Sponsors for 11 schools run by the failed Wakefield City Academies Trust have been confirmed by the government, but officials are still trying to formalise deals for the remaining 10.
Following analysis of the 65 responses to a consultation on the future of the schools, sponsors for 11 of the 21 schools run by the trust have been signed off. They represent no change on those provisionally announced in October.
However, sponsors for the 10 other schools have not been confirmed. The former education secretary Justine Greening, who resigned on Monday, said the confirmed sponsors should be announced as soon as possible. The other sponsors will confirmed shortly, a DfE spokesperson said.
Some of the trusts confirmed today are also still waiting to hear about whether they will take on all the schools they expected to.
Delta Academies trust was expected to take on four schools: Goole Academy in Yorkshire, and Montagu Academy, Morley Place Academy and Mexborough Academy in Doncaster. It has received confirmation on three of them, but the rebrokering of Mexborough is yet to be signed off.
Simarly, Astrea Academy trust has only received confirmation that it will take on Waverley Academy in Doncaster, but is still waiting on confirmation that it will also sponsor Balby Carr Community Academy, also in Doncaster.
Inspiring Futures, a trust with only two schools, has been confirmed as the sponsor for Willow Academy, despite concerns about its relative lack of expertise in improving schools.
The rebrokering of High Crags Academy, Barkerend Academy and Thornbury Academy to Tauheedul Education Trust has also been confirmed, while Aston Community Education Trust will take on Rotherham’s Brookfield Academy, as planned.
Carr Lodge Academy in Doncaster will be taken on by Exceed Learning Partnership while Brigantia Learning Trust will run Yewlands Academy in Sheffield.
However, Outwood Grange Academy Trust, which is supposed to take on eight of the 21 schools, is yet to hear about any of them.
WCAT announced its closure two weeks into term in September, citing concerns about educational quality, so leaving parents, pupils and staff uncertain about what might happen next.
The confirmed trusts:
Tauheedul Education Trust – High Crags Academy, Barkerend Academy and Thornbury Academy (both Bradford)
Aston Community Education Trust – Brookfield Academy (Rotherham)
Exceed Learning Partnership – Carr Lodge Academy (Doncaster)
Delta Academies Trust – Goole Academy (Yorkshire), Montagu Academy and Morley Place Academy (both Doncaster)
Astrea Academy Trust – Waverley Academy (Doncaster)
Inspiring Futures Academy – Willow Academy (Doncaster)
Brigantia Learning Trust – Yewlands Academy (Sheffield)
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