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: 4
Quality of teaching: 4
Behaviour and safety: 4
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
4
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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OFFICIAL
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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