CHANGES are afoot at Winterbourne International Academy.

No longer in financial trouble, stability has returned to what is, with 1,820 students, South Gloucestershire’s biggest secondary.

Last month saw the severing of the school’s ties to the Ridings Federation, with the academy formally admitted to the Olympus educational trust.

An Education and Skills Funding Agency financial notice to improve was also lifted.

CEO Dave Baker from the Olympus Academy Trust said: “I was contacted by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to confirm that the financial notice to improve had been lifted from the Ridings’ Federation in recognition of the work in the previous several months to re-structure the financial management and governance so that we are now in a position where we have an in-year balanced budget with a small surplus at the point of transfer from the Ridings’ Federation to the Olympus Academy Trust.”

With the dawning of a positive new era, the school has changed its name – from ‘Winterbourne International Academy’, to the simpler ‘Winterbourne Academy’. This decision was arrived at through consultation with students and their families. 

The school has been led on an interim basis by CEO Dave Baker from the Olympus Academy Trust and headteacher Peter Smart, on secondment from The Castle School Education Trust, since early 2017.

But after playing a key stabilising role as the interim principal during a turbulent time at Winterbourne, Mr Smart has decided that the time has come for him to return to his post in Thornbury.

He will resume his role there at the start of the new academic year in September.

“We are now advertising for a permanent headteacher to lead Winterbourne Academy from September. Interviews will be scheduled for mid-April,” said Mr Baker.

“I am in the process of re-locating with my Olympus team to Winterbourne so that we can add capacity and provide support during this time of transition.”

The Olympus team are now arranging for new branding and signage around the academy site and a new website.

The current shield will continue to be the academy logo. 

“Because the name is not very different, we will discuss with the local governing committee about most items of uniform continuing as at present with new items being available with the new academy name,” said Mr Baker.

“Once we have confirmation about the name and logo, we will arrange for new branding and signage around the academy site and a new website – currently in preparation – will be launched after Easter and will reflect the new branding as well. 

“None of this is a cost to the Winterbourne academy budget as it will be funded from money provided by the Department for Education to support the transfer from the Ridings’ Federation to Olympus.”