Academy Trust Directors Resign

The Board of Directors at the diocese of Leicester Academies Trust have resigned en-masse

It follows a meeting between the Trust and Bishop of Leicester yesterday concerning Swinford Primary School.

Parents say they have lost confidence in the trust and its board over the proposed redundancy of the headteacher for financial reasons which has prompted a series of protest marches.

Bishop, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said: “Church of England Primary Schools are facing unprecedented funding challenges but we are committed to keeping our small rural schools like Swinford open in the heart of their local communities.

“ I have continued to advise DLAT (Diocese of Leicester Academies Trust) to listen to the views of the community in order to inform decisions.

“I asked DLAT Directors to meet me to seek reassurance that they are ‘serving both Church and community’ and acting in accordance with the vision and values of the Diocese of Leicester, and these resignations follow that meeting.

“Given these disappointing developments, both I and our DBE are supporting DLAT Members who are now acting to appoint new DLAT Directors to give fast and effective interim leadership in order to prioritise the best interests of the Trust’s 14 schools, and to make every effort to listen to the views of the community in order to inform their decisions.

“We will ensure that regular updates on leadership for DLAT’s schools and opportunities for the local community to be heard are communicated in coming weeks.