Tag: Whitby School

Whitby School academy deal turned down due to location and geography, says Dept for Education

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

Plans to make Whitby School an academy were not progressed due to its location, the Department of Education has revealed.

Responding to questions from The Anchor, a spokesperson for the government department said the decision not to approve Whitby School’s conversion to an academy with The Wonder Learning Partnership (WLP) stemmed from the breakdown of a potential agreement between WLP and the Yorkshire Endeavour Academy Trust (YEAT).

It meant Whitby School would not be close enough to work with other schools, with geographical proximity being a key aim of the Department for Education’s (DfE) vision for school trusts.

The WLP is made up of four schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire and in 2025, WLP proposed a trust transfer with Yorkshire Endeavour Academy Trust, a six school primary trust based in Whitby.

However, WLP withdrew from this process in March this year.

The government’s Schools White Paper has previously set out expectations for collaboration between schools, local authorities and trusts with a vision for all schools joining or forming high-quality school trusts.

However, they would need to be geographically close enough to collaborate with each other and partner with other local services.

 A spokesperson for the DfE said: “Without the linked primary schools, the proposal for Whitby School to join WLP did not meet the DfE’s ambition for geographical coherence within the trust system.

“As the application for Whitby School to join WLP did not meet the DfE’s ambition for geographical coherence, it was not brought forward to a formal meeting of the Yorkshire and the Humber Advisory Board. This position was communicated to the local governing body of the school, local authority and the academy trust.”

Whitby School had been working with WLP since July 2024 but the arrangement will now come to an end this summer. The school has announced Julie Caddell will take over as headteacher from September.

Meanwhile, the DfE added it is working with the local authority and the local governing body to bring about the “continued improvement of Whitby School”.

The DfE has also recently announced Mission Coastal Scarborough which covers the former Scarborough Local Authority District, including Whitby School. 

Mission North East and Mission Coastal brings expert support into classrooms and new opportunities beyond the school gates for children and communities where “too many young people have been held back for too long, with persistently low results”.

The missions were announced by Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, last month and have been driven by stark data.

The national average score for exam results is 46.0. Disadvantaged pupils in the Scarborough region (which covers Whitby) scored around 27.

To make changes under Mission Coast, expert practitioners will work directly with leaders and teachers to build teacher capacity and raise standards. Schools will work together in local clusters, learning from each other rather than tackling challenges alone. 

Outside of school, the plan is to create partnerships with employers, sports clubs, faith groups and youth organisations to provide vital mentoring, careers support and cultural enrichment.

The government said it will, over time, look to form a wider alliance of other coastal areas with similar challenges, where children and families can benefit from the approach being taken in Whitby and Scarborough.

Interim head teacher appointed at Whitby School

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

Governors at Whitby School have appointed an interim headteacher to lead the school from the September term.

Julie Caddell, the current head of school, was selected following an advert and interview process.

It comes after the news the relationship between Whitby School and Wonder Learning Partnership (WLP) would not continue and the school would not become an academy as planned – leaving future plans and leadership in limbo with current executive headteacher David Perry employed by WLP.

Revealing the appointment to parents on Wednesday, the letter announcing Miss Caddell’s appointment said: “In light of recent developments surrounding the DfE decision regarding the school’s conversion to Academy Status, following an advert and interview process, we are pleased to report that Miss Julie Caddell will take over the position of Interim Headteacher from September 2026.

“Governors are committed to and recognise that stability in education and securing the best possible provision for the young people of Whitby is of utmost importance. Miss Caddell will continue to work with all stakeholders to build on the progress made during the last two years.”

The statement from governors went on to say the board was working to secure a long term solution for Whitby School.

The appointment comes the day after a public meeting was held at Whitby Rifle Club about the future of secondary education in the town.

Parents expressed concern about the quality of education, attitudes of staff and the lack of communication and accountability from governors and local authority.

Alison Hume, the MP for Whitby and Scarborough attended and said she would help parents in their campaign and has requested a meeting with the Department of Education (DfE) on the academy decision making process.

She said education on the coast has been forgotten and Whitby has been profoundly let down.

Education on the coast has been “forgotten” says Whitby MP as parents call for action

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

Whitby has been “profoundly let down” and education on the Yorkshire coast forgotten about, the town’s local MP has said in a slamming statement.

At a public meeting – held last night (Tuesday) by parents and education campaigners – Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby said she would help parents to get a better education for children in the town.

The meeting was called after plans for Whitby School to become an academy and join the Wonder Learning Partnership fell through.

