Two of the borough’s struggling academies will be forming a multi-academy trust with two flourishing schools in an attempt to improve practices, it has been confirmed.

FROM NOVEMBER 2015: Struggling Hampton and Twickenham Academies seek help from flourishing Teddington and Waldegrave schools

Before Christmas, the Learning Schools Trust (LST), who had been operating Hampton Academy and Twickenham Academy for five years, announced it was seeking “alternative governance arrangements” after achieving disappointing exam results and scathing Ofsted reports.

Waldegrave and Teddington schools were approached and LST will withdraw its sponsorship of the two academies now the multi-academy trust has been confirmed.

Both Hampton Academy and Twickenham Academy were given a “requires improvement” from Ofsted during their most recent inspections.

The new governance arrangements will begin from September 2016 and LST chief executive Steve Bolingbroke said it was a very exciting time for the two academies.

Mr Bolingbroke said:“This is the beginning of a journey that will see both academies transformed to provide an exciting, challenging, supportive and caring environment and offering life changing opportunities for students.”

John Wilkinson, Teddington School head teacher, said: “There is a real opportunity to help Twickenham and Hampton Academies continue their improvements whilst at the same time developing and strengthening secondary provision.”