THE decision to hand a troubled school to the White Horse Federation has been defended by a senior councillor following suggestions of mismanagement.

Councillor Fionuala Foley, the cabinet member for children’s services and school attainment, stood by the decision to allow the WHF to take over the running of St Luke’s as it acquires academy status.

Back in February, it was reported that the council had agreed to give £800,000 to the WHF for vital repair works which need to be made to the school.

Labour’s Jim Robbins, ward member for Mannington and Western, asked Coun Foley why such a maintenance backlog had been allowed to build up and asked if other schools in the borough were in the same position.

“How can we possibly give these children a good education if that much money needed to be given to the WHF?” he said.

St Luke’s is a special school that in 2016 was placed in special measures by Ofsted. When a community school is placed in special measures, it is required by law to become an academy. The WHF are the school’s sponsors who currently manage it on behalf of SBC.

Of the £800,000 requested, £245,000 will be handed over prior to the completion of the academy conversion process “to allow the WHF to commence immediate capital improvements to the school”.

The remaining £555,000 cannot be drawn down until the WHF formally take the school into their academy chain.

Explaining the £800,000 sum, Coun Foley explained that the nature of the school meant that it received more than its fair share of wear and tear.

She said: “There are pupils there who have serious temper issues and there are doors and walls that have been kicked in. Unfortunately, it gets more of a battering than other schools.”

She insisted that other schools were not in the same position and stressed the unique circumstances surrounding St Luke’s.

Another problem, she said, was the fact that the school had had a number of different headteachers within a relatively short space of time.

“When there are a lot of changes with different headteachers coming and going, it can be very hard, and I think they have actually coped with those changes rather well.”

But, she said, the decision to hand the school over to the WHF was the right one because of the federation’s “commendable record”.

“They have the expertise and I very much believe in the WHF ethos.”

She has previously described the school’s transfer to an academy trust as “essential”, deeming it the best thing for pupils, staff and parents.