Athena Learning Trust to dissolve: Launceston College and other schools to switch trusts

Parents at Launceston College have spent months raising concerns about SEND provision, discipline and school culture. Those concerns have now led to the trust running the school being wound up altogether.

What has been decided

Trustees at Athena Learning Trust have agreed to dissolve the trust and transfer Launceston College and the other schools within it to alternative trusts. The decision was taken following an extraordinary meeting, and trustees will now work with the Department for Education to identify which trusts will take the schools on.

The Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, Ben Maguire, has welcomed the move, calling it “an important step forward for pupils and parents”.

How the concerns were raised

Over recent months, Ben Maguire has met concerned parents, students, representatives of Athena Learning Trust and officials from the Department for Education after receiving reports of serious issues relating to SEND provision, wider school culture and student punishments. He raised the matters directly with the Secretary of State for Education.

Those meetings followed an earlier statement from the MP when it was announced that the Trust’s chief executive, Ben Parnell, would be stepping down. At that point, Ben Maguire said concerns around SEND, the culture of discipline and other systemic issues had been put to the senior management team, and that serious concerns around suspensions and other matters had persisted despite continued work with the College and the Trust.

What the MP has said

“This is a significant step forward for Launceston College, and one that concerned parents and pupils that I’ve met have been calling for,” Ben Maguire said.

“I spoke with many of these families over the last year who shared really quite worrying experiences, and I’ve worked to ensure their voices were heard at the highest levels in Parliament.”

He added: “While there is still a long way to go, this decision certainly represents progress. I want to thank everyone who came forward to share their experiences, and I know how hard the impact has been on them affected by problems at the College.”

What happens next

Athena Learning Trust’s trustees will work alongside the Department for Education on the transfer process. Ben Maguire has said he will keep working with pupils and parents, the Department for Education and other representatives throughout, “to make sure students receive the highest quality education and support”.