Chairman of Telford trust which runs 'inadequate' academies: 'Blame us - not the teachers and kids'

Peter Lawley said the Telford Co-operative Multi Academy Trust made "no excuses" for the situation at Sutherland Co-operative Academy, Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy, Lakeside Academy and Phoenix Academy.

All four were given the worst possible "inadequate" rating by Government watchdog Ofsted in reports published this month following inspections in February.

They will now all be closely monitored to ensure the improvements are made to bring them up to scratch.

When Telford Co-operative Multi Academy Trust (TCMAT) took over the running of the four academies in 2013, three of them – Sutherland, Wrockwardine Wood and Lakeside – were rated as "good".

In a hard-hitting interview, Mr Lawley said the trust had faced huge challenges in trying to run the four schools amidst a backdrop of mergers, rebuilds and general disruption.

Sutherland and Wrockwardine Wood are due to come together on a new site and become Telford Co-operative Academy in September.

But the trust chairman said it would be wrong to criticise teachers or pupils at the schools.

He said everyone on the board of TCMAT had gone into it with the "best of intentions" but admitted it had not worked out, claiming the job was "too big" for them.

"We aren't looking to make excuses," he said.

"We are not blaming teachers, heads, pupils, parents or anybody.

"The board pays tribute to the very hard-working staff, governing bodies and lay directors who have contributed so much since the inception of the trust.

"We are naturally very disappointed that the outcomes for students and communities, despite their best efforts, have not been better.

"We put our hands up and admit it didn't work. Now it is time to move on and try something else.

"By September I expect the TCMAT to be dissolved and wound up, and the schools will have a good future to look forward to."

It is expected the management of the academies will be taken over by the Community Academies Trust (CAT), which has been announced as the Department of Education's (DfE) preferred sponsor.

It runs one "outstanding" rated secondary school and a handful of primaries in the Midlands.

A spokeswoman for the CAT said: "Members of the Community Academies Trust are supporting and strengthening the TCMAT board of directors.

"The Community Academies Trust is the preferred DfE sponsor for the four schools in the TCMAT and we are currently in consultation with the relevant stakeholders about a way forward