11 December 2017
Vara Secures Ministerial Meeting for Academy

Shailesh Vara MP today raised the desperate financial position of Sawtry Village Academy in Parliament.

The Academy, based in Sawtry near Huntingdon, is in serious financial difficulty due to previous mismanagement. The Academy’s former Principal was recently imprisoned for fraud on five separate counts, one count of misconduct in public office and two charges of fraud by abuse of position.

Mr Vara said the Academy was in serious need of additional funds and he sought a meeting for himself and representatives from the Academy with Minister for School Standards, Nick Gibb MP, to discuss the way forward.

Mr Gibb replied that he would be happy to have the meeting.

Following his question, Mr Vara said:

“Sawtry Village Academy is in desperate need of additional funds because of its ageing and dangerous school buildings which have now exceeded their usable lives.

It is important that the Academy is able to put forward its case at Ministerial level and I am very pleased that the Minister for School Standards, Nick Gibb MP, has agreed to meet with me and representatives from the Academy to discuss the way forward.”