City of London Corporation to sponsor Highbury Grove School

The City of London Corporation has promised to protect Highbury Grove School’s inspiring record in arts and music as it agrees to become its official sponsor.

The City Corporation approved plans to sponsor the Islington secondary school subject to an agreement about the school’s future resources.

Highbury Grove School would form part of the City of London Academies Trust.

Under the plan Highbury Grove would close on 31st August 2017 and reopen on the same site on 1st September 2017.

The school would be non-selective, non-denominational, free to attend and open to both boys and girls.

The City of London Academies Trust aims to build on the school’s inspiring creative and musical offering by providing access to outstanding education, cultural and learning opportunities in partnership with major City of London Corporation institutions.

It is planned that the current Principal of City Academy Islington, Clare Verga, would take over as Executive Principal of City Academy Islington and Highbury Grove from September 2017, providing expert leadership to both schools, assisted by soon to be installed Heads of School in each Academy.

Appointed as Principal to City of London Academy Islington in 2012, Clare has transformed the fortunes of the Academy, leading it to become the 15th best school for student progress in the country.

The City of London Corporation is an experienced academies sponsor already sponsoring, or co-sponsoring, five academies across Hackney, Islington and Southwark.

Across all City academies 77% of students achieved 5A*-C with English and mathematics.

The progress eight scores show that the City Corporation’s Hackney and Islington academies are in the top 15 schools out of 6,300 in the country for student progress.

They are all judged good or outstanding by OFSTED and the group is ranked as the top multi-academy sponsor in the country for pupil progress.

Mark Emmerson, CEO of The City of London Academies Trust said:

“I am delighted to be welcoming the school and its students into the City of London Corporation family.

“The City Corporation is committed to providing access to excellent education and learning opportunities for children and young people.

“The school already has an inspiring record for the arts and creative subjects and this is something we will continue to build on as well as raising academic achievement.

“We will work closely with Islington Council, parents and the leadership of the school throughout the period of transition to ensure high-quality future provision on the site from September 2017.” 

The City of London Academies Trust continues to deliver high-quality education to help enrich and inspire students to reach their full academic and personal potential. It is opening four academies this September in Islington, Hackney and Newham.

ENDS