As many of my constituents are aware, following its recent Ofsted inspection, Easingwold School was placed into Special Measures. The school will now become an academy, which is a requirement for all schools in these circumstances, and will join a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). Such a trust will have to demonstrate a proven track record in delivering outstanding education and results and an ability to turn a school around quickly and to make a clear impact within months. Although I believe that the situation offers a great opportunity for fundamental change, I have a number of concerns regarding the way this change is being delivered.
The Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC), who is responsible for the selection of the relevant sponsor, decided to appoint Outwood Grange Academy Trust (OGAT) as the chosen MAT. Disappointingly, this announcement and subsequent parental and student meetings were made prior to required due diligence being undertaken. Surveys have highlighted a number of issues regarding the current physical condition of the school that need resolving before OGAT are willing to take formal responsibility for the school.
I have spoken to the RSC regarding the clearly flawed process for the selection and nomination of the sponsor, and met with Schools Minister Nick Gibb to express my deep concerns and relay the understandable wider public misgivings and will shortly meet with the Education Secretary to do the same. I will continue to work with the school governing body, NYCC, OGAT, the commissioner and government ministers on these issues, which I am confident will be resolved in due course.
The interim Headteacher, Mr Pritchard, a National Leader of Education who currently leads an outstanding school in Harrogate, will in the meantime continue in his role.
At the bottom of this article is a letter from the Regional Schools Commissioner that responds to a number of other points of concern that I have raised.