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The Bay CE School

The Bay CE School was launched in September 2018, after Sandown Bay Academy was closed and re-opened federated with The Bay Primary school.

Ministerial approval to close Sandown Bay Academy enabled plans to extend The Bay CE Primary to become an all through school from 1 September 2018 catering for students aged 4-16.

Sandown Bay Academy was one of six secondary schools on the Isle of Wight and was run as an Academy, by a privately held company, AET.

Below are the articles OnTheWight has written about it.

27, November 2013·1 min read

‘Fog’ surrounding departure of Sandown Bay Principal

AET insists to OnTheWight that Sandown's Principal didn't resign, but that directly contradicts a statement made by AET’s executive director for performance. Who should be believed?

15, November 2013·1 min read

‘Not enough progress being made’ at Academy says Ofsted

Inspector says that the Academy’s targets are being missed by an 'appreciable extent' and it is not making enough progress towards the removal of Special Measures.

7, February 2014·2 min read

‘Profits before pupils’ concerns for two Isle of Wight schools

Unions argue that putting profits before pupils is a dangerous decision that could affect jobs and services, but AET argue that 'efficiency savings' will be reinvested into their academies.

11, May 2018·1 min read

‘Substantial’ funding for Sandown Bay Academy repairs secured

Money has been found for repairs and a team of officers have visited the school to assess the state of the building.

15, December 2017·1 min read

34 people responded to consultation on secondary education in Sandown

Altering The Bay Primary to deliver provision up to 16 is a step closer. The council also reveal that only 34 people responded to the public consultation about changes to secondary education in Sandown.

30, March 2013·1 min read

Academies Enterprise Trust ‘barred’ by DfE from taking on new schools (updated)

The academy sponsor is told by Department for Education to improve results at their 66 academies, which includes two on the Isle of Wight.

22, July 2013·1 min read

Academy sponsor questioned over payments

An Observer investigation reveals that bosses at Academy Enterprise Trust (AET) have benefited from payments to companies they have an interest in.

31, March 2017·3 min read

AET Chief accuses Cllr Whitehouse of ‘continued misrepresentation of AET and the facts’ after latest attack

Julian Drinkall, the CEO of Academies Enterprise Trust, responds to what he calls Cllr Whitehouse's "continued misrepresentation of AET and the facts around Sandown Bay to the media" suggests future discussions "be held in a serious way".

4, February 2016·2 min read

AET comes under fire from Ofsted again

The Dept for Education certainly isn't very happy with AET at the moment. Their letters to them are becoming ever more stern, telling them to raise standards. Happily, Island their IW schools are on the way up.

25, May 2017·2 min read

AET launch consultation for planned amalgamation of Isle of Wight schools

Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), the organisation responsible for both schools, says it believes the new combined school has the potential to be truly outstanding to the benefit of students, families and the local community.

26, April 2017·2 min read

AET replace Sandown Bay Academy Governors with new management board

Following the resignation of the principal of Sandown Bay Academy this week, AET have announced they've replaced the board of governors with a new management board, with just the former Chair of Governors remaining.

28, March 2017·1 min read

AET should be ‘relieved of its responsibilities’ claims Cllr Whitehouse

Chris Whitehouse says AET should be 'relieved of its responsibilities' and replaced as sponsor for Sandown Academy.

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