News that schools inspectorate Ofsted are starting a 2-day inspection of Sandown Bay Academy tomorrow (Tuesday) has been welcomed by Councillor Chris Whitehouse, who leads on education for the Isle of Wight Council.
The Academy, which is currently under threat of closure by operator AET, has been served notice that inspectors will be inspecting tomorrow for 2 days (23rd/24th May).
Speaking today, Councillor Whitehouse says:
“AET have failed to invest the necessary resources in developing Sandown Bay Academy and were desperate to avoid this inspection which threatens to expose their failings. We have some great staff at the Academy, and fantastic pupils, but they won’t achieve their best with AET in charge, which is why we want them out and another operator brought in.”
Following a Motion passed unanimously by the Isle of Wight Council last Wednesday, the Council Leader, Councillor Dave Stewart, is writing to the Minister for Schools to ask that AET be removed from Sandown Bay Academy and from its other school on the Island, Ryde Academy.
Councillor Whitehouse has added:
“This inspection could not be more timely. It will help expose the inadequacies of AET.”
