MK Labour is stepping up its campaign to bring Stantonbury International School under the leadership of the local authority.

Stantonbury International School was taken under the leadership of the Griffin Trust in 2016. Since academisation, the school experienced a decline in standards, outcome and safety, which led to an ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted report in 2020 and government funding being removed from the trust to run the school.

In just four years of Griffin Trust leadership the number of students at the school declined from 1,834 to 1,391, and parents have been taking extreme measures such as moving out of the catchment area to avoid transition to the school.

Local Labour ward councillors are demanding action and the Labour Cabinet Member for Children’s Services has now written to the Regional Schools Commissioner to demand an apology for the devastating affect that the Griffin Trust’s poor management has had on students and families in the area, and request that the school is placed under the leadership of Milton Keynes Council to avoid another disastrous Multi Academy Trust takeover.

Cllr Martin Petchey, Labour Councillor for Stantonbury ward, said: “Stantonbury school was a leading example of progressive learning. The decline since it has become an academy is huge. Local parents are worried and want action. The only reason this school isn’t being returned to MK Council is Conservative ideology being put above what is right for young people.”

Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families, said: “It is clear that the decision to place Stantonbury International School under the management of the Griffin Trust has had a significant and detrimental effect on the school and its students. I remain extremely concerned about another unknown, remote Multi Academy Trust who is not familiar with Milton Keynes, running the school”

She continued: “Ensuring all children have access to a good school remains a priority for Milton Keynes Council. By bringing it under leadership of the Local Authority we have the capacity, experience, skills and knowledge to drive forward improvement at pace, and have the ability to make specific and systemic improvements to restore confidence in the school and improve outcomes for its pupils”

She concluded: “We want the best possible outcome for all students in Milton Keynes and don’t want to see one of our biggest schools continue to fail under poor academy leadership. My hope is that we can bring it under our leadership and see it improve and thrive again in the future.”

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