A PRIMARY school looks set to be taken over by an academy chain – whose director was an Ofsted inspector that helped kickstart the process.

Moulsecoomb Primary School was given the lowest possible rating by education watchdog inspectors – including Timothy Rome – after a visit in April 2019.

The damning report started a process which saw the government intervening to force the school off Lewes Road to become an academy.

The Argus: Moulsecoomb Primary School protest in 2019Moulsecoomb Primary School protest in 2019

Today it was announced The Pioneer Academy will take over the school. According to his Linkedin profile, Timothy Rome joined the multi-academy trust as regional director in September 2019.

Labour and Green councillors have reacted with anger and disappointment to the news, which has been opposed by the unions, teachers and parents.

The Labour Group said: “Not only will this decision pull Moulsecoomb Primary out of the Brighton and Hove family of schools, with the nearest Pioneer Academy Trust school being 27 miles away, but a Regional Director of Schools for Pioneer – Timothy Rowe – was one of the Ofsted inspectors who judged the school as ‘inadequate’ back in April 2019.

READ MORE: Ofsted praises Moulsecoomb Primary school amid academy row

“We are also concerned about the overall record of academies that are imposed on disadvantaged communities.

“We point to the recent Sutton Trust report that damningly found two in three academy chains are failing pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and 38 of the 58 academy chains performed below the national average for all state schools.”

Ofsted inspectors recently praised Moulsecoomb Primary for its work to support pupils during the pandemic, commending staff for supporting vulnerable pupils.

The Argus:

Staff continue to take strike action in response to the forced academisation, with the next date for strike action occurring next week.

Greens say the announcement represents a “significant failure” by government officials to grasp the community support for Moulsecoomb Primary.

Green Councillor Hannah Clare said: “The fight to prevent the forced academisation of Moulsecoomb Primary is far from over.

“This latest announcement only confirms how out of touch government decision-makers are with the needs of the community and the clear, vocal and evidenced wishes of the school, staff and pupils.

“Moulsecoomb Primary is a community school, well-rooted in the local area and with a strong understanding of local need.

"The school works hard to address disadvantage and support vulnerable pupils – work Ofsted has commended.

“In stark contrast, the Pioneer Trust’s ‘vision statement’ makes no real mention of addressing disadvantage, and runs 11 schools on a ‘top down’ basis, none of which are based in the local area.

“Moulsecoomb Primary already has the staff, community, council, union and parent support it needs to keep going from strength to strength – something the Pioneer Trust will never be able to match.

"We will keep fighting this decision all the way.”

The council’s children, young people and skills committee will meet next Thursday to discuss holding an additional parental ballot about academisation.

The previous ballot results indicated 96 per cent of parents were against an academy takeover.