Hanson Academy: How Delta are rapidly transforming the school
After 11 years of this “orphan school” waiting for an academy sponsor to turn it around, Delta Academies Trust (Delta) secured the deal and completed the academy conversion in July 2022. Trust leaders are now rapidly transforming its teaching, finances and culture.
Hanson school had received three “inadequate” ratings between 2011 and 2020, and was on its 5th headteacher. Revelations about its multi-million pound deficit became a predictable annual local news story.
Delta’s CEO, Paul Tarn, commented:
“I was watching (schools minister) Nick Gibb getting grilled by a select committee, saying ‘what are you doing about this Hanson School’?” “I said – we’ll sort it out.”
Bradford council “did a great thing, they bought out the attached sports centre”.
Bradford spent a reported £1.3 million to end a decade-old contract that “significantly” hampered Hanson’s finances through “costly” annual charges, according to the council.
Mike Pollard, a Conservative councillor and finance spokesperson:
“Until that was sorted, no chain would touch Hanson with a bargepole”.
Paul Tarn said the school’s deficit was crucial, and mainly reflected another issue. “It’s over-staffed, and staff aren’t in the right places.”
The first priority was slashing its deficit by restructuring and not backfilling staff. 18 teachers left last year, with no compulsory redundancies. Teams were now “fit for purpose”, saving about £1.4 million.
Trust-wide curriculum resources and innovative marking policies “really free up teachers”, limiting workload.
Since the conversion, there has already been huge investments including £100,000 on books, £130,000 on uniforms and £1 million on IT, from digital whiteboards to replacing decade-old laptops.
An ex-teacher claimed 35 colleagues left in one year. Ofsted highlighted poor attendance and behaviour in its 2020 report, much as it had in 2010.
Dave Hewitt, Executive Principal at Hanson Academy commented:
“When we came in, no one could teach – pupils were running around. We counted 140 kids in the corridors.”
Andy Barnett, Delta’s Executive Principal, said improving learning rested on first setting new “standards and routines”. From clampdowns on uniforms and littering to continually praising positive behaviour and sending pupils to Trust-wide events.
Every pupil’s progress was now tracked and reviewed to target support.
Home visits over absence have been ramped up, with 1,500 reported since September.
Andy Barnett added:
“[Since Delta have stepped in] The caretakers can’t believe how little litter there is. Dinner ladies can’t believe how respectful kids are. Staff appreciate our CPD, and they’re buying into what we’re doing.”