Exams row school could be taken over by University of Wolverhampton

A school that is under investigation for alleged exam malpractice could be taken over by the University of Wolverhampton.

Moreton School in Bushbury was thrown into turmoil last week when headteacher Carl Williams was suspended over allegations he allowed a student to sit a GCSE exam the night before the rest of his class.

Today, the Express & Star can reveal that plans are in place for Moreton to be taken out of local authority control and be run by the university's Education Central Multi Academy Trust (ECMAT).

It is one of three secondary schools in the city that EMCAT is looking to take over.

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Bosses at the trust said the governing body at Moreton agreed to apply for academy status earlier this year and voted for ECMAT as its preferred sponsor. An application to the DfE was submitted in May.

Sir Geoff Hampton, director of ECMAT, said: "Moreton is certainly a school that we would like to work with.

"The request has been lodged with the DfE and at the moment the ball is in their court."

ECMAT is also looking to take over North East Wolverhampton Academy in Fordhouses and South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy.

Both schools are currently under the control of the City of Wolverhampton Academies Trust, which is made up of the university, City of Wolverhampton College and Wolverhampton City Council.

They were both given a rating of 'requires improvement' in their most recent Ofsted reports.

Sir Geoff said: "We have been working with both academies for the past 12 months with a view to improving results.

"If we can show that exam results improve then we will be applying to take over as lead sponsor. We feel we have worked well with the academies and want to take things a stage further."

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ECMAT already controls Smestow and Wednesfield High in the city, as well as The ACE Academy, Tipton and 10 primary schools around the West Midlands.

"We are committed to working with schools within the catchment area of the university," Sir Geoff added. "Our commitment is to improve results in schools across the city. There has been issues with the quality of education at both primary and secondary level in the area.

"We feel we can help to improve the situation."

Last week it was announced that an independent investigator has been appointed to look into exam conduct at Moreton School.

Mr Williams is suspended without prejudice while an investigation into the allegations continues.