Two Swindon schools are set to change ownership later this year. 

Both the Deanery Academy and the Kingfisher primary school and nursery in Wichelstowe were being run by the Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust. (DBAT)

But following a damning Ofsted inspection of The Deanery which resulted in the DBAT agreeing to transfer ownership of The Deanery to another trust, along with the primary school that shares the same site, the trust confirmed it would be ceasing to exist. 

It has now been announced that the Park Academies Trust, which already manages a number of schools in Swindon, will be taking these two educating settings on. 

The move will come into effect in September this year. 

The Park Academies Trust was the Department for Education's preferred choice to take on the inadequately-rated secondary school because of its 'strong record in school development.'   

The process of transferring the Deanery and Kingfisher to a new Multi Academy Trust has taken almost six months and has been carried out in close consultation with the Department for Education (DfE) and the DfE’s Regional Director for the South West. 

James Nicholson, interim CEO of The Park Academies Trust said: “We are delighted to welcome the Deanery and Kingfisher as the latest schools to join our Trust and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for pupils, families and staff.

"We are a Trust with a proud sense of community and family at the heart of our ethos and we know we can grow stronger together. We look forward to extending the support and resources which benefit all of our schools to the Deanery and Kingfisher as well.” 

Stephen Mitchell, CEO of the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust, added: “It is important to us all at the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust that the Deanery and Kingfisher schools both continue their journeys to grow and flourish, within a Trust that will do the best for the pupils and the community that the schools serve. 

"We are looking forward to continuing our work in the coming months, with our colleagues in The Park Academies Trust, to ensure a smooth transition”

The move has also been welcomed by both Kelly Osborne-James, the interim headteacher of The Deanery and Sharon Bishop, headteacher at the Kingfisher. 

Mrs Osborne-James said: “We are delighted to be joining The Park Academies Trust as the Deanery CE Academy continues its journey of rapid improvement."

Ms Bishop added: "The Kingfisher family is delighted to begin a new chapter in our story with The Park Academies Trust. We look forward to introducing everyone to our incredible learners, parents, carers, staff and community."