Cabot appoints new head from in-house reserve

An update on an original story from the Bristol Post which reported that Armando Di-Finizio, principal of Weston-super-Mare's Hans Price Academy - part of the Cabot Learning Federation - has left the school. He has been replaced by Tony Searle, more details below....

North Norfolk Academy Trust takes to take on a third school

From Eastern Daily Press: 'Stalham High School was put in special measures in February after inspectors rated it “inadequate” across the board... school is now applying to join the North Norfolk Academy Trust in January 2015... (which) oversees Sheringham High School and is due to become sponsor of Antingham and Southrepps Primary School in autumn.

Free school trust quits its school over surplus places

From the Express and Star: 'The Wolverhampton Sangat Education Trust (which runs Anand Primary School) is to fold after its board agreed to allow the Birmingham-based Nishkam School Trust to take control of the school.

Kemnal Academies' pre inspection warning suggested

From the Guardian:'Ofsted has confirmed that Kemnal, which has 39 academies, received visits at six of its schools, starting on 11 June' - The Guardian cites claims by a teacher and an email to justify asking 'was the Kemnal Academies Trust tipped off about the visits in advance?'

List of 38 free school approvals plus press coverage

From the DfE published June 19 2014: 38 new free school list plus the government's rationale for opening free schools in areas where there is need for places.
The Independent said that the list shows 'appears to confirm a trend towards free schools being operated by multi-academy chains, rather than individual groups or parents seeking to open them'
plus Guardian coverage.

Siemens UK wants different success measure for UTCs

From the International Business Times: 'Brian Holliday, a director at Siemens UK, told IBTimes UK: 'I would like the regulator to go to those schools and recognise that there should be a different framework for judging their success, beyond the academic progress of the students.'

EMLC Academy Trust submits bids for £20m school site

From Northampton Chronicle: 'EMLC Academy Trust (which sponsors three primary schools in Northampton) is making a bid to run a new £20 million school on the site of a former Royal Mail sorting office.'

Performance-related pay criticised by Birbalsingh

From the TES: Katharine Birbalsingh told the TES: .... when the work has to do with creating team spirit, thinking, developing ideas, it will actually harm your organisation. It makes people think only about the individual and it focuses the mind on the wrong things.'

Michael Gove opens studio school

From Rye and Battle Today: Michael Gove opens studio school in Rye

Mentions:
Principal:  Jo Townshend
Chair of the Rye Academy Trust (accounts):  Jacqui Lait
Studio Schools Trust: Rosie Clayton

Secondary free school opens in Woking

From the BBC: 'A new secondary free school in Surrey has been approved by the Department for Education (DfE). 'The Hoe Valley Free School... has been approved by the Department for Education (DfE)... is set to open in September 2015... 11 to 18 "co-educational, non-selective, all-ability" school with 120 pupils in Year 7 which would grow year on year.'

Alternative provision free school sees attendance up 25%

From the Bury Free Press: 'Thetford Alternative Provision Free School opened in September last year for 11 to 16-year-olds who find mainstream schooling difficult to cope with... headteacher Nico Dobben (Everything Free Schools interview) said the school had seen a 25 per cent rise in attendance since it opened and improved behaviour among students.'

Surrey MAT looking to expand into primary schools

From the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser: Jonathan Roddick... took over the head teacher responsibilities at St Lawrence Primary School when David Gibbs stood down earlier this year... (He is) director of primary education and executive head (primary) for the Howard Partnership Trust – a federation of academy schools in Surrey.

Islington primary looks at secondary offering

From the Islington Tribune: 'In a statement the headteacher of the school, Tanya Watson, said: “We are exploring the idea of expanding William Tyndale Primary School to age 16. There are many things to consider: first steps are to ask our par­ents and carers if they support the idea.”

Traffic, greenbelt and flood cited as reasons to refuse Slough free school

From the Slough Express: 'Traffic, greenbelt land and flood risks have been cited by South Bucks District Council as reasons to refuse the Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy which, when fully occupied, would cater for 1,140 students aged between 11 and 19.

Head departs before turning his school around - exec principal stands in

From the Nuneaton News: William Branney, headteacher at troubled Nuneaton Academy (Ofsted: inadequate)  is stepping down... 'to return to live with his family in the north of England. The academy is part of the Midland Academy Trust which said in its 2012/13 accounts that 'the trust's budget for 2013-14 shows a planned deficit of £503,451 for that year.' (p17)

MAT told to improve and drop joint sponsorships with Ormiston and E-Act

From DfE: Pre-warning notice to University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT)
A letter from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools Lord Nash to the directors of the University of Chester Academies Trust regarding the unacceptably low standards of performance of pupils at the:

Opposition cites financial investigation of Bilingual Free School

From the Argus: A financial investigation into the Bilingual Free School, Brighton and Hove, is being cited as evidence to cast doubt on a council land deal with the school.

