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.

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criteria set for fee schools' - the school itself said: 'We regret to confirm that the Department for Education has withdrawn funding for Phoenix Free School of Oldham and it will not open this September.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.'

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 Times: Simon 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.'

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 Cornwall: Fowey 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 Tribe, Adventure Learning Schools, Institute 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.