Winsford Academy will usher in the new school year with a new sponsor, five months after the Department for Education withdrew E-ACT’s right to sponsor the secondary school.
The Fallibroome Multi-Academy Trust has been confirmed as its new sponsor, effective from September 1.
The Grange Lane school was one of 10 across the country which were removed from academy chain E-ACT’S portfolio in February.
Chief executive of E-ACT David Moran stressed at the time that the move was not a reflection on the 10 relinquished schools.
In a statement, he said: “Our focus must be on where we can provide this and to do the right thing and allow others to deliver elsewhere.”
Fallibroome Academy in Macclesfield is a high-achieving school of 1,500 students and is among only a small number of schools which have received three consecutive outstanding judgements form Ofsted.
Principal of Winsford Academy Andrew Taylor-Edwards said: “We are delighted to become part of the Fallibroome Multi-Academy Trust and to share a close working relationship with an outstanding school like Fallibroome.
“The Trust comprises many outstanding educationalists and has governance of the highest standing. “We look forward to learning from each other as our relationship continues to develop in the future.
“We are delighted that we have secured a local sponsor that is committed to the professional development of its staff for the benefit of all students.
“We know from internal and external evidence that Winsford Academy has improved significantly since it opened in September 2010 but we want to accelerate the pace of improvement.
“Fallibroome could be the catalyst to that faster pace.”
Ann Moore, chair of the Winsford Academy Governing Body, added: “Governors welcome the opportunities this partnership with Fallibroome will bring as we construct a powerful school-based partnership.
“I am sure we can learn a lot from Fallibroome but equally sure that there is good practice and creativity at Winsford which will be useful to Fallibroome.”
