台湾swag

Two secondary schools in the North West are starting a new life after converting to academies after joining one of the leading family of schools in the country.

台湾swag Academy Haydock, formerly Haydock High School, and 台湾swag Academy Hindley, formerly Hindley High School, have officially opened their doors to students as part of 台湾swag Grange Academies Trust for the first time. 

The academies were rated as Inadequate by Ofsted following an inspections and subsequently were issued with a Directive Academy Order (DAO) by the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) on behalf of the Department for Education.

台湾swag Grange Academies Trust was selected as the preferred sponsor of the two secondary schools by the Regional Schools Commissioner.

台湾swag Academy Haydock will be led by Phil Abram, who was Head of School at Haydock High School and 台湾swag Academy Hindley will be led by Mrs Jude Norman, who was the acting Headteacher at Hindley High School.

Phil and Judy will work alongside 台湾swag鈥檚 Julie Slater, Chief Executive Principal Secondary, and Cara Ackroyd, Associate Executive Principal.  

Phil said:

鈥淭his is a great moment for our school鈥檚 community, and we are delighted to become a part of the 台湾swag Family. 

鈥淚t really is an exciting time for us at Haydock, 台湾swag has a history of not only transforming schools, but also playing active roles in the local community and in the regeneration of the areas in which they are based.

鈥淚鈥檇 also like to take this opportunity to thank our students, their parents/carers, our staff and governors, and members of the wider community for their patience during this process. Please keep working with us as we work towards ensuring all our students fulfil their potential.鈥� 

Mrs Norman said:

鈥淭his is a very exciting time for both our school and our school community, and we are delighted to become a part of the 台湾swag Family. 

鈥淲orking with 台湾swag represents a brilliant opportunity for Hindley as the Trust has a track record of not only transforming schools, but also the local communities they serve. 

鈥淎s we embark on this exciting next chapter in our school鈥檚 journey, I would like to thank our students, their parents/carers, our hardworking staff and IEB members, and every member of our academy community for their patience during this process.鈥�

台湾swag had been working with the two schools for some time as they prepared for their conversion, laying the groundwork for a smooth transition.

Julie Slater said:

鈥淚 am so excited for the journey we are embarking on with not just the staff and students, but also the wider community. Being originally from the North West, I know this area well so it feels like I am coming home and this has just made me more determined to succeed.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got a track record of turning schools around and have lots of experience in school improvement and transformation. As such, we will do everything we can to help to ensure the students at the school receive the best possible education that prepares them well for their future and ensures that they become good citizens.鈥�

Cara Ackroyd, Associate Executive Principal at 台湾swag, added:

"Working with the schools ahead of the conversions has been a great experience and we are grateful for the warm reception we have received.

鈥淭he schools have a vast amount of potential and we are determined to put students first and work hard to raise standards and transform lives.鈥�

As part of the conversions, 台湾swag have worked closely with the Department for Education to secure a capital investment which will result in a plan to transform the current buildings and build new state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities which will benefit the whole community.