Arden takes over failing sponsor school

ARDEN school has taken over direct management of a Birmingham school it has been a “light touch” sponsor of following concerns from education inspectors.

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Principal Martin Murphy is now also executive principal at Park Hall School, Castle Bromwich, north Solihull after it was put into special measures by Ofsted.

In a letter to Arden parents, he said “recent months have highlighted a number of issues” and Arden will “directly control the strategic leadership and management of Park Hall”.

He said principal Tony Morrison “has moved on” and Arden leaders will “challenge and support the senior team at Park Hall”.

Sponsors are appointed to “work closely” with underperforming schools, the Department for Education says.

Park Hall was last May congratulated by education minister David Laws for being one of the top 100 most improved in the country.

Mr Murphy said: “Our light touch partnership relationship has had to swiftly change and this will see me and some members of my senior team working at Park Hall a couple of days a week”.

Yet he blamed Park Hall’s problems on “changes to examination system and problems with the recruitment of good teachers”.

In a letter to Park Hall parents he said leaders have “reduced significantly the number of supply and agency staff and increased the support for students”.

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