AN Ipswich school is today a step closer to becoming an academy following government approval for a private sponsor to take over.Plans submitted by Suffolk County Council to transform Holywells High into an academy were green-lighted by the secretary of state for children, schools and families.
The go-ahead was given for Kunskapsskolan, the largest provider of secondary education in Sweden, to be the preferred partner to take over the school.
By October Kunskapsskolan and the county council will set out a proposed vision the school a public consultation is carried out with students, parents, staff and the wider community.Government endorsement comes despite continually improving levels of achievement and pressure from union leaders concerned about the safety of staff pay and conditions, and from students who opposed the proposals.
Gary Nethercott, the council's education director, said: “Over the years Holywells High School has made progress in improving levels of achievement for young people attending the school.
“However, both the county council and the school agreed that to make a significant improvement in outcomes for young people, an external partner with a fresh perspective was needed."
Steve Bolingbroke, managing director of Kunskapsskolan in the UK, said: “We look forward to working with the school, the community and the council to understand local needs and expectations in order to combine the best of our successful model of personalised learning with the good work already in place at Holywells."
Cecelia Davies, chair of governors at Holywells, said: “We have worked hard as a school to improve the outcomes for our students, and have had some significant success.
“However, we all want to see the school move on much further, to be graded by Ofsted as “good" and then “outstanding", and recognise that we need a fresh approach to achieve this. Kunskapsskolan has the credentials to do this."
Terry Duffell, acting Headteacher, said: “Working with a world leading education company can only be positive for the young people who attend the school.
“Kunskapsskolan look to have the drive and the ideas to build on the solid foundations we have put in place."
