Concerns are being raised by teachers, parents and members of the public after it emerged that both of Penrith’s secondary schools could soon be controlled by the same academy trust.
The development follows the recent announcement that Ullswater Community College is considering joining Cumbria Education Trust (CET).
Now it has emerged that Queen Elizabeth Grammar School is also set to transfer into CET after its current academy trust the school became part of in 2023, Changing Lives Learning Trust (CLLT), announced plans to transfer its schools to other trusts and wind up its own operations.
The news has surprised many involved in the debate around UCC’s future, with union representatives raising concerns during a meeting attended by around 30 members of the NEU and NASUWT on Monday.
At that meeting, staff questioned the academisation proposal and what benefits it would bring to UCC, raising concerns over a lack of clarity and calling for greater transparency from governors and senior leaders.
According to notes from the meeting, teachers also questioned the timing of the proposal, asked for more information about how consultation with staff would take place, and suggested that a ballot should be held to gauge opinion among staff.
Union representatives said the possibility of both Penrith secondary schools ending up in the same trust had not been part of earlier discussions, adding to concerns over how the situation has developed.
The latest developments come after CLLT confirmed it had begun transferring schools to other trusts following a review triggered by the inadequate Ofsted judgement received by West Lakes Academy last year.
Under the plans outlined by CLLT, QEGS would transfer to Cumbria Education Trust alongside several other schools across Cumbria.
The prospect of both Penrith’s secondary schools being run by the same trust has also attracted wider public attention, with a member of the public raising the issue at Monday’s meeting of Penrith Town Council and asking councillors to consider writing to the Department for Education to seek clarification on the implications.
Questions over if the concentrating the control of both secondary schools within one academic trust is the right direction for education in Penrith will be one unions teaching staff and schools will have to debate and convince parents of students at both schools.
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