Trust's executive head vows to help turn Coventry's Whitley Academy around - The Coventry Observer

Trust's executive head vows to help turn Coventry's Whitley Academy around

Coventry Editorial 15th Jan, 2021   0

THE EXECUTIVE headteacher of Finham Park Multi Academy Trust has vowed to help improve Whitley Academy which has recently been integrated into the organisation.

Mark Bailie, who has been in education for 30 years, is a National Leader in Education and previously helped three schools get out of special measures, set out his plans in a joint letter to parents with Whitley head Kathryn Wright.

He welcomed parents and pupils and said: “We are proud to be locally based and our schools are from the broadest contexts in the city.

“We value kindness, respect, teamwork, honesty, integrity and enjoyment and we aim to nurture all of these in our students while they are learning at school.




“All our schools enjoy ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted ratings and we will work together with everyone at Whitley to ensure rapid improvement over the next 12 months.

“There are some fantastic teachers and students at the school and a real sense of excitement about the future!”


Whitley Academy was graded inadequate after its last Ofsted inspection in January last year.

Finham Park Multi Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and now supports the work of four secondary schools (Finham Park, Lyng Hall, Finham Park 2, Whitley Academy) and three primary schools (Finham Primary, Pearl Hyde Primary, Lillington Primary).

It strives to provide a ‘world class’ education for all students in its schools.

Mr Bailie and Ms Wright are planning to form a shared vision for Whitley Academy and want to see the school develop a new specialism to reflect local,

national and international priorities and new subjects on the curriculum.

They also want to introduce more sporting activities, clubs and societies and ensure there is something to excite the mind of every young person who attends the school.

“Whitley has a bright future with your support and involvement,” they added in the letter.

A new Local Governing Body has been formed headed by Chair David Kershaw CBE, a local man who is experienced in educational improvement in the most challenging circumstances.

As a former headteacher of Coundon Court School, Mr Kershaw has a long association with the city.

Other governors have been co-opted by the Trust to reflect their local knowledge, and other specialities such as finance, safeguarding and inclusion, and school leadership.

And new parent governors will soon be sought for the school.

Anyone interested should email Finham Park MAT clerk Sam Jannaway at [email protected] for more information.

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