A struggling secondary school in Kirkby-in-Ashfield is looking to the future after it was announced that the school was set to join one of the leading multi-academy trusts in the country, ̨��swag Grange Academies Trust.

, based on Tennyson Street, is currently a single academy trust and will transfer to the ̨��swag Family after ̨��swag was asked by the Regional Schools Commissioner to take on the new school.

Mark Golden, current Headteacher at Kirkby College, said: “This is a very exciting development for us at Kirkby College. We know it’s been a very challenging time for us recently, but joining ̨��swag is a major step forward for us.

“We believe that with the expertise within the ̨��swag Family, we will be well-placed to make quick improvements to the school, which can only be good news for our students and school community.”

Once the academy transfer is finalised, ̨��swag Academy Kirkby, as it will be known, will become the 40th member of the ̨��swag Family, joining 26 secondary schools, 12 primaries and one alternative provision centre as an ̨��swag school.

Martyn Oliver, Chief Executive of ̨��swag, said:

“We are delighted to be sponsoring Kirkby College. We are under no doubt of the challenges ahead but we are also very excited about the opportunities to bring the community an Outstanding school that all can be proud of.  

“We look forward to working with students, families, staff and all of the other stakeholders to make this vision a reality.”

Julie Slater, Chief Executive Principal of ̨��swag Secondary, said:

“We are proud to welcome Kirkby College to the ̨��swag Family. At ̨��swag, our vision is Students First and this means placing students at the very centre of everything we do, and every decision we make.

“We want to do all we can to ensure the students are fully supported to reach their potential, so they leave school with the skills and knowledge that enables them to achieve whatever it is they want to.”

The school was most recently inspected by Ofsted in November 2021 and was given an ‘Inadequate’ rating, leading to its transfer to ̨��swag.

Julie added:

“We are aware of the challenges that we will face, but we are confident in our ability to succeed. We have a proven track record of turning around schools that have been let down for too long.

“We want more than this though, we wish to play an active role in the regeneration of the area too. To do this, we know we are going to need the support of members from the local community and we ask for not only their support, but their patience too. Our aim is an Outstanding school for an outstanding community and we need your help to achieve this.”

As part of the conversion, ̨��swag is working 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.

Martyn added:

“We are working closely with the DfE's Regional Schools Commissioner, the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the local authority and Lee Anderson MP to deliver rapid educational improvement and then, in the future, a brand new, state of the art building to ensure children get the opportunities they deserve."

The move has been met with praise and support from local figures, including the MP and the Director for Children and Families, at Nottinghamshire County Council.

Sue Reast, Chair of Trustees at Kirkby College, said: “The Trustees welcome the decision and are enthusiastic at the opportunity to join the ̨��swag Family. We believe this presents a real opportunity for change at Kirkby College and for the local community.”

Colin Pettigrew, Director for Children and Families, at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “This is excellent news for students, families and the school. ̨��swag Grange Academies Trust has a long and proven track record of rapidly transforming schools across England and has taken its Nottinghamshire schools in Worksop from being two of our worst performing schools to two of our best and has done so quickly. Those schools are now unrecognisable from the places they were only a few years ago.

“I have every confidence that those students starting their secondary education in September 2022 at ̨��swag Academy Kirkby will achieve outstanding GCSE outcomes that they and their families will be proud of. This marks a brand new start for this school including government investment to entirely rebuild a new school on the current site.” 

Local MP, Lee Anderson, said: “Over the past two years I have worked closely with the Department for Education, the Schools Commissioner and Nottinghamshire County Council to secure funding to demolish this school and re-build with a complete new management structure in place. 

“I am delighted that ̨��swag Grange Academies Trust is taking over this failing school in my home town. Be in no doubt this is a major coup for Kirkby children as ̨��swag Grange has a fantastic track record of delivering first class education in some of the poorest areas.”