Plans for schools and college welcomed amid hopes for revamp
Plans to transfer the running of two schools and a technical college have been welcomed amid hopes a Forest of Dean high school will benefit from a Government-funded revamp.
The South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust (SGS) issued a statement to stakeholders earlier this week confirming they have been considering the future of their schools.
They are now planning to transfer Forest High School in Cinderford and Berkeley Green University Technical College in Berkeley to Greenshaw Learning Trust (GLT).
Under the plans, which they believe are in the best interests of pupils and staff, Pegasus School in Patchway, Bristol, would be transferred to Enable Trust.
They also said in the letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Forest High School is on an improvement journey and has already been working closely with and being supported by colleagues from GLT.
And that Berkeley Green UTC wis a highly successful technical college and will benefit from further collaboration with Greenshaw’s network of schools.
The transfers are subject to detailed due diligence and approval from the Department for Education and would go ahead by the start 2027.
Councillor Ray Donaghue (R), who represents Cinderford at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “It’s really good news to know actual plans are underway to change academy providers and get government funding for a new building.
“I hope they can be followed through as everyone has been let down before over this for too long.
“I have been told by people in the education system that the school buildings are in more need of investment and rebuilding than probably anywhere in the country. The fact it’s been left so long is really unfair and the community knows this.
“Getting through the process of changing the academy provider and the building grant process needs to be prioritised above other organisational interests for the sake of the pupils and future pupils so that we finally get the secondary school we deserve.”
Forest of Dean MP Matt Bishop set up a petition last month calling on the Government to urgently approve funding for a new building for Forest High School.
So far, more than 830 peple have backed the Labour MP’s petition.