As a democratically elected member of the “old” Governing Body (GB) at SJGS who were dismissed by CFBT in November 2015 (for not making sufficient progress to improve standards since going into special measures, according to CFBT), I would like to apologise personally to all past, present and future students for the turmoil caused when we (GB) chose CFBT to be our academy partner.
We (GB) chose CFBT because we had good working relations, through LEA, with CFBT and were promised support and expertise to help move SJGS forward in our change from two single sex schools to comprehensive status with the Post 16 South Holland Centre.
We did not use due diligence in reading the small print of the takeover documents.
This lack of scrutiny enabled CFBT to legitimately remove the £3,500,000 reserves we had saved for future capital works, which was used by other less prudent schools in CFBT’s academy chain.
CFBT were again, quite legitimately, able to replace the Local Governing Body with their own paid employees who would no doubt do what their paymasters tell them.
Since CFBT took over SJGS, inspections/reports by OFSTED/HMI show little or no progress has been made to improve standards which led to CFBT being told to divest itself of SJGS and others by DFE/RSC.
Why, when CFBT are deemed not to have the competency/capacity to run SJGS, are they allowed to emasculate the Post 16 Centre and change the name from SJGS to Spalding Academy without any public consultation?
Where is the £3,500,000? How can it be right to allow unelected, non local people, decide the future of Sir John Gleed School?
These are my personal views as an individual and I in no way speak for my fellow dismissed governors.
Chris Schofield
Pinchbeck