Keighley Catholic schools form MAT

From Keighley News: 'Holy Family Catholic School, Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School, and St Anne's Catholic Primary School are forging ahead with a plan to become part of a multi-academy organisation called the Christopher Wharton Trust. The three schools between them have more than 1,500 pupils, and have previously staged a consultation exercise for parents.'

Three troubled Harlow primaries join NET Academies Trust

From the Harlow Star: 'NET Academy Trust have confirmed that they have been given the go-ahead to become academy sponsors of Longwood Primary & Nursery School in Paringdon Road, Latton Green Primary School in Riddings Lane and Abbotsweld Primary School in Partridge Road.

Free school claims local heads are campaigning for its closure

From the BBC: 'A free school head teacher is accusing other local head teachers of campaigning to close her academy. Joss Glossop, principal of the Route 39 Academy in north Devon, said her students were also being excluded from sports competitions and activities.'

Public Accounts Committee criticises conflicts of interest in academies

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - 10 June publication of 'Education Funding Agency and Department for Education financial statements'

Dudley academies to form 3-strong MAT

From Dudley News: 'Ellowes Hall Sports College is planning to... form the Invictus Trust... joining forces with Crestwood School in Kingswinford, Ounsdale High School in Wombourne and Kinver’s Edgecliff High School.'

Academy's Ofsted rating falls ahead of MAT-to-MAT handover

From This is Local London: 'Enfield Heights Academy... (was given)the second lowest ‘requires improvement’ rating in all four key areas' - the academy is currently part of the CfBT multi-academy trust but is proposing a transfer to the Cuckoo Hall Academies Trust by September 2014.

Four primaries join Adventure Learning Academies Trust

From the Cornish Guardian: 'Liskeard Hillfort Primary School joined the Adventure Learning Academy Trust (ALAT) and converted to academy status on Sunday, June 1, with Fowey River Academy, Altarnun Primary School and Gulval School.'

Chapel St free school gets go ahead for temporary site in business park

From the Lancashire Telegraph: 'Park Hill Business Centre has been chosen as the short-term site for Burnley High School... New guidelines state that buildings chosen by the Department for Education for use as state-maintained schools can be used for one academic year'

DfE says free schools can't open before identifying and securing a permanent site

The Wembley Matters blog reports a notice on the Gladstone Free School's website saying: 'The governors... have been unable to agree terms on permanent premises... as a result the school is forced to delay its opening... the decision follows a recent policy shift by the Department for Education (DfE) that no Free School can be allowed to open until a permanent site has been identified and secured.

Tudor Grange push for two tier rather than three tier could cost millions

From the BBC: 'A consultation put forward by the Tudor Grange Academy Redditch could see the three-tier system of first, middle and high schools, change to two tiers of primary and secondary schools... (campaigners said)... it would cost millions of pounds for Redditch to change to a two-tier system," she said... Our three-tier system is really successful at the moment'.

Fear of 'external sponsoring agencies' prompts Bicester schools to form academy trust

From Buckingham Today: 'The Cooper School and neighbouring Glory Farm Primary School will become Bicester Learning Academy on July 1. The two schools are already in a federation partnership.'

Two academies set up Derbyshire's first teaching school

From the Derbyshire Times: 'Shirebrook Academy and St Mary’s Catholic High School, in Chesterfield, will now prepare to launch the North East Derbyshire Teaching Schools Alliance (NEDTSA), which will see them working together to help train teachers at all stages in their careers.'

Inspiration Trust sponsor and chair of DfE Academies Board didn't apply for Ofsted role

From the EDP: Theodore Agnew, founder/sponsor of the Inspiration Trust in Norfolk, said: 'It should not be a politically-motivated appointment (chair of Ofsted). It should be a post that is supported by all the political parties because it’s an important part of the Ofsted infrastructure so I did not want to dragged into that.I think it’s a very important role and if it had not been considered controversial I would have applied for it.'

Flagship head says academy status reduces autonomy and independence

UPDATE from the TES: Melvyn Roffe commented on new rules requiring state boarding schools to make an 8% surplus: 'We can’t understand how a pragmatic conversation about how to run boarding has turned into an obligation which means we might lose boarders as a result...'

From the BBC: 'Wymondham College principal Melvyn Roffe, accused the Department for Education (DfE) of "micromanaging" schools... He said the school... became an academy because he was told this would mean major changes to our autonomy' and 'more freedom'.

