Wiltshire schools face uncertainty as DBAT Trust pulls out

The decision follows an 'inadequate' rating by Ofsted for the Deanery Academy in Swindon

Twelve schools are facing uncertainty because the organisation running them is to cease operating.

The Diocese of Bristol Academy Trust (DBAT) currently runs seven schools in Swindon, four in or near Chippenham and one near Malmesbury.

Parents have been informed other trusts will now be found to take over.

The Chair of Trustees at the academies trust, Nigel Daniel, said it followed an 'inadequate' rating from Ofsted.

The issues began when the Deanery Academy in Wichelstowe in Swindon was given the lowest possible rating by Ofsted inspectors in September 2023, with failings across several areas.

In an email to parents, Mr Daniel said: "The [Ofsted] judgement led to a termination warning notice being issued to DBAT from the Department for Education (DfE) which advised that they were minded to re-broker the Deanery to another multi-academy trust.

'We are sorry'

"The DfE have now confirmed that it will [be re-brokered]. We are sorry that this is the result.

"We remain committed to ensuring the strong progress made in the school over recent months carries on, at pace, as we work with the trust that will take the Deanery into their family of schools."

Mr Daniel added: "As a result of the inevitable changes to the financing of the trust as a result, and after a detailed review of how we could continue to support our remaining schools, the Trustees have also reached the decision to start the process to transfer all DBAT schools to other multi-academy trusts and cease the operation of DBAT.

The Deanery CE Academy received an 'inadequate' rating across three of the four criteria monitored by Ofsted

"This decision has not been taken lightly but has been taken with children at the heart of it."

The trust said it could not yet confirm when a new trust or trusts would be confirmed, or when the timetable for the transfer of schools might begin, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

"We anticipate that this will develop at pace throughout the remainder of this academic year and we will ensure that you are provided with regular updates. The transfer is not expected to result in any changes to your school staff structure. "

The trust currently runs the following schools:

• The Deanery CofE Academy, Swindon

• Kingfisher CE Academy, Swindon

• Lydiard Millicent CE Academy, Swindon

• St Leonard's CE Academy, Swindon

• South Marston Cof E School, Swindon

• Tadpole Farm CE Primary School, Swindon

• Ridgeway Farm CE Academy, Swindon

• Christian Malford CofE Primary School, Chippenham

• St Peter's CofE Academy, Chippenham

• Sutton Benger CofE Primary School, Chippenham

• Seagry CE Primary School in Chippenham

• Walter Powell CofE Primary School, Great Somerford near Malmesbury

DBAT was also given planning permission just weeks ago for the school it was going to run in the Redlands New Eastern Village.

That planning permission remains valid, and whichever organisation decides to take on the school will not have to make any further application.

But it is uncertain what will happened regarding the school.

The Department for Education, Dioceses of Bristol Academy Trust, The Deanery Academy and Swindon Borough Council have been approached for comment.

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