A troubled Swindon school rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted has a new executive principal in charge.

The Deanery CE Academy has faced concerns over fighting, drugs and knives, raised by a former teacher there.

Jon Young will be the new executive principal of the Wichelstowe school - as well as another Swindon secondary at Abbey Park - from September 2024.

The interim headteacher Kelly Osborne-James leaving at the end of the summer term. A new head of school will be appointed in the next academic year.

Mr Young said of his new role: “I’m delighted and honoured to be taking on this new executive principal role. 

“By working together, two schools can grow stronger together and we aim to deliver the best education to all our pupils at both schools. 

“The Trust has a proven track record of school improvement and I look forward to meeting staff, parents, carers and pupils at The Deanery to discuss our ambitions for the future.” 

The Deanery opened in 2019 under a different trust, the Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust.

It was given the lowest possible Ofsted rating in 2023, stating pupils "do not receive an acceptable standard of education” and "are not well prepared for life in modern Britain".

The report found staffing issues, “gaps in the curriculum”, attendance issues and poor communication with parents leading to a feeling of “mistrust”.

A Deanery teacher at the time, Bazil Solomon, described removing a knife from a pupil and locking down the classroom.

He said: "Boys are taking drugs and kicking doors of classrooms and disrupting lessons."

he added: "A boy punched and kicked a student in his head and punched teachers, the teachers and parents complained to me and I raised it via the parents to the police but the student is still walking around the school.”

He described a mass brawl between 23 students and said: “Children tell me they don't feel safe.”

Echoing the Ofsted report, he said many full-time staff members had left with the report saying vacancies are often filled by temporary staff with frequent leadership changes.

He added: "The new headmaster and large growing supply teacher department are doing their best but are under severe pressure as things are chaotic and unmanageable."

Following the Oftsed report, the Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust announced it was ceasing to exist. 

It and the Department for Education agreed to transfer the school to new ownership and management.

The school will join The Park Academies Trust (TPAT) in September, which already runs six schools and a sixth form college.

Mr Young was previously principal at Abbey Park School, which is also managed by TPAT. TPAT said Young brings a “wealth of experience”.

Abbey Park School is said by TPAT to have gone from “strength to strength” under Mr Young’s leadership, being rated 'good' by Ofsted.

Jon Ward will be the new head of school at Abbey Park.

James Nicholson, interim CEO of The Park Academies Trust, said: “Mr Young is the perfect choice to take on the new role because he brings proven leadership and clear objectives - that will benefit all staff, pupils and families at both schools.

“We look forward to the Deanery, the latest school to join TPAT, seeing the benefits of being part of the Trust with Mr Young as executive principal.”

An executive principal is the name given to a substantive or strategic headteacher of more than one school in the UK.

The role was first introduced in 2004 by Tony Blair to allow headteachers who had been classed as outstanding to take over the leadership of schools that had been designated by local authorities as failing.