SBM at private school turned free school criticises Regional Commissioner plan

From the Lancashire Telegraph: 'Nick Kershaw, business manager at QEGS, said the move (to create a 'middle tier' of Regional Commissioners) was a retrograde step. He said: 'The idea behind free schools is that they are free to fail or succeed on their own merits.''

Free school build halted as developer pulls out of 500 home residential deal

From Your Local Guardian: 'The future of Cobham Free School’s secondary provision has been thrown into turmoil after developers pulled out of the controversial proposals.'

Another chapter opens in Sulivan Primary School saga

From the Guardian: A quote from the leader of Hammersmith and Fulham's new Labour leader, Stephen Cowan: 'Hammersmith and Fulham council intends to review the decisions, taken in February, to close Sulivan by effectively merging it with a newly-expanded New King's School. It now intends to publish proposals to revoke those decisions.'

South London free school finds temporary site

From Your Local Guardian: 'A new free school which has struggled to find a site in time for September has announced a temporary location for the Autumn term. Park Community School will open two reception classes... a short walk from where the school will be permanently housed.'

Tristram Hunt claims government 'botched' free school site purchase

From St Alban's Review: During BBC Question Time (May 29) the subject of Harperbury Free School's site delay came up and Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt said: 'The Government have let you down. I know about this hospital site and they have botched it up 100 per cent and it’s a scandal what’s happened to you as a community.'

Durham free school site could cost £4m

From the Northern Echo: 'Education chiefs are considering two permanent sites for Durham Free School (DFS) and although ministers refused to disclose locations, it is believed the cost could be close to £4m even before any building begins.'

Fear of larger MATs inspires primary schools to form their own

From The East Grinstead Courier: 'Halsford Park and Baldwins Hill primary schools will, unless there is significant opposition from parents, become a joint academies trust from September 1.'

Are parents buying places when private schools become academies?

From the TES: 'Liverpool College, which was a leading private school until it gained academy status in September last year, received 385 applications from fee-paying parents in just two weeks when its bid to go state-funded was announced. A total of 81 paying pupils were admitted.'

The TES reports similar evidence at:

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Blackburn
Chetwynde School in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Holy Trinity International School in Kidderminster
Bradford Girls’ Grammar, West Yorkshire
Batley Grammar, West Yorkshire

Cidari to take on failing Blackburn primary

From the Lancashire Telegraph: 'St Aidan's CofE Primary School is expected to be turned into an academy by the Blackburn Church of England Diocese. Cidari Education is the diocese’s academy arm and it is now looking to sponsor the Mill Hill school from September.'

Dagenham's academy status battle attracts Australian support

UPDATE 26 June Local Government Chronicle: Labour Councillor Darren Rodwell said: 'Just last week I wrote to the secretary of state for education inviting him to come down to see the improvements brought about by the federation.'

From the Barking and Dagenham Post: 'A delegation from the Australian Education Union (AEU) visited the Warren last Wednesday to stand by the school as it waits for the results of a judicial review into the plans (for forced academisation).'

Head of the first secondary university training school likes risk and innovation

From the Birmingham Post: Mike Roden, headteacher of The Univeristy of Birmingham School said: 'I’m interested in risk-taking and innovation - part of why I took this job – but this isn’t a ship that’s going to sink; it’s a ship that will lead the fleet.'

Third new head in a year at Oasis Academy MediaCityUK

From the Manchester Evening News: 'Fiona O’Sullivan will take over as the new principal at Oasis Academy MediaCityUK in Salford from September... She is currently an associate principle at its sister school, the Oasis Academy in Oldham.

ARK outsources IT in £17 million with Civica contract

From Sourcing Focus and Computer World: 'ARK Schools have awarded Civica a five-year contract to provide a range of managed IT services including HR and Finance systems, server administration, storage and device management.'


Diana Gerald, chief operating officer, ARK Schools said: 'We will be able to continue to grow, and invest our resources in the things that matter - improving education for all.'

Three Blackpool schools plan catholic MAT

From the Blackpool Gazette: 'Three Blackpool schools have been handed orders to convert to academy status... The schools intend to convert from September 1, to form the Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi-Academy Trust.'

Peterborough Diocese Education Trust takes on its first school

From the Northants Telegraph: 'A Kettering primary school has become the first to join a newly established schools trust... St Andrew’s Primary School became an academy on May 1 when it joined the Peterborough Diocese Education Trust.'


Miranda Robinson, director of Peterborough Diocese Education Trust.

