Atlantic Academy

Atlantic Academy is a secondary free school situated in Bucks Cross in Bideford, Devon, England. It has 131 pupils as of June 2017, and its current principal is Lynsey Slater. Jordan Kelly, the school's former principal, left in November 2017 for unknown reasons.[1]

Atlantic Academy
Location
Bucks Cross, Bideford
,
Devon
,
EX39 5DW

England
Coordinates50.99549°N 4.404°W / 50.99549; -4.404
Information
TypeFree school
Established2013
Department for Education URN146567 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalLynsey Slater
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
Enrolment131 (June 2017)
Websitehttp://www.atlantic.academy/

Establishment

The school was founded as Route 39 Academy in 2011 by local parents and was established as a state school in September 2013.[2]

School site

The school was temporarily situated in Clovelly Primary School's former building in Higher Clovelly.[3] It relocated to new purpose-built premises with a 700 pupil capacity in Steart Farm, Bideford in September 2018.[4] Plans to build the new site in this location were initially rejected by Torridge District Council; however, the decision was overruled in February 2016.[5][6]

Ofsted and rebranding

The school was first inspected as Route 39 Academy by Ofsted in May 2015, which concluded it 'Requires Improvement' although some areas were rated 'Good'.[7] A subsequent inspection in June 2017 however graded it as 'Inadequate' in all areas. The school also attracted criticism for deciding not to enter any of its Year 11 pupils for GCSE examinations in 2017, deeming the cohort "neither academically ready nor sufficiently mature or resilient" to take them.[8][9][10]

Following the 2017 report and former principal Jordan Kelly's unexplained departure later that year, the Launceston College Multi Academy Trust assisted with the running of the school to raise standards.[11] In April 2018 it was revealed that all of the school's governors had resigned.[12]

The school was renamed to Atlantic Academy at the start of the 2018/19 school year, and remains part of the Launceston College Multi Academy Trust.[13]

References
  1. "Route 39 Academy Principal leaves school". North Devon Gazette. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Route 39 secures new temporary school site at Higher Clovelly". North Devon Gazette. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Route 39 Academy for 700 pupils rejected by planners". BBC News. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  6. "Devon council will not challenge Route 39 Academy plan". BBC News. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  7. https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2488413/urn/139816.pdf%5B%5D
  8. https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2713407/urn/139816.pdf%5B%5D
  9. "Devon free school rated inadequate by Ofsted in all areas". BBC News. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  10. "Free school fails to enter any year 11 pupils for GCSEs because they are 'not mature enough'". The Independent. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  11. "This is how Devon's first free school aims to pull itself back from failing". Devon Live. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  12. "Governors quit failing Devon free school Route 39". BBC News. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  13. "Devon school changes its name after 'inadequate' Ofsted report and takeover". Devon Live. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
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