TWO crisis-hit secondary schools will be taken over by a new multi-academy trust from September.

The Philip Morant School, in Colchester, and The Colne Community School and College, in Brightlingsea, both run by The Thrive Partnership Academy Trust last month entered into a ‘re-brokering’ process.

The Regional Schools Commissioner’s Office invited a number of suitable Multi-Academy Trusts to express an interest in taking on the schools.

Yesterday, Thrive bosses announced both schools will fall under the wing of the Sigma Trust, which already includes seven schools.

It will also taken on the new Paxman Academy, which is being built on the former Alderman Blaxill School site in Colchester.

Neil Gallagher, principal at Clacton County High School, will continue in his role as Interim Executive Headteacher at The Colne School until The Sigma Trust is ready to appoint a permanent headteacher.

At Philip Morant, Scott Holder will be appointed as the Interim Executive Headteacher from September.

Mr Holder is currently the Co-Headteacher at Stanway School and will be stepping down from that role at the end of the summer term.

Jeff Brindle, chief executive of Sigma, said: “The expansion of The Sigma Trust to include the two Thrive schools and the new Paxman Academy will establish a strong bond of secondary schools in the Colchester and Tendring area.

“All schools will retain their own individual identities and ethos but will benefit from the extensive support and collaboration that can be achieved across all of the academies.

“This will enable us to obtain the best possible outcomes for all students.”

Neil Jones, chair of the Thrive Trust said he was pleased the future of the two schools had been “settled”.

Gazette: Plans will be unveiled today for a new academy trust to be formed in Colchester which will be led by Mr Nardeep Sharma, the new head and Catherine Hutley who is the head of Philip Morant (will be part of academy trust), on Monday at Colne Commmunity Scho

The decision for the Thrive trust to re-broker was voluntarily instigated by the board of four trustees who were brought in to help after the schools’ leaders Catherine Hutley and Nardeep Sharma were suspended in March.

The reasons have not been confirmed. The legal transfer of the schools will occur later in the year.