A NEW sponsor has come forward for a Colchester school.

Multi-academy trust South Suffolk Learning Trust will be the new sponsors of Colchester Academy from February after the Head Teacher Board of the Regional Schools Commissioner approved the proposal.

The trust already sponsors East Bergholt High School, Claydon High School, Claydon Primary School and Hadleigh High School which are all rated as good by Ofsted.

The search for a new sponsor came following the BBC Panorama investigation of Colchester Academy’s previous sponsor, Bright Tribe.

The programme looked into an allegation hundreds of thousands of pounds given by the Government had not been spent properly.

Councillor Julie Young had previously asked Essex County Council to take the school back under its new Essex Multi-Academy Trust.

Jenny Betts, principal at the school, said: “This has been a unsettling time for the children, parents and staff and I’m pleased we now have a secure future ahead of us.

“The team at South Suffolk Learning Trust has been supporting me in my new post since I joined the academy this term.

“We are an ambitious academy, striving for excellence and I am pleased a strong multi-academy trust will be with us on the next stage of our journey.

“I have previously worked with the senior leadership team at East Bergholt and know them to be committed to maximising the learning of young people and I look forward to a positive future for the academy.”

Sarah Skinner, chief executive of South Suffolk Learning Trust, said: “Colchester Academy is a perfect addition to our multi-academy trust as its values and ethos are so strongly aligned with ours.

“Our vision is excellence through collaboration and Jenny has been willing to work with us to share best practice and common aims since we started working together.”

Bright Tribe and its academies are now operating under a new board of trustees and interim executive leadership.

Angela Barry, Bright Tribe’s interim chief executive officer, said:

“This is an exciting new chapter for the school under a new multi-academy trust which will provide the pupils, parents and staff with the support, expertise and stability.”