In this section
- Vote in the European Parliament Elections on 4 June
- Council to fly flag for armed forces
- Rape alarms available from police and Council
- Organic garden opens its gates
- Poetry, comedy and literature at libraries festival this summer
- Music and nature at the Stables Gallery
- Views wanted on policies to guide future growth of borough
- Council team takes up the bike challenge
- Walk the Thames
- New Mayor reopens Teddington Library
- Free parking in Richmond upon Thames on Monday
- Personal alarms available from police and Council
- Learning the Kunskapsskolan way
- New affordable homes to be built
- Council seeks new co-sponsor for Shene
- Your vote could help Orleans House Gallery win the £100,000 Art Fund prize
- By the light of the moon
- Making parks even better
- Get Fit in Castlenau Recreation Ground
- Football Club scores with Council
- Employee Awards for Power Candidates
- CPZ review
- Eat al fresco in Church Street
- Olympic gold medallist trains Richmond rowers
- Join in the fun at Heathfield Street Party on 16 May
- Meeting of young minds to become annual event
- Council supports IDAHO
- It’s stitching, but not as we know it
- How can we cut carbon footprint?
- Supper with Shakespeare
- Free adult learning taster sessions in borough’s libraries 9-15 May
- Kick off the summer with the Power Employment flower show
- Outdoor swimming pool opens for summer
- Standards Committee member wanted by Council
- Find out about Council services at Richmond Fair
- Comment on Shopfront Design Guide
- Your say wanted on how extensions are decided
- Pupils get ready to grow their own
- Volunteers are supporting community
- Borough smashes tree planting target
- Exclusively Richmond
Release Date: 20/05/2009
Council seeks new co-sponsor for Shene
Richmond Council has responded to the long-awaited outcome of the investigation by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) into the running of Edutrust, whom the Council had previously selected as the co-sponsor of the proposed Shene Academy.
The DCSF found “significant concerns over the governance” of the Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust (EACT), including non-compliance with financial management requirements, insufficient governance arrangements, failure to address conflicts of interest and poor record-keeping.
Although the DCSF feels that EACT have now addressed these shortcomings, the Council no longer believes that Edutrust commands the confidence of local people. As a result, the Council will, with the input of local people, be seeking new co-sponsors to take the Shene academy forward, with a view to it opening in September 2010.
Nick Whitfield, Director of Children’s Services and Culture on Richmond Council, said:
“We are determined that every child in Richmond get the very best education and the Council remains fully committed to continuing to drive up standards in Shene, and all schools across the borough. We have always been clear that the sponsor of any new academy in the borough must have the confidence of the local community. Sadly, following the recent Government investigation, we do not believe Edutrust commands that confidence.
“With local partners, we will therefore be looking to find a new sponsor as soon as possible, so that we can work to make the proposed Shene academy become the outstanding school that the Council and local people wish to see.”
View the full press release