News

Mike Gibbons appointed Chief Executive of troubled Richard Rose Federation

Mike Gibbons has been asked by the Schools Minister, Jim Knight to take over as Chief Executive of the Richard Rose Federation in Carlisle.
The Federation provides the strategic management for The Richard Rose Morton and the Richard Rose Central Academies, which were opened barely six months ago. Following a damming Ofsted report, and amid protests from parents and pupils, the 1600 pupil academy was put in to “special measures".

Brian Scowcroft of the Richard Rose Federation said:
“The aim of the Federation remains to put our schools into the top 25% in the country – clearly we cannot do this alone. I see the Ofsted report as a helpful and positive step along the road to achieving our goals. While we would have preferred not to be the subject of special measures we believe that this will help drive forward our progress.
I have absolute confidence that we now have the right person to lead the Federation and to bring about rapid improvements at the Central Academy. There are many exciting and positive things already happening at the Central Academy and it is very important that we work closely with all members of the school community to quickly establish a school of which we can all feel proud. Everyone in the Carlisle community needs to work together to improve the future for our young people.”

Mike has significant experience in school leadership. He has led four large schools, three in the Midlands and the North and then became Principal and Chief Executive of a 3-18 International School in Brussels with students from 65 different countries.

Mike, former head of the Innovation unit said "what we are trying to do now is ensure that our local community and by that I mean the children, our parents, our staff, people who have got an interest in these schools are now working together so it becomes their plan not someone else’s".