The government is ‘minded to’ terminate funding for troubled Gloucester Academy

Trustees of an academy in Gloucestershire have been warned it could be rebrokered to a new sponsor if serious concerns raised by Ofsted are not addressed.

The Gloucester Academy, run by The White Horse Federation, was rated ‘inadequate’ after inspectors visited in April, and urged to undertake an external review of pupil premium funding to assess how to improve pupil outcomes

Ofsted noted that pupils’ basic literacy and numeracy skills are “weak”, not enough progress is made by disadvantaged or SEND pupils, higher achievers are not challenged, attendance is very low and safeguarding is ineffective.

Lisa Mannall, the regional schools commissioner for the south-west, has now warned the school that its funding agreement could be terminated if it does not show improvements. If this happened, it would move to a new sponsor.

In the letter Mannall warns that “I need to be satisfied that the trust will support Gloucester Academy to achieve rapid and sustained improvement”.

“If I am not satisfied this can be achieved, I will consider issuing a termination warning notice in respect of the supplemental funding agreement for the academy,” she continued.

She met the chair of trustees in May to analyse a proposed 100- day recovery plan, including recruiting a new headteacher and allocating “additional trust resource to achieve the required progress” and wants a progress update before July 10.

“I know that the trust has in place a proposal to commission an external review, as soon as possible, of the school’s use of pupil premium funding, as recommended by Ofsted.”