Three Barrow primaries aim to form MAT to 'avoid topslice'

From North West Evening Mail: 'Greengate Infant, Nursery and Pre-school, Victoria Junior School and Yarlside Nursery and Primary School in Barrow have registered their interest with the Department for Education with a view to changing their status.'

Diocese of Carlisle launches MAT

From News and Star (Cumbria): 'The Diocese of Carlisle will launch its Good Shepherd multi-academy trust....Michael Mill, the diocese’s director of education, children and young people said: 'Since receiving approval to become an academy sponsor, a huge amount of work has been ongoing to enable us to reach this point. Detailed policy documents, legal frameworks and a draft scheme of delegation are in place for those who join our trust’s family of schools.'

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.

'Outstanding' 105-pupil primary takes 'lone-converter' route

From the Westmorland Gazette:


Penny Bridge is considered a ‘lone convertor’ - meaning it has no ties to other local primary or secondary schools.

Cumbria warned by Ofsted: there are too few good secondary schools

Ofsted's letter to the Chief Executive of Cumbria County Council said: 'There are too few good secondary schools in Cumbria and things are not improving.

'There is little evidence of an effective shared strategy improving the quality of education across the county. In my view, there is an urgent need for the Local Authority to provide greater challenge and support to its secondary schools and extend partnership working.'

Two 'inadequate' schools to form one academy in Cumbria

The News & Star: http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/top-level-talks-demand-after-workington-schools-put-in-special-measures-1.1110574

 A spokeswoman at the Department for Education said: “Both Stainburn and Southfield schools applied to convert to academy status but, in the light of the recent Ofsted inadequate judgements, we believe the best way forward is for Cumbria County Council to seek closure of both schools and run a competitive process to set up a single academy under the leadership of a strong sponsor.”

Opposed by MP Sir Tony Cunningham and Cllr Mark Fryer.

Carlisle academy founders hand over to United Learning Trust

From In Cumbria: http://www.in-cumbria.com/scowcroft-united-learning-will-turn-round-failing-morton-academy-1.1109557

Brian Scowcroft, who helped set up Carlisle's two academies said: “The academies project has been the toughest that I’ve ever done. We delivered two fantastic schools, in terms of buildings and facilities, but they failed from an academic perspective.

“I’m confident that United Learning will rectify that. If I didn’t think they would rectify it, I wouldn’t have asked them in.”

Executive principal: Derek Davies

Bright Tribe opens opens its first academy

From In Cumbria: http://www.in-cumbria.com/whitehaven-school-celebrates-after-becoming-academy-1.1109010

 "Pupils (of Whitehaven School) returned to the newly-converted academy on Monday after the Christmas break. The school, which officially converted to academy status on January 1, is now part of the Bright Tribe Trust multi-academy trust.

"Whitehaven School is the first Bright Tribe academy. The Trust is currently in the process of converting another school in Greater Manchester, and is in discussions with a number of other schools."

Academy trust selects two heads for

News and Star (Cumbria):http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/new-head-teachers-appointed-for-carlisle-s-richard-rose-academy-schools-1.1105189



"The charity which is taking over the two schools has named the two new head teachers. Neil Hutchinson will lead Richard Rose Central Academy, while Des Bird has been named as head teacher at Richard Rose Morton Academy. Both will report to the federation’s executive principle Derek Davies. Mr Bird was part of the senior management team at Egremont’s West Lakes Academy..."


"The academies will complete their transition to United Learning, which has been described as a charity with Christian roots, in the New Year. Earlier this month, United Learning bosses admitted that they were braced for a critical Ofsted report following a snap inspection of its Morton site. The Central Academy, placed in special measures in February, has also been revisited by inspectors."