Sir Herbert Leon Academy

The academy is named after Sir Herbert Leon, and became an academy in September 2012. On the site there is also the Leon Leisure Centre which has facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness centre and sports pitches. There is also an Arts & Media Centre, which has facilities including a public library.

Originally Leon Secondary School, the school moved to a new location and re-opened as Leon Comprehensive School in March 1971.[1] D.B. Bradshaw was the headteacher of the school in the 1970s[2] and early 1980's, and from then to 2003 the headteacher was Bruce Henry Abbott.[3] From 2003 to 2004 the headteacher was Stephen Pam and from 2004 the headteacher was Simon Viccars, who became the first Principal when the Leon school converted to become Sir Herbert Leon Academy in 2012.[4] From 2014 The executive Principal was Jane Herriman[5] but when her academy (The Duston School) left the Academies Enterprise Trust Gill Salver was appointed by AET as a consultant Principal from Easter 2015, with Dr Jo Trevenna as a head of school[6] Mrs Salver was previously an acting Principal in Northampton.[7]

In 2013 Sir Herbert Leon was one of 26 schools which closed in Milton Keynes due to a NUT/NASUWT strike which disrupted the education of students.[8] Sir Herbert Leon Academy is one of the 100 schools identified by OFSTED as having dropped an OFSTED grade since becoming an Academy.[9]

Cells coloured red represent 5 GCSE A-C (including English and Maths) results which are below the minimum standards expected by the Government floor target,[14] or an OFSTED grade which indicate standards need to be improved or a Department for Education letter which states that standards are 'unacceptably low' at the Academy. Cells in darker grey indicate data for a period of time in which the Academy was not part of the Academies Enterprise Trust network.

In 2014 OFSTED commented on standards stating

Students, particularly the most able, have not reached the standards they are capable of, particularly in mathematics... Students’ GCSE examination results have not been good in a range of subjects, including science, humanities, and design and technology.[12]

Commenting after the 2014 exam results, Martin Post, the DfE School's Commissioner said

the Secretary of State considers that the standards of performance at Sir Herbert Leon Academy are unacceptably low and likely to remain so... The results are significantly lower than the national averages. They are also lower that the 2013 results and lower than results at the school that preceded the academy.[13]

Since that criticism of the 'unacceptably low standards' at Sir Herbert Leon academy; results in 2015 got worse, as the table above show. The Academy cites its own summer 2015 exam results as slightly higher than the data above, taken from the DfE statistical first release, as the Academy states that 19.6% of students gained 5GCSEs A-C (including English and Maths).[15] However even that figure represents a worsening of standards from the previous year. The Academy also recognised that those exam results were not good enough as it includes the need to improve in its key values statement which reads as follows

At Sir Herbert Leon Academy we are continuously seeking improvement. We focus on excellence...[16]

In 2014 Sir Herbert Leon Academy began offering A levels for the first time. OFSTED stated about sixth form standards

The sixth form requires improvement because not enough students make good progress in all the subjects they study. They do best in work related subjects."[12]

Previously sixth form education was offered in collaboration with Lord Grey School. Titled "Milton Keynes South Sixth Form", and qualifications were taught over both school sites. The opening of the Sixth Form coincided with the period of time in which GCSE exam results at Sir Herbert Leon fell below the minimum standards expected by the Government. Sir Herbert Leon Academy summed up results in 2015 by stating that

Many students at Sir Herbert Leon Academy achieved the top GCSE grades in English and Maths. However, we know that the academy still has a great deal of work to do if we are to ensure that we make required improvements.[15]

The Academy trained 350 pupils in British Heart Foundation resuscitation training[17]

The Academy introduced an art exhibition to sell off pupils GCSE art work. The Academy was predicting top grades prior to the summer 2015 exam results and students work was highly praised.[18] In 2012 the school introduced a Biomass heating system which improved the green footprint of the school.[19]

Academies Enterprise Trust support for Academies at the local level is led by the AET Regional Director of Education (known as a RDE). The 2014 OFSTED report about AET explained that ‘some academy leaders said that there was too much variability in the support and challenge offered by Regional Directors employed by AET.'.[20]

Since 2013 the AET Regional Director of Education at Sir Herbert Leon Academy has been Richard Bassett. He was also a member of the Management Board in 2014 and 2015, which replaced the previous Governing Body.[21] Since 2014, the Chair of the Management board raising standards at Sir Leon Academy has been Louise Soden.[22]

Commenting on the support provided by the Sponsor when Sir Herbert Leon academy was supported by Jane Herriman and her Outstanding Academy The Duston School, OFSTED wrote:

The academy sponsor, through the appointment of the Executive Principal, has ensured that the academy has robust monitoring and the access to a wide range of additional expertise from her outstanding school... The academy sponsor plans to establish a management board to maintain the pace of change and increase the level of challenge, so further strengthening the good quality leadership and management.[12]

However The Duston School carried out a parental ballot and chose to leave the Academies Enterprise Trust network on 1 March 2015. The Duston School originally wanted to retain its link to Sir Herbert Leon Academy but AET did not support the proposal[23]

Martin Post, the DfE Regional School's Commissioner criticised the Sponsor, Academies Enterprise Trust because

1. The sponsor has not presented a clear enough picture of how it proposes to support the academy. 2. There is not enough clarity about the future leadership of the academy and the other partners providing support to the academy beyond the short term: 3. The academy development plan does not sufficiently focus on how the achievement for all pupils at Sir Herbert Leon will be improved and sustained in the longer term."[13]

• Sir Herbert Leon Academy Website