College future ‘secure’ under education trust
NEW ACADEMY WILL NOW OFFER SIXTH FORM PLACES TO WHOLE OF GREATER MANCHESTER
A SIXTH form college is finally parting ways with a cash-strapped academy chain as it’s taken under the wing of an expanding education trust.
The Connell Sixth Form College in Beswick confirmed plans to leave Bright Futures Educational Trust (BFET) after government intervention last year.
Education bosses have been looking for a suitable trust to take over the Connell since then. The Co-op Academies Trust, which already runs four high schools in Manchester and Salford, has now been chosen by the Department for Education (DfE) to run Connell.
Pupils will be offered a mixture of both academic and vocational courses at the sixth form, Co-op leaders said. All existing Connell staff will be transferred to the Co-op Academies Trust, which runs a total of 12 academies in the Greater Manchester, Leeds and Stoke-on-Trent areas.
Co-op trust bosses say there are no plans to make any roles redundant at Connell as a result of the rebrokerage.
Frank Norris, director of the Co-op Academies Trust, said: “The excellent facilities and the quality of the teaching together with its location and first class transport links means that for the first time we will be able to offer sixth form places to the whole of Greater Manchester.
“We have demonstrated that a focus on improving the quality of teaching, strongly applying co-operative values and principles, effective governance and the ability to leverage the resources from the Co-op can have a dramatic positive impact.”
Bright Futures has faced uncertainties over its future due to cash shortfalls and low standards at several of its schools in Manchester, Wigan and Blackpool.
The trust’s financial problems were partly driven by low pupil numbers at Connell. In March 2016 Bright Futures was served a financial notice by the Department for Education amid concerns over its financial position and the way it was being run.
The troubled chain is sponsored by Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and runs eight academies in the North West of England. But Connell was praised by Ofsted earlier this year for improving its teaching standards.
As the Co-op takeover was announced on Tuesday, John Stephens, CEO of Bright Futures, said: “Bright Futures Educational Trust (BFET) has been in constructive discussions with the Department for Education, Manchester City Council and other partners for some time to secure the future of Connell Sixth Form.
“In line with our planning for sustainability, we are delighted that Connell will transfer to the Co-op Academies Trust. This will enable Connell to continue providing high quality post 16 education”
Principal Jane Hopcroft said it was ‘fantastic news’, adding: “I am confident that this transition will build further on our strengths to develop and improve the educational landscape for the benefit of school leavers, businesses and the wider local community.”