MPs call on Education Secretary to rescind academy order as matter of urgency

Sheffield MPs are calling on Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to revoke the academy order to force King Edward VII School to become an academy.

The move follows the publication of the latest inspection report – in which the school was judged ‘good’ in all areas.

In a collective display of strength, Olivia Blake MP (Hallam), Paul Blomfield MP (Central), Louise Haigh MP (Heeley), Clive Betts MP (Sheffield South East) and Gill Furniss MP (Brightside and Hillsborough), urged Gillian Keegan to review and rescind the forced academisation as a “matter or urgency”, citing Department for Education guidance on “schools causing concern”.

This guidance, which was updated in October 2022, stipulates that the Secretary of State has the power to revoke an academy order under “exceptional circumstances”, including where “the maintained school has been re-inspected by Ofsted and judged Good or Outstanding.”

The MPs’ comments, which praised the “tireless work” of the school leadership, staff, pupils and parents in achieving its good status, echoed those shared by Headteacher Linda Gooden in a letter sent to all parents announcing the recent inspection results and updating on the academy order.

The letter referred to the latest Ofsted report which states that the “arrangements for safeguarding are effective” and that “leaders have taken robust action to address” the concerns that were raised at the last inspection.

She also set out the consequences of the latest ‘Good’ rating, which means that the School is no longer eligible for intervention under sections 61 and 62 of the 2006 Education and Inspections Act.

As a result, a formal letter of application to the Regional Director and The Right Honourable Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, to request that the academy order is revoked had been submitted by Linda Gooden and the Governing Board.

Linda Gooden also noted that School had made “rapid and sustained change in order to secure a good Ofsted judgement” and has “the high quality leadership capacity to continue to improve as a successful School”.

At the end of her letter, she also paid tribute to the parents and carers who have provided “immense and unwavering support”, thanking them on behalf of the Governing Board and staffing body for their “strategic focus, relentless support, resilience and determination to assist the School that…[they]… know so very well.”

You can read more about today’s developments in the Schools Week article here.