Vice principal to take headship of chain's new secondary free school

From the Yorkshire Evening Post: 'Rebekah Taylor is the principal designate of the Ruth Gorse Academy, which opens later this year...She is currently vice principal of the Farnley Academy, run by the Ruth Gorse Academies Trust.'

Nick Weller, Dixons Academy, on Prospects Academies Trust

From the Gloucester Citizen: Nick Weller, executive principal of the Dixons Academies Trust and chairman of the Independent Academies Association wrote a piece for the Gloucester Citizen in the aftermath of the Prospects Academies Trust's announcement that it will close down and pass its schools onto other sponsors (BBC, The Independent, ).

Floreat seeks permission for Brentford primary free school

From GetWestLondon: '...Founder of educational charity, Floreat, James O'Shaughnessy, and his team are behind the plans to start up a new two-form entry school, admitting 60 reception pupils each year, from September 2015...Developers ISIS, who are behind the Brentford Lock West development, offered to provide the land to build the school on Commerce Road...'

DfE will fund £12m Islington free school build costs

UPDATE (Islington Gazette interview with head Laura Birkett 19 June ) The Islington Tribune reports that: 'The DfE has entered into a funding agreement with the private company behind Whitehall Park School... previous estimates by the board of Ashmount School put the cost of demolition and rebuilding at around £12.5m.'

Birmingham academy franchise secures planning for fourth site

From the Birmingham Mail: 'The Perry Beeches Academy has secured planning permission to convert the Jewellery Quarter building into a secondary school for up to 620 pupils – opening this September... (the )franchise operates three schools... executive head teacher Liam Nolan said the fourth is already over-subscribed.'

Seven Wiltshire schools aim to form a MAT

From thisisWiltshire.co.uk: 'Seven Melksham schools have announced plans to join together... Melksham Oak Community School and six primaries want to form a Multi Academy Trust.'

Hounslow heads team up for free school bid

From ChiswickW4.com: 'A group of local secondary head teachers is applying to open their own free school in the Brentford and Isleworth area.'

Accountability issues in Brighton and Hove?

From Local Schools Network: A piece describing concerns about and relationships between Brighton and Hove schools and colleges: City College, Brighton and Hove, Hove Park School, Whitehawk Primary School.

Have multi-academy trust accounts complied with new transparency rules?

(UPDATED June 16) The government provided a list 'of all academy sponsors with 10 or more academies' after an MP put the question to the Secretary of State for Education. This post looks at the accounts of the multi-academy trusts (MATs) on that list and what they have provided under new transparency rules.

Governors vs Auditors: will St Aldhelm’s test new financial territory?

St Aldhelm's Academy in Bournemouth, a sponsored converter academy, is set to change its sponsorship model which could test mechanisms on the edge of the academy financial system.

Teesside MAT wins £1.3m funding - triple the average

From the Gazette Live: Elizabeth Kipling-Vasey, the head of strategy and special educational needs at The Horizons Specialist Academy Trust said:'There were four times as many bids as schools who received the funding, and the average amount given out was £400,000, so for us to have two successful bids and receive the amount we did was incredible...'

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire schools near MAT

From the Ripley and Heanor News: Mill Hill School in Ripley, Derbyshire, has been asked by The West Bridgford School in Nottinghamshire to form a Multi-Academy Trust...

Colma Trust absorbs another Croydon school

From the Croydon Guardian: 'Archbishop Lanfranc School is to be absorbed by an academy provider that runs two other Croydon secondaries... Coloma Trust...  (which) runs Coloma Convent Girls' School, the highest performing state secondary school in Croydon, and Quest Academy, formerly known as Selsdon High.'

Law firm Trowers & Hamlins appointed by EFA for building programme

From a press release published by law firm Trowers & Hamlins saying it 'has been appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to provide all legal advisory services to the Education Funding Agency (EFA) for its national free school, university technical college, and studio school programme of building and refurbishing at least one hundred schools a year.'

One of E-ACT's withdrawn schools will close

From the BBC: 'The Sherwood E-Act Academy, in Gedling... which had to find a new sponsor after E-Act pulled out... will close for year 7, 8 and 9 students, while GCSE pupils will stay on until their exams finish... Sherwood Academy pupils will be offered a place at The Carlton Academy from September while GCSE students will come under the supervision of the Redhill Academy in Arnold (which had been in talks to take over the school).'

Lancashire free school overcomes council opposition

From the Burnley Citizen: 'Burnley High School is now set to open in September after receiving the all clear to set up the facility.... The school, part of the the Chapel Street Schools Trust, has been told that the former Habergham High School has been secured as the permanent site for Burnley High School.'