THE final secondary school in North East Lincolnshire to be converted to an academy has been given the go-ahead to do so.
The Department For Education has approved the proposal put forward by the Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Education Service to sponsor St Andrew's College, in Cleethorpes, as a Catholic Academy.
St Andrew's Catholic Academy will be operational from September next year, and will continue to welcome pupils from all communities, whether Catholic or not, and will offer a unique Catholic education in a smaller environment.
Principal Louise Wilson said: "I am delighted with the news that the proposal for St Andrew's College to become a sponsored Catholic academy has been approved.
"This decision affirms the strong improvement that has already begun at St Andrew's and secures a positive future for the college.
"I look forward to continuing to work with, and for the pupils and wider community of St Andrew's College, as the principal, as we embark on the next stage of our journey towards becoming an outstanding provider of faith-based education."
The college was inspected in September by Her Majesty's Inspector Jan Bennett, whose report recognised that the college was making rapid progress.
She wrote: "Leaders and managers are driving improvement at a quick and well-judged pace. They set ambitious and challenging targets that are raising the aspirations of both students and staff.
"Leaders do not shy away from tackling under-performance and have brought about considerable improvements in achievement, teaching, attendance, behaviour and safety.
"A comprehensive and targeted programme of professional development has led to widespread improvement in the quality of teaching and learning.
"Pupils say that teaching has improved dramatically – they also report that behaviour in lessons has improved enabling them to learn more effectively. Lesson observation evidence supports their views."
Gail Neill, director of education at the Diocesan Education Service, said: "Working in partnership with the service, St Andrew's Catholic Academy will continue this rapid improvement journey to become a 'good' and then 'outstanding' academy offering an inclusive, personal approach to the education of its students.
"Pupils at St Andrew's are members of a caring, disciplined and supportive community based on warm relationships and clearly understood values.
"At St Andrew's Catholic Academy every child will be known and valued as an individual and will be given every opportunity to achieve to their full potential."
