Parents and pupils are being invited to meet the new head of a Swindon school as it joins a new trust.

An open evening at The Deanery Church of England Academy will let the community meet Jon Young, who recently took over as executive principal.

It will take place on Thursday, September 26 between 5:00 and 7:00pm. 

The Deanery opened in Wichelstowe in 2019 and was recently transferred to a new trust in September 2024, The Park Academies Trust (TPAT), after the Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust (DBAT) closed.

Jon Young said: “The Deanery has only just joined the family of schools within The Park Academies Trust and so it’s a fresh start for all of us and we have ambitious plans for the future.

“We’re looking forward to making everyone feel very welcome at our open evening. 

“Staff and pupil ambassadors will be delighted to show prospective parents around the classrooms to see all the facilities, resources and examples of the great work our students produce.”

The school for children aged 11 and 16 has made a series of changes since it was rated ‘inadequate’ in 2023 by Ofsted.

The trust it was originally part of, the DBAT, closed with the school transferred to TPAT in September 2024, the same month Jon Young joined as executive principal.

Mr Young was previously the principal at Abbey Park School, in Blunsdon Saint Andrew, which is also managed by TPAT.

A new head of school will be appointed in the next academic year.(Image: TPAT)

At the time of the announcement, 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 designated as failing by local authorities.

A Deanery spokesperson said: “The school blends a rigorous academic programme with a focus on the whole child and offers outstanding opportunities in sport, leadership, and the creative and performing arts.”