No reasons for the failure of the deal have been given to parents or the press, despite repeated requests. Whitby School’s governing body also declined to attend last night’s event, held at the Rifle Club, to communicate with parents.

Ms Hume has requested a meeting with the Department of Education (DfE) – due to be held in the next couple of weeks – where she will quiz it on the academy decision making process.

She told the meeting: “I have heard a lot of terrible stories about education in Whitby since I have been the MP. My inbox is full of issues.

“I am upset about what I have heard, there is definitely a lack of accountability and leadership. I will ask the DfE, I will hold North Yorkshire Council to account and I have had several meetings with the minister of schools.

“The coast has been forgotten by the council for many years. Whitby has been profoundly let down. The community is traumatised by the closure of the school and the failure to deliver a good quality education.”

The MP went on to suggest handling of education matters was set to change.

She said: “The government will be taking a much more forensic interest in North Yorkshire Council. If they don’t perform across the county, not just the leafy bits, but here on the coast they will have the responsibility removed for delivering education. It is going to be different moving forward.”

Former head teacher David Bradley chaired last night’s public meeting on secondary education in Whitby. Tuesday May 5. Picture: Ceri Oakes

It was agreed at the meeting, chaired by former Eskdale School headteacher, David Bradley that a raft of questions and points for further information would be sent to the board of governors and education chiefs at North Yorkshire Council (NYC).

They include questions over why the academy take over was not progressed or the decision not appealed, what happens to work done by WLP so far, why there are gaps in publication of governor meeting minutes, what are the processes and criteria for selecting the next headteacher, what are local authority strategies for education in Whitby over the next months and when will they be made public.

Meeting organiser and parent Terri-Anne Jones, said: “We have 800 children, 1,000 with year six, going into the six week holidays in a black hole.

“We had this last year, my daughter went into year eight and for the whole of the summer didn’t know who her form tutor was or which classroom to walk into on the first day.

Parent Terri-Anne Jones who called last night’s public meeting on secondary education in Whitby. Tuesday May 5. Picture: Ceri Oakes

“Our children and their education is a ball being passed around with everybody saying ‘it’s not mine’.”
Ms Jones also expressed concern that if numbers on the school register continue to fall, there could be another school closure imminent.

She added: “We are in a merry-go-round. Two years ago we were told in a meeting, Eskdale was closed because there were 40 per cent surplus places which was bad for education and wasting money.

“Two years on, we are going through head teachers at a rate of knots and there is a 36 per cent capacity deficit, which is only four per cent off being where we were two years ago.

“Are we, in another couple of years down the line, going to be in a meeting where they try and shut another site because that’s where we are heading?”

There are around 80 pupils in the sixth form. The meeting heard many are opting to attend colleges in Scarborough and Middlesbrough instead as subjects they want to study, such as languages, sociology and media are being withdrawn.

Issues raised at the meeting about secondary provision also covered special needs requirement not being met, concerns whether suspensions and exclusions were legal, a year seven pupil wetting themselves after asking three times to go to the toilet and being told no, sarcastic comments to students with autism, and cases of pupils having three different form tutors in the space of a week.

A letter from the governing body, declining the invite to attend last night’s meeting, said it couldn’t get enough members there to make a quorate due to work commitments.

It went on to say: “We fully appreciate the call for communication following the recent decisions which have affected the school substantially. It must be reiterated that these events were not within the control of the school or governors.

“We do think that it is important to engage with the community at an appropriate venue and time that is facilitated by the school and governing body; this will need to accurately represent the wider Whitby School community voice. We are also engaging with the Local Authority about the future direction for the school and are at the very early stage of this process as the DfE decision has been very recent.

Parent Governor Ian Parkin gave a statement at last night’s public meeting on secondary education in Whitby. Tuesday May 5. Picture: Ceri Oakes

“We will navigate a path through this situation and develop a plan which will ensure a future for secondary education in Whitby. We will build on the work that has been carried out during these last two years whilst also ensuring that we protect our staff, students (especially those about to take exams) and our volunteer governors who give up significant personal time to support the school.”

Governors also asked if representatives from the meeting would offer constructive feedback after the event to inform a wider listening exercise.

Parent governor, Ian Parkin, did attend and said he wouldn’t be doing his job if he hadn’t turned up.

Mr Parkin said: “I did not join the governing body to sit in a corner and not stand up for the kids. They need and deserve an education that is fit for purpose. Is that happening right now, I don’t think so.

“Whatever happens from September, it is important the school has a long term vision because at the moment it is day by day and that is not working.”


