Head of co-operative academy steps down

From the Manchester Evening News: Kathy Leaver transformed Plant Hill High... shamed as the worst for truancy four years ago...re-branded as Manchester Co-operative Academy... new principal Steve Brice... Frank Norris, from the Co-operative Group, which sponsors the academy, thanked the departing headteacher.

Teesside secondary and primary catholic schools form multi-academy trust

From the Gazette Live: 'This week we (St Margaret Clitherow’s Catholic Primary school) officially became St Oswald’s Catholic Voluntary Multi Academy Trust along with St Peter’s Secondary School, St Gabriel’s Primary (Ormesby) and St Mary’s (Grangetown).

Employer contributions to teacher pension will rise by 2%

From Teachers' Pensions: 'HM Treasury has today published the final Directions and the expected outcome of the TPS valuation is a total contribution rate of 26%. The TPS proposed final agreement provides that scheme members will pay an average contribution rate of 9.6%, with the balance falling on employers; meaning that the new TPS employer contribution rate will be 16.4% (currently 14.1%).'

List of all MATs with more than 10 schools - 25 of them

From They Work For You: MP Nick Gibb asked the Secretary of State for Education to 'list all academy sponsors with 10 or more academies.' The reply was:

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.'

Kent Catholic Schools Partnership publishes Guardian advert

From a Guardian advertisement feature: four schools have become part of the (Kent Catholic Schools Partnership) trust, with a further four set to follow in their footsteps in May. The majority of the schools are expected to be part of the trust by spring 2015... Of the 32 (Catholic) schools (in Kent) – 26 of which are primaries and six secondaries – 71% are judged by Ofsted as 'good' or better.

Sixth form college heads sign letter opposing £45m Harris Westminster Sixth Form

Letters published in the Independent on 31 March included one signed by the heads of London's 12 sixth form colleges in opposition to the Harris Westminster Sixth Form (free school) and a letter from Lord Nash defending it.

Primary demand miscalculated - free school bid altered to avoid 'cannibalising' existing schools

From 'This is Wiltshire': Graham Taylor, the principal of New College (Swindon, Wiltshire): 'We were advised that a through school would be the most favourable option... We have since discovered that there wasn’t the (primary)demand we initially thought... We have no intention of cannibalising the whole area...'

Education select committee hearing - April 9

From They Work For You: Education Select Committee - Academies and free schools 9:30 am Witnesses: National Audit Office, Nick Weller, Chair, Independent Academies Association , Hampshire County Council and Anastasia de Waal, Civitas; Emma Knights, National Governors Association and Lucy Heller, ARK

Gove appeals council's decision on Sikh free school site

From Get Bucks:'Michael Gove submitted an application... rejected unanimously at the South Bucks District Council planning committee in January. Now Mr Gove has re-applied...

Chichester Academy Trust takes on primary

From the Chichester Observer: Kingsham Primary School will become an academy under the University of Chichester Academy Trust (CAT)- established by the University of Chichester.

ARK grows its Hastings cluster

From the Hastings Observer: 'Little Ridge Primary School... will relaunch as the ARK Little Ridge Primary Academy and officially become part of the ARK schools network which already includes ARK William Parker and Helenswood academies... ARK confirmed the appointment of Sarah Bailey who will take up the post at the start of the new school year.

Isle of Wight free school bid rejected on experience

From On the Wight: 'A 100 page free school (The Sylvan School) application, recently submitted to the Department for Education, was rejected from the pre-opening stage...  “The DfE felt that the group did not demonstrate a proven track record of school leadership. The Sylvan School will therefore not open.”

Milton Keynes academy bids to set up a free school with Lloyds

From MKWeb: 'The Redshift Academy supported by Lloyds Banking Group, will be setting up a new 16-19 Free School specialising in digital and creative media and entrepreneurship.'

The Midlands Academies Trust increases to six schools

From the Hinkley Times: William Bradford Community College will be sponsored by North Warwickshire and Hinckley College - the Midland Academies Trust