Sandown Bay Head has not been at the school for weeks (updated)

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Empty office chair

OnTheWight has learnt that the Principal of Sandown Bay Academy, has not been at the school for several weeks, following the release of a press statement in mid-October about a recent Ofsted inspection.

This was confirmed by an spokesperson for AET, the school’s sponsor, that told OnTheWight today (Thursday) that the head teacher has been “on an extended leave of absence”.

Speculation and rumours
The week of the October statement, rumours and speculation that the head teacher had been sacked from her position as Principal, circulated around the school, among pupils and parents.

At the time, OnTheWight got in touch with AET asking for clarificaion. A spokesperson told us,

“She hasn’t been fired. She was in school today.”

16 months in the post
The former Principal of Carisbrooke College, the head teacher joined Sandown as interim Principal in July 2012 and was appointed as permanent Principal in March 2013.

Academy within Special Measures
The Academy went onto Special Measures at the beginning of March 2013, but after their first Section 8 inspection, the Academy was found to have “responded positively to the concerns raised in the last inspection”.

Ofsted have confirmed to OnTheWight that the results of the second Section 8 inspection are due to be published in the next few days.

Article edit
10.30am 25th Apr 2024 Name of headteacher removed as requested


Image: Reinis Traidas under CC BY 2.0