A flagship turnaround academy trust set up to transform “the most challenging schools in the north” was lined up by government to sponsor a Midlands school two days after it was rated ‘good’.
It is one of more than 50 cases since 2016 in which ministers have U-turned on a forced academisation order.
In 2019 ministers unveiled Falcon Education Academies Trust with a remit to transform challenging northern schools.
Schools Week has learned that the Department for Education told West Gate School in Leicester that Falcon was its preferred sponsor in September 2021, and that the board had a “duty” to facilitate transfer.