Parents call meeting to get answers about future of town’s secondary education

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

A meeting of parents, governors, staff, pupils and the wider community has been called to discuss the future of Whitby School after academy plans fell through.

It was announced last week a deal to academise Whitby School with the Wonder Learning Partnership wouldn’t be supported by the Department for Education, and the relationship between the two organisations would finish at the end of August.

Parents and the school community have expressed concern about what happens next, so a meeting has been called to take place next week.

Education campaigners in town say they are frustrated by the collapse of the academy route and want to know what arrangements are being put in place for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Terri-Anne Jones, whose daughter is in year eight at Whitby School, raised the issue at the annual Town Assembly, held last Wednesday, and has since organised the meeting.

She said: “Parents are trying to communicate with school and don’t feel they are getting anything back and this is one of our frustrations.

“We hope we can create a dialogue with the governing body, and the plan for September they can share with us – or at least give us a clue as to what is going on.”

While the meeting has been driven by parents of current secondary age pupils, it matters to parents of younger children and the wider community and it is expected to be well-attended.

Terri-Anne added: “It is for all schools, primaries, nurseries, everyone. If we don’t sort it, it will affect year groups coming up.

“Families with kids in primary schools might think it is nothing to do with them, but it is. It is their future as well.

“I think we are going to get a lot of people attending this time.”

The meeting is on Tuesday May 5 at the Rifle Club. Doors open at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.

Education saga continues as latest academy plans for Whitby School fall through

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

A rallying call has been issued for people to get behind education in the town  – after plans for Whitby School to convert to academy status failed.

In a letter to parents, sent out on Wednesday, it was revealed the application for Whitby School to join the Wonder Learning Partnership had “not been supported”, in a move confirmed to governors by the Department for Education Regions Group.

As of August 31, Whitby School will no longer continue its relationship with the Wonder Learning Partnership, which has been providing executive leadership to Whitby School.

Richard Fluin, chair of the governing board, said the priority was now to make leadership arrangements with the support of the local authority, North Yorkshire Council, for September onwards.

In his letter to parents, seen by The Anchor, Mr Fluin wrote: “Following confirmation from the Department for Education Regions Group that the application for Whitby School to convert to academy status with the Wonder Learning Partnership has not been supported, the governing board has taken the decision not to extend the Memorandum of Understanding with Wonder Learning Partnership beyond its natural end date of 31 August 2026.”

In July 2024, WLP, which had been working with the then three Whitby schools since the previous term, announced Whitby School would be the new identity as the three sites became two.

This followed the closure of Eskdale School and its merger with Caedmon which had prompted strong opposition from parents and residents at the time.

Whitby School will no longer continue its relationship with the Wonder Learning Partnership. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Mr Fluin added: “I recognise that this represents a further change for our staff, pupils, parents and families, but would like to offer reassurance that the governing board is committed to ensuring stability and continuity across aspects of the school’s work during this period of transition.”

When new head and leadership arrangements have been made, Mr Fluin said they will be shared with parents in a further update and the governing body would be revisiting academisation “at an appropriate time”.

It is the latest blow to parents who have expressed concern about the future of education in Whitby for a number of years.

Speaking at the annual Town Assembly at The Coliseum on Wednesday night, Terri-Anne Jones, whose daughter is in year eight, appealed for councillors and the wider public to get involved in the fight to have a secure education system for current and future pupils.

She said: “This means the children who are in school will have their fourth headteacher in two years. When they amalgamated the two schools, we were promised stability, we were promised the kids would have specialist teachers, that it was the best for education in Whitby. 

“It has not happened, there is uncertainty. Teachers who don’t know who their boss is, a thousand pupils in school now and another 200 year six pupils coming up who will not get the best education.”

Ms Jones said Wednesday’s announcement had left parents frustrated and unsure what to do next.

She added: “We can take this as a reset. The community could have input under this re-start, but we can’t let the kids down anymore – this is the town’s future. 

“Let’s remind people, even those who don’t have children in the school that we all have a voice, we care about the town’s future.”

Darren Archibald said a crisis meeting needs to be called with representatives from the school, local authorities, parents and the wider public.

Mayor of Whitby, Sandra Turner who chaired the Town Assembly said ‘people power’ can make a difference, referring to plans to close Whitby’s Cliff Lift being put on hold due to public opposition and protests.

Coun Turner added: “It is a serious situation, we were all there when we were promised it would be better. 

“As a town council, we will be feeding things back. It is time for people to wake up, it is surprising how that can work – just look at the cliff lift.”

Wonder Learning Partnership and the Department for Education have been approached for comment.

Whitby Anchor