Shropshire trust cleared to run more schools
The trust formed to take control of a Shropshire school could be set to take on the running of other schools, it was revealed today.
Oldbury Wells School and the Bridgnorth Area School's Trust has been approved as a sponsor for new academies by the Department of Education.
It now has the potential to develop its role a multi-academies trust, running a number of schools.
The approval has been granted following an examination of the quality and efficiency of the school itself and also the trust's management and operation.
The checks were carried out by government officials, who have confirmed that the trust is suitable to take on the responsibility for
additional schools.
The trust was told of the ruling at the end of June.
Oldbury Wells became an academy in June 2015 and formed the the new trust at the same time. At its formation it was always planned for the trust to take on aid smaller local schools if they began to suffer financially or perform badly.
As part of the sponsor application process, the Trust had to demonstrate to the Department for Education that it met a series of stringent criteria.
It had to show that it has a clear idea of what it hopes to achieve as a sponsor, and of how it will achieve this.
It also had to demonstrate that it has the right financial expertise, the ability to plan strategically and demonstrate how it would support an
underperforming school to improve.
Judy Mondon, chair of governors, said: "We are delighted that our strong track record has been recognised by the Secretary of State for Education in granting this approval."
Oldbury Wells School was ranked as one of the best in Shropshire for GCSE results in 2014.
Nearly seven out of every 10 pupils at the school, 68 per cent, got five or more GCSE grades at C or above, including English and maths.
It isis ranked as one of the highest in Shropshire in the Department for Education's new league tables.
