School unveiled as academy

The Grove School, Balderton, starts a new era today when it is officially unveiled as Newark Academy.

The academy is sponsored by Lincoln College, which runs Newark College, with the aim of raising standards and encouraging more people to stay in the area for their secondary education.

Its creation follows a period of public consultation.

The college, rated as outstanding by Ofsted, will work with the school to try to support it in improving teaching and learning.

It was given a notice to improve in May 2010, and results have since picked up. It is hoped becoming an academy will help it continue to improve.

The college will share its expertise in human resources, estates, IT, students’ services, marketing and curriculum design.

The academy will also work with Newark College to broaden the range of vocational options it offers.

A new chairman of governors, Mrs Margaret Serna, has been appointed. She is currently chairman of governors at Lincoln College.

A new principal, Karine Jasper, has also been appointed.

She is the former vice-assistant principal of Darton College, Barnsley.

The acting head, Mrs Liz Hart, will resume her previous role as deputy head.

Mrs Serna said the aim was to continue with year-on-year improvements to results, with the ambition of achieving a good rating in the next Ofsted inspection.

She hoped by raising standards and improving the curriculum, the academy could help to stem the flow of pupils to schools outside of the area.

The academy will continue to be based in the existing buildings, which are undergoing refurbishment ahead of a rebuild scheduled for about four years’ time.