Atlantic Academy

Atlantic Academy
Location
Bucks Cross, Bideford
,
Devon
,
EX39 5DW

England

50°59′44″N 4°24′14″W / 50.99549°N 4.404°W / 50.99549; -4.404
Information
TypeFree school
Established2013
146567 Tables
OfstedReports
Principal
Claire Ankers
GenderMixed
Age11 to 18
Enrolment262 (February 2023)
Websiteatlanticacademy.uk

Atlantic Academy is a secondary academy situated in Bucks Cross in Bideford, Devon, England, and part of Athena Learning Trust. It was founded as Route 39 Academy, a free school. It has 262 pupils as of February 2023, and its current principal is Claire Ankers.

History

Founding

The school was founded in 2011 by local parents as Route 39 Academy, a free school, It opened in September 2013, and was the first free school in Devon. The heads of other secondary schools in North Devon opposed it as an unnecessary expensiture of government funds, but Michael Gove, the then Secretary of State for Education, spoke in favour of it.

The school was temporarily situated in Clovelly Primary School's former building in Higher Clovelly. Purpose-built premises with a 700-pupil capacity were constructed at Steart Farm in Bucks Cross, Bideford. Plans to build the new school in this location were initially rejected by Torridge District Council, but the decision was overruled in February 2016.

Ofsted inadequate rating and rebranding

Ofsted first inspected Route 39 Academy in May 2015 and concluded it 'Requires Improvement', although some areas were rated 'Good'. However, a subsequent inspection in June 2017, when the school had 131 pupils, graded it as 'Inadequate' in all areas and placed it in special measures. One reason for the rating was that the school decided not to enter any of its Year 11 pupils for GCSE examinations in 2017, deeming the cohort "neither academically ready nor sufficiently mature or resilient" to take them.

Following the 2017 report and principal Jordan Kelly's unexplained departure later that year, the board of governors engaged Launceston College Multi-Academy Trust (now Athena Learning Trust) to assist with the running of the school to raise standards. The board's appeal against the Ofsted rating was denied, and in April 2018 the entire board resigned in objection to the takeover by the multi-academy trust, writing in a resignation letter that the trust's "traditional approach ... is ideologically opposed to that of the Route 39 founding vision".

The school was renamed to Atlantic Academy in August 2018, reopening that September in its new building. Ofsted rated the school 'Good' in February 2023, and in October 2023, now an academy, it was ranked most improved in Devon for GCSE results.

References

  1. ↑ "Atlantic Academy - Our School". Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Route 39 Academy - About Us". Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  3. 1 2 Joe Bulmer (13 March 2018). "This is how Devon's first free school aims to pull itself back from failing". Devon Today.
  4. ↑ "Heads 'campaign to close Devon Route 39 free school'". BBC News. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Michael Gove: Route 39 free school 'will provide more choice'". BBC News. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 Joel Cooper (8 June 2018). "We cornered Michael Gove on the failing Devon free school where all the governors quit". Devon Live. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Sarah Howells (20 May 2013). "Route 39 secures new temporary school site at Higher Clovelly". North Devon Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "The School Site". Route 39 Academy. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Route 39 Academy for 700 pupils rejected by planners". BBC News. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Devon council will not challenge Route 39 Academy plan". BBC News. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  11. ↑ https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2488413/urn/139816.pdf[permanent dead link]
  12. ↑ "Devon free school rated inadequate by Ofsted in all areas". BBC News. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Rachael Pells (27 July 2017). "Free school fails to enter any year 11 pupils for GCSEs because they are 'not mature enough'". The Independent. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Joe Bulmer (30 November 2017). "Free school principal leaves in mysterious circumstances". Devon Live. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Governors quit failing Devon free school Route 39". BBC News. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Joel Cooper (9 August 2018). "Devon school changes its name after 'inadequate' Ofsted report and takeover". Devon Live. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Atlantic Academy". Ofsted. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "Atlantic Academy is the most improved school in Devon for GCSEs". North Devon Today. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2026.