A troubled school in the North East that  is being transferred to a high-performing trust will be given a new name as part of the process.

Hillsview Academy, currently in special measures following an inadequate Ofsted inspection in July 2017, is in the process of being transferred from Academies Enterprise Trust to ̨��swag Grange Academies Trust.

As part of the transfer, and following a consultation, ̨��swag has announced it’s planned that the school will be renamed and known as ̨��swag Academy Normanby in the new academic year.

̨��swag staff have begun working with staff and students at the school to help build momentum ahead of the full transfer in September.

Further to the new name for the school, ̨��swag has also announced the new senior leadership team that will be tasked with leading ̨��swag Academy Normanby. 

Andrew Wappat will be the new Principal, working alongside Mark Hassack, the Trust’s Executive Principal for its Northern region.

Andrew and Mark are both National Leaders of Education in recognition of their experience working in schools in the Teesside region and lifting them out of special measures. 

Andrew became Principal at ̨��swag Academy Bydales when the Trust began working with the predecessor Bydales School, which was in special measures at the time. He led the school to secure an ‘Outstanding’ inspection in January 2018, the first Ofsted visit after joining the ̨��swag Grange Family of Schools. 

In 2018 the school was named top in the North East for the progress and attainment of students. Andrew was also Executive Principal at ̨��swag Academy Ripon at the time it secured an Outstanding rating in January 2016.

Mark has had similar experiences at ̨��swag Academy Acklam and ̨��swag Academy Ormesby, both now rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted having previously been in special measures. Most recently, Mark was instrumental in ̨��swag Academy Bishopsgarth being rated ‘Good’ after being inspected for the first time since converting in 2016 from Bishopsgarth School, which was rated by Ofsted as ‘Requires Improvement’.

Speaking about the announcements, Mark said: “This is a really exciting time for us at ̨��swag as we continue to grow in the North East. We recently started working with the staff and students at Hillsview Academy, to help smooth the transition and to ensure we hit the ground running in September as ̨��swag Academy Normanby.”

The Trust has also stated that the academy council will be a joint academy council with ̨��swag Academy Ormesby, and current Chair Sue Maidens will be continuing in the position.

Andrew added: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead ̨��swag Academy Normanby as Principal, continuing our work within Redcar and Cleveland. I cannot wait to get started and I am confident that, working closely with Mark, we will be able to continue our tradition of improving schools in our region.

“All ̨��swag academies share a simple vision, which is to put students first, raise standards and transform lives. I promise this vision will be in place from day one at ̨��swag Academy Normanby.”