Local councillors are campaigning to bring Stantonbury International School back under the leadership of the local authority.
Stantonbury International School, formerly Stantonvury Campus, was taken under the leadership of the Griffin Trust in 2016.
The school has since experienced a decline in standards, safety, and pupil performance, which led to an ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted report in 2020 and Government funding being removed from the trust to run the school.
The school also gained national media attention in January 2020 after a schoolboy was stabbed by a fellow pupil, and had to be treated at Milton Keynes Hospital.
The MK Labour Group, which Stantonbury Ward councillors are a part of, claims that whilst under leadership by the Griffin Trust the number of students at the school declined from 1,834 to 1,391.
Milton Keynes Council has been vocal about wanting to regain leadership of the school, and now councillors are "demanding action".
The Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services has written to the Regional Schools Commissioner requesting an apology for the "devastating" effect the management has had on local students and families, and is once again requesting leadership be transferred to the council.
Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families, said: “It is clear that the decision to place Stantonbury International School under the management of the Griffin Trust has had a significant and detrimental effect on the school and its students. I remain extremely concerned about another unknown, remote Multi Academy Trust who is not familiar with Milton Keynes, running the school.
“Ensuring all children have access to a good school remains a priority for Milton Keynes Council. By bringing it under leadership of the Local Authority we have the capacity, experience, skills and knowledge to drive forward improvement at pace, and have the ability to make specific and systemic improvements to restore confidence in the school and improve outcomes for its pupils.
“We want the best possible outcome for all students in Milton Keynes and don’t want to see one of our biggest schools continue to fail under poor academy leadership. My hope is that we can bring it under our leadership and see it improve and thrive again in the future.”
Cllr Martin Petchey, Labour Councillor for Stantonbury Ward, added: "Stantonbury school was a leading example of progressive learning. The decline since it has become an academy is huge. Local parents are worried and want action. The only reason this school isn’t being returned to MK Council is Conservative ideology being put above what is right for young people.”
