CEO's Blog - 24th March 2023 Our Organisation... The weeks are flying by and we're nearly at the end of the Spring term, so here's a snapshot of life at every one of our schools and settings. We're growing all the time, but our offer remains the best in special...
Gallery
Our gallery shows a selection of photographs from across our Academy.
CEO’s Blog – 17th March 2023 – ‘Thank You!’
CEO's Blog - 17th March 2023 'Thank You!' Well, if you've been following the updates on social media this week, you might just have noticed that almost 100 of our young people have been lucky enough to travel to Disneyland Paris. A trip that started on Monday...
CEO’s Blog (10th March 2023)
CEO's Blog (10th March 2023) It was International Women's Day this week, and it was great to see our schools and settings marking the occasion with their activities and learning opportunities. Of course, we shouldn't only celebrate our women and girls for just...
We are looking for our next CEO…
We are looking for our next CEO... It's probably been the worst kept secret for a while, but I'm writing my blog this week to let everyone know that we are actively looking for the next CEO of the New Bridge Multi Academy Group and MAT. After many years working as...
CEO’s Blog – Student Voice (24th February 2023)
CEO's Blog - Student Voice (24th February 2023) A few weeks ago, before the half term break, I said I would be reporting on how we listen to the Student Voice across our MAT and wider Group. Well, this week, I'm able to do just that, as some of our schools and...
It was with utter dismay that I watched the BBC Panorama investigation earlier in the week. The programme exposed the financial irregularities associated with a small number of Multi Academy Trusts.
I always find it incredible disappointing when public money is (allegedly) misappropriated.
Our trust now supports 4 schools on 7 sites (soon to be 5 schools). We have a multi-million pound turnover. Our trust has a financial team that is audited both internally and externally. Our governors, trustees and directors are regularly appraised of our financial position. I am certain that our trust would never find itself in the position outlined by Panorama.
What angers me about schools and trusts not using funds wisely is the fact that the whole school system suffers.
I’ve been a head and a CEO for over 25 years and I have never known money to be so tight. I have blogged before saying that if our schools hadn’t formed a trust 4 years ago we’d be really struggling now. We are fortunate that by working together our schools can create economies of scale. This makes ‘balancing the books’ a little easier. We can all support each other. However, we are facing unprecedented challenges:
- limited money for capital investment
- teacher recruitment and retention crisis
- a growing number of young people
- a flat funding system (in the last 5 years we have lost over 14% of budgets in real terms)
- rising staff costs through unfunded government pay awards
- increased utility costs
- less grant funding available
At the same time we are expected to raise standards! There is a real tension in the system here. I firmly believe that my main role should be about raising standards for your children. I’ve spent most of the week looking at how we can save money!!
We’ll continue to innovate, we’ll continue to break down barriers, we’ll continue to offer outstanding provision. However, we need to lobby for greater investment into our schools and post 19 organisations. We can’t keep living on goodwill.
It’s the Head for the Hills music and arts festival this weekend – I may see some of you there. Have a great one,
Graham
You can find all Graham’s previous blog entries here
Location
New Bridge Multi Academy Trust
Roman Road
Hollinwood
Oldham
OL8 3PH
School Hours
Weekends: Closed
Phone & Email
0161 870 9386
info@newbridgegroup.org