Multi academy trust chosen for John Rankin Junior School in Newbury

A multi academy trust has been chosen to improve a struggling Newbury school.

The Maiden Erlegh Trust, based in Earley, will take over management of John Rankin Junior School from November, parents were told at a meeting on Monday (July 14).

But the school has still not confirmed whether the trust will take over management of the Infant and Nursery School, which are part of the same federation.

In an email sent to parents in June, seen by newburytoday, the school’s governing body said the trust had been appointed as its “improvement partner”, but was pushing for the trust to permanently sponsor both the junior and infant schools.

A spokesperson for the Maiden Erlegh Trust said: “We are working closely with John Rankin Junior School with a view to welcoming them into the trust later this year, subject to approval from the regional director at the Department for Education.

“Over recent months, we have worked closely with the executive headteacher and governing body in our role as improvement partner, and we now look forward to continuing that collaboration through a formal trust relationship.

“In parallel, we have been supporting a governing body-led consultation on a proposal for John Rankin Infant and Nursery School to also join Maiden Erlegh Trust.

“We remain committed to supporting John Rankin Junior School and, subject to decision, the Infant and Nursery School, as they move into this next phase.”

The school’s governing body is currently considering the feedback received from parents following the three-week consultation.

Newburytoday also understands at least a dozen staff have left or will be leaving the school at the end of the summer term.

The DfE issued the school – whose headteacher Flora Cooper initially refused to let Ofsted onto the premises – with an academy order in January after its poor Ofsted performance last autumn.

The education body found it to have “serious weaknesses”.

The school office and Ms Cooper have been approached for comment.

Maiden Erlegh Trust is a mixed trust of nine local primary, secondary, special and alternative provision academies across Berkshire and South Oxfordshire.