A TROUBLED Portland academy may have found a permanent solution to get it back on the right track and prevent more children suffering a 'sub-standard' education.

The governors of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA) have agreed to join the Aspirations Academies Trust from September 2017.

However Aspirations will start providing support to IPACA in their role as a teaching school after the Easter holidays.

IPACA has been working with the office of the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) for the south west, the Department for Education and Dorset County Council since last year to find a permanent solution for the future of the academy.

As reported it received a damning Ofsted report and headteacher Joss Hayes resigned. Gary Spracklen has now taken over as acting principle.

A letter was issued to parents are carers of IPACA students on Tuesday by the chairman of governors, Catherine Shaw.

She said: "It has become clear to us from discussions with the RSC and with Ofsted that it is in the best interests of the children of Portland to find a multi-academy trust (MAT) that has experience of improving schools like IPACA and is committed to building a presence in the region.

"We are going through a period of significant change and standards are slowly improving, but the current arrangements are not stable in the medium to long term. 

"IPACA needs a suitable partner, which can bring the skills and resources that the school can't provide itself, in order to rapidly improve and prevent more children suffering from a sub-standard education."

Aspirations already runs three academies in Dorset as part of its south coast district. They are Jewell Academy Bournemouth (primary), Magna Academy Poole (secondary) and Ocean Academy Poole (junior).

The trust has a proven track record of achieving rapid and sustained school improvement in the primary, secondary and post-16 phases. Three of their 12 primary and secondary academies are already rated as outstanding by Ofsted. 

Chief Executive at Aspirations Academies Trust, Steve Kenning, said: "The Department for Education was looking for a good, local trust who knew the area well.

"Aspirations has outstanding Ofsted reports for our schools in Bournemouth and Poole.

"We aim to support IPACA through this difficult period and get them to the next stage. 

"There are lots of businesses on the island so we want to work with employers to ensure that students are employment ready.
"We want every child on the island to have a great education."

Mayoress of Portland, Sandy West recently visited IPACA to see the school first-hand under the new leadership of acting principal, Gary Spracklen. 

Cllr West visited the school on Red Nose Day and had the opportunity to speak to students and staff about the changes being made to rapidly improve the academy. 

She said: "I was very impressed with the passion and commitment of Gary to the school and to the children.

"There is a long way to go before the school is everything it should be but I now feel that this school can and will pick themselves up."

Speaking about the visit, Mr Spracklen, said: "It was a pleasure to share the positive steps being taken to raise standards and improve outcomes for all learners."

Mr Spracklen extended an invitation via Cllr West to welcome Portland Town Council for a tour of the school. 

He added: "I want as many people as possible to see first hand the hard work, dedication and commitment being shown by students, staff, parents and the wider community to bring about real change.

"The school acting alone will only make small steps of progress, it's a whole community approach that will make the real difference."