Community First Academy Trust

Please attribute to Sue Darbyshire, CEO of the Community First Academy Trust:

A great deal has happened over the last few months at Rose Bridge Academy. I have been proud of how staff and students have both accepted the challenges and grasped the opportunities that they have faced since our Ofsted inspection.

The result, as the report states, progress has been made. I am, however, acutely aware that improvements need to be sustainable, embedded and long-lasting.

We were, unfortunately, unable to secure sufficient appointments with the experience and expertise to build on our recent progress. This, coupled with some unexpected long-term staff absences, has meant that we have had to make some important decisions to ensure that our students receive the quality of education that they deserve.

We have agreed a partnership with The Dean Trust, a multi-academy trust with a strong track record. The Trust have placed with us an experienced Head, Mr Bridden, and helped us secure a Deputy Headteacher and two Assistant Headteachers to add important capacity to the academy’s leadership team.

We are in discussions with the Department for Education about the long-term future of Rose Bridge.

We have also introduced an interim Academy Management Committee (AMC) to temporarily take on the responsibilities of our governing body. This is a smaller group of experienced educationalists who can help provide greater clarity, guidance and challenge during periods of rapid improvement.

The trustees and I have acted quickly as these are important steps to ensure that Rose Bridge Academy to quickly reaches the high expectations that our community and students expect and deserve.