The Government have approved a proposal for Culverhay School to become a Sponsored Academy. The news follows Bath & North East Somerset Council cancelling the closure notice for the school, deciding that there should be co-education provision on the site, and supporting the desire of the Governing Body of Culverhay to become an Academy.
Cabot Learning Federation had already been selected by the Council and the School Governors as the Academy sponsor to bring expertise to raise standards and enable Culverhay to share in services, training and support in a more cost-effective way.
Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said, “The future of education on the Culverhay site is now much clearer. Bath & North East Somerset Council’s wish for co-education provision with a means to drive up standards through an Academy sponsor is set to become a reality.
“The track record of Cabot Learning Federation is excellent with a rapid improvement in standards in its schools. This offers a great opportunity for Culverhay to be transformed over the coming years into a highly successful co-education school and change the lives of young people for the better.”
The Cabot Learning Federation has a successful local network of academies in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. Culverhay will be paired with one of the Federation’s schools which has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED.
David Carter, Principal of Cabot Learning Federation, said, “We are delighted and excited by the opportunity that working with Culverhay School presents us. The Cabot Learning Federation has improved its existing Academies and in doing do has enhanced the life chances of the students attending our schools. We look forward to doing the same in the new Academy.”
Councillor Gerry Curran, Chair of Governors, said, “I am delighted by the Minister’s announcement. Culverhay has been working closely with the Cabot Learning Federation this year on our development priorities and we have already agreed with the Federation to continue this support in 2011/12. We have already benefited significantly from the Federation’s expertise and track record in transforming standards. I am confident that with the Federation as our sponsor, we can achieve our long held aspiration to become an outstanding co-educational school for the local community.”
Next Steps:
The Council and the school will now be collaborating closely with the Cabot Learning Federation to produce a specific plan of action for the conversion of the school into an academy. This has to also be approved by the Department for Education and it will indicate how the Cabot Learning federation will transform the curriculum and educational standards. It will also include a joint agreement on the transfer of staff, site and buildings to the Trust. The Cabot Learning Federation will be leading on a stakeholder event in November so that parents and the local community can have a say in how their new academy will develop.
Further Information:
The Council has a set of question and answers for parents and guardians affected by the decision. These can be found at https://sslvpn.bathnes.gov.uk/http/www.bathnes.gov.uk/culverhayquestions