A crisis-hit primary school will become an academy after failing to turn itself around – at a cost of £122k to Sefton’s taxpayers.
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Pouslom Drive, Bootle, was hit with a scathing inspection report in 2019, with inspectors deeming it inadequate over a catalogue of failings.
After being placed in special measures, a new interim headteacher, Marcella Armstrong resigned at the end of 2020 amid threats of industrial action by staff.
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This came after it emerged she had been recommended by the Archdiocese of Liverpool despite being investigated at her previous school in Huyton.
After a new interim headteacher, Clare Roberts, was brought in earlier this year, further monitoring visits by Ofsted determined that insufficient improvements had been made at the school.
At the time, inspectors said the “considerable turbulence” brought about by the problems with the school’s leadership had left “a profound impact on the progress that leaders have made in addressing the weaknesses at the school”.
Although they acknowledged the new leadership team had “accelerated” the pace of improvement, the inspectors noted that “many of the endemic shortcomings identified in the 2019 inspection remain firmly in place”.
Sefton Council said they were working closely with the school leadership team and significant improvements had been made, stating: “The council, the school and the archdiocese are committed to continue working together to further support the school’s improvement journey.”
However, at a meeting of Sefton Council’s cabinet today a report was presented detailing plans, ordered by the secretary of state for education, to convert the school to an academy.
The process of conversion is due to be completed by April this year, and as the school currently has an agreed deficit of over £122,000 in its budget, the report notes that the costs of that will be “absorbed” by Sefton Council.
Speaking about the decision, council leader Cllr Ian Maher said: “This is not something we have any control over.”
Cabinet member for education Diane Roscoe said: “It’s very disappointing that the decision has been made.
“The local authority has worked well with the school to turn it around and we were starting to see the results of that.
“It’s just unfortunate now the decision has been that someone else will be taking the credit for that.”
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