AET shelves academy merger to save money

AET has shelved merger plans for two academies and appointed new heads - reports the Essex Chronicle  (story from July 20)

Damning Ofsted report published - new head and chair of governors in place

From the St Helens Star: 'Hope Academy at Newton-Le-Willows underwent an inspection at the end of February... the school has been classed as “inadequate”...'

Sulivan primary loses academy bid and will merge

From Get West London: The Department for Education rejected Sulivan Primary School’s bid to convert to an academy with the London Diocesan Board for Schools... (it will) be demolished to build a £13.5 million new building for new free school Fulham Boys... (will now)amalgamate Sulivan Primary School with New King’s.

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.'

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.'

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.

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).

DFE: academy status would break community links

From the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:
http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/10964619.Consultation_held_to_help_determine_future_of_St_Sampson_s_Infant_School_in_Cricklade/


'After being judged as inadequate, government expectation for infant schools is that they close and become academy schools... governors at the infant school were granted permission by the DFE to put forward the merger proposal after deeming that academy status would break a relationship the school has with the community.'