This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Transfer of Gloucester Academy to the White Horse Federation'.

OFFICIAL 
Project template 
Recommendation:  Approval in principle for the 
Version: 
10/10/2014 
rebrokerage of Gloucester 
Author: 
Academy with White Horse 
Federation 
Is AO required? 
No 
Cleared by: 
 
Project name (URN), LA   Gloucester Academy (136199), Gloucestershire 
Name of sponsor and 
White Horse Federation, B 
sponsor grading 
 
Sponsored academy being re-brokered from Prospects Academy 
Academy type and route  Trust to White Horse Federation (WHF) 
Proposed open date 
1 January 2015 
General information 
School phase: Secondary 
Age range: 11 - 19 
School type: Sponsored 
NOR (% full): 741 (59% full) 
Capacity: 1250 
PAN: 210 (Y7), 100 (Y12) 
PFI?: No 
Viability issues?: Yes 
Deficit?: Yes (see issues) 
Relevant distance: 33.1 miles (1 hour drive) between WHF Head Office in Swindon and 
Gloucester Academy. 
 
School Performance 
Ofsted judgement (date): Requires Improvement (4),01/04/2014 
Current framework?: Yes 
Achievement of pupils: 
Quality of teaching: 
Behaviour and safety: 
Leadership and management: 4 
 
KS4 % 5+ A*-C GCSE including English and maths (with 
2014* KS4 
equivalents)  
(%) 
Attainment 
 
progress 
 
2014 
2014 
2010 
2011 
2012 
2013 
predicte
Eng 
ma 
provisional  
d  
LA mean avg.     60.1 
62.9 
62.3 
61.8 
NA 
NA 
NA 
NA 
Nat. mean avg.  
54 
59 
59 
60 
NA 
NA 
NA 
NA 
(EBacc) 
 
(15) 
(16) 
(23) 
 
37 
School/PP 
NA 
32/29 
30/29 
28/18 
36 
66 
45 
EBacc/PP 
NA 
NA 
1/0 
3/3 
NA 

NA 
NA 
Nat medi  
an avgs (for floor std)  
40 
40 
 
40 
NA 
NA 
 
Rationale for project:  
Gloucester Academy (GA) opened in September 2010, created from two predecessor schools: an 
all boys’ school and a mixed school (Bishops College and Central Technology College).  Both had 
a long history of low attainment.  In October 2012, Ofsted judged GA as inadequate with serious 
weaknesses. Results continued to decline after this Ofsted judgment and in October 2013 Ofsted 
found that the school was not making enough progress. Results in 2013 dipped again – prompting 
the principal to resign. As a result, Lord Nash issued first a pre-warning notice, and then a warning 
notice in December 2013. 
 
A new, permanent principal, Showk Badat, joined in February 2014. Shortly after this point, the 
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school was again rated as inadequate and placed into special measures (April 2014). One month 
later, the academy’s sponsor, Prospects Academies Trust, announced its intention to wind-up. We 
have since been seeking a new, strong sponsor to take on this school. Prospects Academies Trust 
have agreed to continue operating until 31 March 2015. As a result, it is vital that a sponsorship is 
agreed as soon as possible – preferably before Christmas. 
  
 and 2014 results have 
improved from 28% to 37% 5 ACEM. 
 
 
 
There is however still lots to do, and it is felt that WHF will be able to provide the 
leadership and support needed to ensure that the initial improvements at the academy continue. 
 
Dr Nick Capstick, the CEO of the WHF, has visited GA and a positive meeting took place with both 
parties who are keen to pursue this direction. GA are now beginning to undertake due diligence of 
GA’s financial situation. This work is key as GA is not in a strong financial position. 2013-14 saw an 
in year deficit of 500K and there was a legacy clawback based on the over positive estimate of 
student numbers from 2011-12. The size of GA’s current deficit position is currently unclear, but 
the Principal has estimated that this could be as high as £1million. 
 
Student numbers in post 16 are low and White Horse Federation will need to look carefully at 
potential solutions to this. 
 
GA leaders visited Ridgeway School in Swindon who are the secondary partners in the WHF. The 
Head at Ridgeway is now the Secondary Director at WHF. 
 
Governance : WHF is in very early stages of assessing how governance at GA could work. Two 
options under consideration are the introduction of an Interim Academies  Board, or developing a 
Local Governing Body. This decision will depend partly on WHF’s due diligence of the capability of 
GA’s existing governing body. 
 
We will come back to HtB with proposed funding after we have received the business case from 
WHF   
 
 
 
Risks and issues: 
Viability: The academy and sponsor will need to work hard to increase student numbers.  
Deficit: The academy is currently putting together a deficit recovery plan showing how the academy 
plans to return to a balanced budget position over time. This will be reviewed and agreed by the 
Education Funding Agency once available. 
Free schools: No interdependencies with FS/Studio School/UTC projects and applications 
Has an Equalities Impact Assessment been considered? 
Yes - but no changes to the age-range, religious character or admissions policy are proposed. 
 
School Budget Information 
Revenue carry forward at end-March 2014 
-£350,000 
Projected revenue balance at end-March 2015: 
-£293,442 
If revenue deficit, give reasons and if more than 1% of total annual revenue budget, note 
remedial action: 
The academy has had clawbacks totalling £430k as a result of  historical over-
estimates of pupil numbers in 2010/11 and 2011/12. As of June 2014, £300k was outstanding. This 
is being paid back over the 2014/15 year. The academy has also outlined school improvement 
costs of £1million – including £100k restructuring costs, in response to Ofsted’s inspection – which 
will need interrogated.. 
 
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Capital carry forward at end-March 2014 
£2,850 
 
2014-17 finance plans: 
Revenue balances (£): 
2014/15 budget 
2015/16 budget 
2016/17 budget 
Total Allocation and Income 
6,363,262 
6,770,955 
7,079,340 
Revenue Gross Expenditure 
6,306,704 
6,526,281 
6,716,400 
Revenue Balance In Year 
56,558 
244,674 
362,940 
Revenue Balance Brought 
-350,000 
-293,442 
-48,768 
Forward from previous year  
Revenue Balance Carried Forward  -293,442 
-48,768 
314,172 
to following year 
 
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