Yew Tree Primary School in Sandwell has won a landmark case in the High Court to stop the Department for Education forcing it to become an academy after being deemed “inadequate” by Ofsted.
In a judgment handed down on Friday (23 July), Gavin Mansfield QC said he had “grave concern” about several aspects of the decision and there was clear evidence from the school “of both continued efforts to improve and success in achieving those improvements” that appeared to have been disregarded.
The Judge concluded that the decision taken by the Secretary of State was “irrational” and therefore is quashed. This means that the Education Secretary needs to consider the decision again in light of additional evidence.
Although it doesn’t mean the Academy Order is automatically revoked, it means it must be considered again.
