Academies

Harris looks set to take over troubled East London Science School

Trust and school are well-known for high-profile political connections

Trust and school are well-known for high-profile political connections

11 Feb 2022, 14:25

More from this author

Exclusive

The Harris Federation is set to take over the troubled East London Science School (ELSS), despite calls for a more local trust to take the reins, Schools Week understands.

Both the multi-academy trust and free school are well-known for high-profile political connections.

Conservative donor Lord Harris founded England’s sixth largest trust, while trustees at the specialist science school have included chancellor Rishi Sunak and Adam Atashzai, a former adviser to David Cameron.

The school, once praised by ministers, was placed in special measures late last year. Its founding principal, David Perks, also quit, a year after strict controls were placed on its “weak” finances.

Regional schools commissioners (RSCs) typically force struggling academies to join other trusts.

Several sources told Schools Week the local RSC plans to hand ELSS to Harris, although the school and government said this had not been confirmed.

School should join ‘local MAT’

Sarah Ruiz, the cabinet member for education in Labour-controlled Newham, said: “We’ll be writing to the RSC to express our disappointment.

“The best thing would be for the school to join a local, community MAT. There’s a huge amount of work to be done. I can’t believe Harris will have the same level of understanding.”

She feared Harris’ approach would be too “centralised”.

Harris, which operates across London, did not respond to request for comment.

An ELSS spokesperson said it was awaiting the RSC’s next steps. “The process of determining the organisation we will be working with in future is ongoing.”

The school had “worked tirelessly” to improve financially and expected to balance its books “in the very near future”.

Accounts show £26,000 deficit

New accounts show no free reserves and a £26,000 unrestricted fund deficit. It had made “significant savings” in the hope of lifting the government’s financial notice, limiting overhead costs to “essential items”.

Accounts also show “failure to apply regularity, propriety and value for money”.

They acknowledge instances of unauthorised debit card spending, breached procedures in one large purchase, and failure to disclose some interests and related-party dealings.

A government investigation last year rapped the school over a £1,600 drone it bought to market photos. Individuals linked to Perks were also “improperly” appointed.

A Department for Education spokesperson said it was working with ELSS to “secure the necessary improvements” in the interests of pupils and community.

“This may involve transferring the school to a new trust with the capacity to drive and sustain the necessary changes, though no decision has yet been made.”

It is understood any transfer remains subject to RSC advisory board sign-off.

Latest education roles from

Group Head of School Creative Media

Group Head of School Creative Media

Capital City College Group

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

League Football Education

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Wigston Academies Trust

Initial Teacher Training Programme Lead

Initial Teacher Training Programme Lead

Scarborough Sixth Form College

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Retire Early, Live Fully: What Teachers Need to Consider First

Specialist Financial Adviser, William Adams, from Wesleyan Financial Services discusses what teachers should be considering when it comes to...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

AI Safety: From DfE Guidance to Classroom Confidence

Darren Coxon, edtech consultant and AI education specialist, working with The National College, explores the DfE’s expectations for AI...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

How accurate spend information is helping schools identify savings

One the biggest issues schools face when it comes to saving money on everyday purchases is a lack of...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building Character, Increasing Engagement and Growing Leaders: A Whole School Approach

Research increasingly shows that character education is just as important as academic achievement in shaping pupils’ long-term success. Studies...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Academies

Officials kept mum about academy probe as merger decided

Revelation reopens debate around the transparency of important academy decisions

Jack Dyson
Academies

CEO gender pay gap halves after closing three years in a row

But men still paid £5k more than women, CST study finds

Jack Dyson
Academies

Pioneering free school censured over ‘inaccurate’ budget forecasts

Notice to improve issued to one of England's first free schools amid string of rule breaches

Jack Dyson
Academies

20 leaders appointed to DfE trust CEO advisory group

Bosses of United Learning, Lift Schools, Ark and Star academy trusts appointed to advise minister amid schools bill reforms

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 Comments