JUST three months after a damning Ofsted report sparked the resignation of headteacher Ceri Evans at Corringham's Gable Hall school and a series of events that led to the suspension of the head of the education trust running it, the entire trust's future is in jeopardy.

That has huge implications, not just for Gable Hall, but for Hassenbrook Academy and Corringham Primary, the other two schools run by the Ortu Federation.

It has now been decided by the government's Department for Education (DfE) that the plan put together by Ortu to restructure and rebuild the trust and the reputation of Gable Hall is not good enough.

Thurrock Nub News had been told by informed sources within Thurrock Council that it was looking at the Catalyst Trust as a preferred candidate to take over, but those hopes appear to have fallen by the wayside.

Instead the DfE's regional says either the Osbourne Trust which runs St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope, the recently opened Thames Park secondary (as well as Brentwood County High School) and a number of primary schools; or the Harris Federation, which runs 52 secondary and primary schools nationally, including in Chafford Hundred and Purfleet, take over Gable Hall. 

That is a prospect that has alarmed members of the Ortu Trust and its new acting CEO, Kevin Sadler, who believe local students and parents are now in danger of being short-changed by the government.

Mr Sadler, the highly-respected former CEO of the Gateway Learning Community in Chadwell and Tilbury, took over from suspended Dr Sophina Asong last month.

He has today (Monday, 10 October) written to parents expressing his and the Ortu Trust's concerns about the decision to replace it at Gable Hall. He and colleagues at Ortu believe the plan is suspect because if Harris takes over – they only want Gable Hall and that will leave its other two schools vulnerable.

And, if the Osbourne Trust take on Gable Hall, says Mr Sadler – parents in the east of the borough will have little choice and one trust will have a monopoly on secondary education in the east of the borough.

In his letter to parents Mr Sadler says: "Following the recent Ofsted inspection of Gable Hall, the Regional Director [RD] who represents the Department for Education, has decided the school should be transferred into another Trust in a process that is called 'brokering'.

"The decision of which Trust rests entirely with the RD.

The RD should act in the best interests of children, families, staff and the school itself to identify a Trust with the resources and expertise to address the concerns raised by Ofsted.

"!This will enable the school to access support and opportunities which Gable Hall could not provide as a stand-alone school. I was informed on Friday, 7 October by DfE officers that they have selected two potential trusts: The Harris Federation and the Osborne Trust.

"Our trustees have expressed concerns regarding both of these choices.

"Harris has expressed an interest only in Gable Hall, which will leave the remaining schools in the Trust vulnerable.

"Trustees are also concerned that, if Osborne is invited to take on all three Ortu schools, parental choice in the area will be limited as Osborne will have a monopoly over secondary provision in the east of the borough.

"Trustees have been given the option to propose a third Trust and are rapidly exploring options. While they do this, we would like to hear your views.

"We have established a brief survey which provides an opportunity for you, your child and staff to express their views about the DfE's current proposals.

"Frustratingly, the DfE has set an extra-ordinarily tight deadline of Thursday 13 October for responses from the Trustees.

Who will be walking through the front door to take over Gable Hall?

"I would therefore be grateful if you would complete the survey by Wednesday at 9am to ensure we can reflect your views in our formal response.

"I, along with our Trust Board Chair, Georgina Clark, will hold a Facebook Live on Gable Hall's page this Tuesday (11 October) at a time to be confirmed later today, where we will try and answer any questions you might have about this process and share our views in more detail.

"If you are unable to make that time, please feel free to submit your questions throughout the day to [email protected] and we will answer them.

"If you are unable to join us online, our Facebook Live videos will be saved and available to rewatch on our Facebook page later that evening [subject to Facebook's usual process).

"While we might not have the answers to everything, we are taking our responsibility to communicate with you directly and timely seriously, and where we are unsure, we will do our best to come back to you quickly.

To complete the survey, follow the link: https://forms.gle/aYrxoj9hbXdafj2f6

"The DfE has confirmed that the future of Hassenbrook and Corringham Primary will remain the responsibility of the Ortu trustees, however we are working very hard to try to persuade the Regional Director to keep the three schools together by finding a suitable Trust that will ensure that all three will thrive.

"I will write to you again soon, and thank you for your continuing support."

One factor not mentioned in any published item, but which is sure to figure in calculations, is that as schools go, Gable Hall is relatively well-placed financially and its Trust (Ortu) owns considerable land assets in the area.

Some of that land was previously the subject of speculative planning schemes including the provision of a new 'Corringham village' on the school's playing fields. That scheme was provisionally supported by the now defunct Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and has support within the corridors of planning power within Thurrock Council, so whichever trust or organisation takes control of Gable Hall, could have more than just education to consider.

Concern has been expressed internally with the Ortu Trust that outside influences might have other reasons for taking over, hence it is considered that a possible new Trust, based on local education priorities alone is the best option.