The Chronicle

School closure threat sparks fury

FAMILIES’ FURY AS SCHOOL THREATENED WITH CLOSURE

- By HANNAH GRAHAM hannah.graham@trinitymir­ror.com @HannahGrah­am21

FURY has erupted over the threat to the future of a Tyneside secondary school.

Thomas Hepburn Academy, in Felling, Gateshead, could close its doors by August next year under plans released by the Northern Education Trust.

The NET installed a new headteache­r at the school in 2016 as it laboured under a rating of ‘Unsatisfac­tory’ under the old Ofsted system.

The trust’s changes were enough to help it avoid being placed in special measures in an inspection report published in 2017, but it was still described as ‘Inadequate.’

Now the trust has admitted it doesn’t have enough pupils to be able to offer a “broad and balanced” curriculum to the ones who remain, who would be sent to other school across Gateshead.

It said it has worked with the council to ensure there would be enough room for the moving pupils in nearby schools.

There is capacity for 750 pupils, only 412 are currently on the roll, and that is predicted to fall next year to around 350, down from 643 in 2012.

Though a decision has not yet been officially made, keeping the school open is not listed as an option in the consultati­on document, sent out to parents yesterday.

If the proposal goes ahead, Year 9 pupils would leave the school at the end of this year to start their GCSEs elsewhere, current year 10 and 11 pupils would finish their education at Thomas Hepburn, while years 7 and 8 would move in two years.

Gateshead Council said it will get in touch with the fewer than 40 parents who had applied to send their children to Thomas Hepburn to start year 7 next year, to help them make new applicatio­ns.

Parents have expressed disappoint­ment at the failure to bring a good standard of education back to Thomas Hepburn.

One father, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I just feel as though the NET have failed us all – nine months ago they were saying the school would be good in two years’ time.

“They’ve failed our kids. My kids have had a lot of problems there – I went to the school when I was a kid and it was lovely, and that’s why I wanted to send my own children there.”

He said he will now have to consider sending his children to Heworth Grange school – but is worried about the impact an influx of pupils could have there.

Speaking in June, new head Jo Nolan said the academy would be classed as ‘Good’ within two years, and that plans were in place to transform the school.

She said: “We are not here to come and go: my senior leadership team are committed to Thomas Hepburn and we are here to stay.”

But, the NET said, parents haven’t had enough faith in the plans – which it claims could leave the school one of the most improved in the region this year – to sign their children up for the school, leaving it without the funds to offer a “broad, balanced curriculum”.

With only just over 30 pupils apply to join year 7 for next year, it wouldn’t have enough students to offer a good range of GCSE subjects.

Trust CEO Rob Tarn said: “Parents want to go to schools where Ofsted says they’re good, or where they are top of the league tables.

“Where there’s historic issues it takes a while for Ofsted to come back and a couple of years for the reputation in community to come back up.

“Because of historic issues, numbers are now unsustaina­bly low – it’s not a dip we can recover from.

“It’s disappoint­ing that the numbers are at the level where we have to have this conversati­on.”

Chair of governors Colin Ferguson added: “The academy is determined that our children receive the very best educationa­l provision and I believe the consultati­on will ensure that we do what is best for them, their families and the local community.”

Caroline O’Neill, strategic director for care, wellbeing and learning at Gateshead Council, said: “We were disappoint­ed to learn of the declining pupil numbers at Thomas Hepburn Academy and of Northern Education Trust’s decision to consult on the closure of the school.

“We have offered our support to Northern Education Trust and the DfE to ensure that the education and wellbeing of students remains at the forefront of the decision-making process.

“The council will support pupils and their families to find places at nearby schools and will provide advice and assistance as required.”

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 ??  ?? Northern Education Trust CEO Rob Tarn
Northern Education Trust CEO Rob Tarn
 ??  ?? Thomas Hepburn principal Jo Nolan
Thomas Hepburn principal Jo Nolan
 ??  ?? Thomas Hepburn Community Academy in Gateshead
Thomas Hepburn Community Academy in Gateshead

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