible new build for Somerset schools

From the Western Gazette: 'A NEW primary school could be built outside Somerton town centre - Monteclefe Academy and Somerton Infant School are set to merge into one primary school split across two sites later this year.

Will new PAC investigation of EFA include its partner Deloitte?

The Public Accounts Committee has announced an inquiry examining: 'Whether the creation of the Education Funding Agency has resulted into a coherent business' adding that the EFA distributed funding of £51 billion across the education sector at a cost of £97 million, employing 739 staff.

Active Learning Trust: 'keeping work and rewards in-house' must be addressed

The Active Learning Trust was one of the academy chains mentioned in a Guardian's story which fuelled this week's Public Accounts Committee questions. The Guardian said: 'The Active Learning Trust, which oversees five schools, has paid £16,943 to a company owned by trustee, Marilyn Toft.'


Thursday 6 March 2014

Site bought for two free schools - but one has withdrawn

From They Work For You: Replying to questions from Barry Sheerman MP, Edward Timpson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education: said: 'there is one instance where a site was purchased which was to be shared by two free school projects. One of those has now been cancelled or withdrawn. The Education Funding Agency is working with the remaining free school trust and the local authority in order to determine the usage of this site.'

New site for Steiner free school plus 220 Barratt homes

From the Bristol Post: 'Yesterday, the school (Steiner Academy Bristol) announced it had joined forces with Barratt Homes to redevelop the St Matthias site. Barratt is hoping to build 220 homes there, with work starting early next year if planning permission is granted.

Is the EFA tracking demand when school bids are combined with property development?

From the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser: (Dominic Raab MP talking to the Education Select Committee in February): 'When we came to look at finding a site, the EFA (Education Funding Agency) identified a site in collaboration with a developer, and the quid pro quo was 500 new homes, which struck many – and it is still going through the process – as immediately eating up the demand that was otherwise going to be plugged.

Free school bid reduced transparency because of competitors

From Get Reading'Before making the framework document available to the public we did arrange to meet each of the parish councils... three weeks before we were due to meet them, parish councillors attempted to set up a rival bid against ours... we decided that because of the underhand nature of their actions and to protect the ‘intellectual property’ we have over the subject of free schools, we would not meet them for the time being.'

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Coventry's first academy put in special measures

From the Coventry Telegraph: The Grace Academy, the first school in Coventry converted into a city academy, has gone into special measures after being declared inadequate by Ofsted.

Ipswich academy contemplates a longer day

From the Ipswich Star: Dr Simon Letman, headteacher of Holbrook Academy, said the response to his proposals to add more than three hours of teaching a week has been “overwhelmingly positive”

Redhill Academy Trust may take on E-Act's Sherwood Academy

From The Nottingham Post: 'Sherwood Academy in Gedling is seeking a new sponsor after E-Act was forced to give it up because of concerns over standards.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Rejection for Oldham's military free school bid

From Oldham News: The paper said the DfE said the Phoenix school 'would not be able to meet the rigorous criteria set for fee schools' - the school itself said: 'We regret to confirm that the Department for Education has withdrawn funding for Phoenix Free School of Oldham and it will not open this September.

Christian free schools in Kent and Hampshire share template... and name

From the Daily Echo: 'Plans have been unveiled for the Hope Community primary school in Southampton....
The bid is also not starting from scratch as through links with the church they have linked up with the Hope Community school in Sidcup, Kent which opened last year.'

Monday 3 March 2014

Consultant oversees Colchester schools in special measures that could merge

From the Daily Gazette:

Two failing schools could be merged into an academy after the latest critical Ofsted report - Junior school headteacher Susan Locke (is leaving) and the executive headteacher is consultant Iain Birtwell (Trinity Associates, TT Education).

E-Act's Buckinghamshire cluster will not shrink or grow

From Get Bucks: 'A SCHOOL in the process of becoming an academy will no longer be taken over by the charity E-Act (which has to transfer control of ten of its 34 academies to new sponsors)... It has now been confirmed that the three existing E-ACT academies in the south of the Bucks are not among the schools affected.'

Telegraph lists most sought after academy and free school places

From the Telegraph: 'Harris City Academy Crystal Palace, in south London, was the most sought-after comprehensive, with 2,016 applications for 180 places – a ratio of just over 11-to-one.'

Isle of Wight Studio School's business supporters

From the Isle of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight Studio School's business supporters include GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems, Navitus Bay Development and Vestas...

FT meets 'pushy banker' behind Eton sponsored state boarding school

From the Financial TimesSimon Dudley, Conservative councillor and former private equity financier at Arcapita and Citigroup, told the FT: 'It’s a big and daunting project... but I’m a pushy banker who gets things done.'

Barnfield reports published

From the EFA: Review of financial management and governance at Barnfield Federation Final report,  February 2014.

From the SFA: Investigation undertaken by KPMG LLP on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency into allegations relating to financial irregularity and governance at Barnfield College.

Katharine Birbalsingh free school approved

From the Kilburn Times: Funding has been approved for Michaela Community School (free school, Wembley, London Borough of Brent) - Katharine Birbalsingh is the school’s head teacher

Gove to intervene personally over free school delay

From Borehamwood and Elstree and (Watford Observer): 'James Clappison (MP) said: “Michael Gove said Lord Nash was a junior minister with no experience in education. He has agreed to take this on himself and take a look at whether the school can go ahead at the Harperbury site in September. Mr Gove has also promised to meet a delegation from the school.'

Sunday 2 March 2014

Well connected chair of governors for newly approved Suffolk free school

From EDP24: Ixworth Free School has been approved by DfE and has appointed Jude Chin chair as chair of governors - he has a 30 year career with chartered accountants, KPMG is a governor of the Seckford Foundation (which backs the free school) as well as two academies in London and is chair of the SSAT (The Schools Network) Ltd.

Head teacher, Nikola King. Dr Robert Cawley, principal of the Seckford Foundation Free Schools Trust.

Top-rated HE college gets pre-warning letter for 3-18 academy it sponsors

From FE Week:  Mirus Academy has been sent a pre-warning notice meaning its current sponsor -  a highly rated Walsall College - could be replaced as academy sponsor.

Adventure Learning to sponsor a secondary school in Cornwall

From This is CornwallFowey Community College's conversion to a sponsored academy has been approved (it had been judged inadequate in Jan 2013): 'On becoming an academy the school will leave Cornwall Council control and be overseen by the Adventure Learning Academy Trust, whose figurehead is David Hopkins, a former chief adviser on school standards to the Secretary of State (Bright TribeAdventure Learning SchoolsInstitute of Education).

Free school land deal could pay off founder school's £1.3m loan

From the Kidderminster Shuttle:  The paper reports on an FOI that reveals a land deal between the DfE and a private school proposing to set up a free school on its grounds. A Lib Dem councillor believes the land deal with the DfE will pay off a £1.3m loan owed by the private school.