From September Uplands Community College in Wadhurst will be joining Beacon Academy in a multi-academy trust.
A letter to parents before the end of term set-out the leadership arrangements for the two schools.
Anna Robinson, Beacon’s Headteacher will lead the Trust as Executive Headteacher, and for the first year David Callard, one of Beacon’s Deputies, will support her at Uplands. The Trust will be advertising for a Head of School for Uplands Academy early in 2023, for a September 2023 start. Keith Slattery will become Head of School at Beacon Academy.
The Government have long made it clear that they want the academy trust system to continue to grow. Over 50% of pupils in state-education now study in academies. The Governors at Uplands have been considering strategies that would secure the school’s future for some time and since last year have been consulting with parents, staff and other stakeholders about the proposed partnership with Beacon.
Information on Beacon’s website explains the rationale for the change and you can download a copy of the letter updating parents.
The name of the Trust has recently been changed to MARK Education Trust (formerly Beacon Community College Academy Trust). The acronym MARK stands for Motivated, Ambitious, Resourceful, and Knowledgeable. The Department for Education have to formally approval the conversation to an academy.
Click for more information about multi-academy trusts.
