A Suffolk college which ran an under-performing school is unlikely to take over any more.

Work is now under way on Suffolk New College’s long-term future as it prepares its five-year strategic plan.

It set up New Academies Trust, took over Chantry High School and converted it to Suffolk New Academy in 2012.

But Ofsted placed the school in special measures and gave it an ‘inadequate’ rating in January following an inspection in late 2014. The school was previously rated as ‘satisfactory’.

A letter from Ofsted said the New Academies Trust board resigned in March with representatives from new academy sponsor, the Active Learning Trust, taking over the running of the school.

Mary Gleave, associate principal at the college, said: “Suffolk New College has recently appointed a new principal and is currently developing our strategic plan and vision which will shape what the college focuses on over the next few years. There are no current plans which the college is working on to sponsor an academy.”

A spokesman for the Department for Education, which monitors the performance of academy sponsors, said the college had agreed to withdraw from the school so a new organisation could be found to take over.

He added the department assesses academy sponsor applications on a “case-by-case” basis if any further bids were made.

“No child should spend a day more than necessary in an under-performing school,” he said

“Hundreds of schools are being turned around thanks to the help of strong academy sponsors – education experts who know exactly what they have to do to make a failing school outstanding.”

Suffolk New Academy became Chantry Academy when the Active Learning Trust formally took over the school last month.

This summer provisional GCSE results for students getting five A*-C grades, including English and maths, saw 46% get the grades, compared to 24% last year.

Viv Gillespie started as principal of Suffolk New College in June.

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