Trust pulls out of school sponsorship
Reporter AN academy trust poised to sponsor a troubled Northumberland school has pulled out after raising concerns over falling pupil numbers and its longterm viability.
Haydon Bridge High School was placed in special measures having been deemed inadequate by Ofsted in 2014.
A year later, the Bright Tribe Trust was lined up by the Department for Education (DfE) to turn the school into an academy.
However, the Cheshire-based multi-academy trust has now announced the move won’t go ahead because the school’s financial position presents a ‘significant financial risk.’
A Bright Tribe Trust spokeswoman said: “Since this time progress relating to the transfer of the school has been hindered by the school’s significant and increasing financial deficit.
“In the period, the school has seen a significant reduction in the number of pupils on roll and there is no sign of this increasing, in fact there has been a steady decline over the last five years.
“The comparatively small number of pupils on roll has had an insurmountable impact on the school’s long-term viability.”
The trust said during the initial period of due diligence, it took effective action to improve educational outcomes at the school and its learning environment.
The spokeswoman added: “It has invested heavily in the school, putting into place and funding a number of measures, including the appointment of a regional executive principal and principal to work alongside the school’s existing senior leaders and staff to drive up standards and improve outcomes for students.
“This is reflected in the improved GCSE results gained across a variety of subjects under the leadership of this team.
“Bright Tribe has also provided back office support for the school’s finance team and the Interim Executive Board (IEB), as well as securing a DfE environmental improvement grant, which it used to make much needed capital improvements to the premises.
“The trust has been working closely with the DfE, regional schools commissioner and secretary of state appointed IEB, however the financial position and long-term viability of the school presents a significant financial risk to the trust and its portfolio of other schools.
“The trust therefore concludes that it can no longer continue to support Haydon Bridge High School.”
In a letter to parents, the IEB said the DfE had been unable to find an alternative sponsor, meaning the school will continue to be run by Northumberland County Council.
The letter said: ““Officers have advised us that they are seeking council approval to start an informal consultation to understand what the wider community in the west of Northumberland see as the way forward.”
The letter added that Darren Glover will remain as principal. family are delighted that they can now make full use of it, especially in the autumn months when the wind and rain is in abundance for Hawwa. Then the team finally had a chance to meet Hawwa in person and see how their hard work paid off.
Steph Hale, from the Jury’s Inn, said: “I absolutely loved being involved in the fundraising for the Sunshine Fund this year. I helped on a few of the events such as baking for the cake sale through to being sponsored for running 5k which was a personal achievement also. It was so lovely to meet Hawwa and see for ourselves where the money we raised was spent and to see Hawwa benefiting from this already.”
Hawwa’s mum Mussarat, 33, added: “We’ve been able to have a lovely time together as a family and are able to use the buggy on all terrain which we have never been able to do before.
“We would like to thank the sunshine fund and Jury’s Inn for all their hard work and efforts to raise the money for the buggy.”
Lauren Thompson, Community Fundraiser for The Sunshine Fund, said: “It has been wonderful to work with Jury’s Inn and it is amazing to see local organisations meeting the children and families that they support. Our Go Bananas campaign was a huge success and that was down to the support of the region but we still have requests for new equipment coming through daily. Our new goal is to raise £30,000 for our Christmas Appeal and we hope the North East can get behind us once again to support a well known local cause.”