A NEW board of trustees has been appointed at a Penrith grammar school, after its proposed transfer to an educational trust was put on hold.

Following confirmation that the proposed transfer of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School to Changing Lives Learning Trust is to be paused to allow for a new consultation to be carried out, changes to the grammar school’s Board of Trustees have been announced.

With the exception of one parent-elected trustee, each of the remaining trustees is to step down, with new interim trustees joining the Trust.

It comes just weeks after parents expressed worry around the school's future following the publication of a report by the Education and Social Fund Agency (ESFA) - and the issuance of a 'notice to improve'.

READ MORE: Parents of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith respond to ESFA

Headteacher David Marchant said: “Having considered concerns raised about the previous consultation, and how best to conduct a new consultation, with the exception of one Parent Elected Trustee, each of the remaining Trustees has concluded that they should stand down and allow a new board to run this process.

"This is to ensure there is faith and confidence in a new consultation process.

“When it became clear that a number of trustees were preparing to stand down, I was asked by the Chair of the Trustees to begin to find a new, professional Board of Trustees with the skills and experience to support the school in an interim capacity until the requirements of the Notice to Improve have been fulfilled.

“I have worked with the Chief Executive of the Grammar School Heads Association (GSHA) and the Local Authority to identify a group of individuals who have relevant experience to provide Executive Leadership at this time.

"I am extremely grateful to each of them for agreeing to support the school at this difficult moment in its long history."

Martyn Worrall, chair of the outgoing Trustees, said: “The Board of Trustees has tried to act in the best interests of the school, and we continue to do so now by resigning and allowing a new board to conduct a fresh consultation.

"This will also ensure the school fulfils its legal obligations, including those set out in the Notice to Improve issued on October 21 2022.”

The new Trust Board will meet shortly, where their first order of business will be to elect a chair and then agree a timeframe for setting out and running a new consultation process.

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith set to join West Lakes Multi-Academy Trust