DRET | Schools Week

Coronavirus: Trust was warned over local spike days before it was forced to close school

An academy trust forced to close one of its schools days after reopening because of a coronavirus case had previously been warned about a rise in infections in the area. The David Ross Education Trust closed Cedar Road Primary School, in Northampton, on Wednesday after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19. The government’s rush to […]

Coronavirus: David Ross Education Trust furloughs dozens of staff

Dozens of staff at one of England’s largest academy trusts are to be furloughed on full pay, Schools Week has learned. The David Ross Education Trust, founded by millionaire Tory donor and Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross, claims it is only furloughing staff “whose roles are funded by the external income that we rely upon to fund […]

International school boss Stuart Burns appointed new David Ross Education Trust CEO

The boss of an international school in Monaco has been appointed as chief executive of the David Ross Education Trust. Stuart Burns currently runs the International School of Monaco, but was previously the founding principal of DRET’s Bobby Moore Academy at Olympic Park. Burns will replace Rowena Hackwood as head of the 34-strong academy trust […]

School staff should look after ‘every penny like their own’, says academy trust CEO

School staff should treat “every penny” of funding as if it was their own and apply the same “discipline” to financial management as they do to improving educational performance, an academy trust CEO has said. Tes reported earlier this week that the David Ross Education Trust has asked its schools to consider using cover supervisors […]

DRET appoints new CEO, with sponsor David Ross installed as chair

The David Ross Education Trust (DRET) has appointed a new chief executive, with the trust’s sponsor taking on the vacant chair role following high-profile resignations. The trust announced today that Rowena Hackwood, a trustee of academy chain Reach2 and former education director at Capita, has been appointed chief executive. She takes over from Wendy Marshall, […]