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 He has been replaced by Tony Searle, more details below....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)