// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the star academy teacher say? You're a star student.
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| Founder | Sir (Mufti) Hameed Patel |
|---|---|
| Type | Academy Trust |
| Registration no. | 07353849 |
| Focus | Education |
| Headquarters | Shadsworth Rd, Blackburn BB1 2HT |
| Location | |
Region served | United Kingdom, primarily England |
| Services | 4-18 education |
Key people | Sir (Mufti) Hamid Patel, CEO[1] |
| Website | staracademies |
Formerly called | Tauheedul Education Trust |
Star Academies is a multi-academy trust (MAT) that operates 36 free schools and academies.[2] There are nineteen secondary schools and nine primary schools under the jurisdiction of the trust.[2]
As a multi-academy trust, Star Academies is an exempt charity regulated by the Department for Education.[3] 21 of the schools under Star Academy have Muslim religious character, 10 of which have been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with the other 5 still waiting to be graded.[4]
The trust's change of name from Tauheedul Education Trust followed its change of focus; it had originally only been responsible for Islamic schools, but expanded to secular and Christian schools.[5][6] In 2022, the school was planning to open three additional free schools in the north of England in partnership with Eton College.[7] After a pause to review the proposals,[8] in 2025 it was announced that two of the schools would be approved whilst the proposed college in Middlesbrough would be cancelled.[9][10]
Controversies
[edit]In February 2019, specific concerns about the performance of Highfield Leadership Academy led the DfE to issue a "minded to terminate" letter to the trust, suggesting that they might remove the trust's funding for this school.[11][12]
However in September 2019, Ofsted stated that the academy had much improved. In February 2020, Ofsted wrote:
Since the last monitoring inspection, more pupils are benefiting from high-quality teaching. Many teachers present subject matter in a way that helps pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding." Although, Ofsted have still identified areas for improvement, the academy stands today as a good school, albeit a strict one.[13]
In 2025, members of the National Education Union at The Valley Leadership Academy voted in favour of striking over Star Academies' introduction of a virtual maths teacher,[14] eventually taking part in two days of strike action in December 2025.[15] The virtual teacher, based 300 miles away in Devon, was a part of a pilot scheme by the trust that aimed to overcome difficulties finding subject-specific teachers.[16] In response to the backlash, Star Academies stated that they did not intend for the scheme's rollout, which currently includes three virtual teachers across its schools,[17] to be widespread.[18]
Secondary schools
[edit]- Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Waterfoot
- Bay Leadership Academy, Heysham
- Highfield Leadership Academy, Blackpool
- Laisterdyke Leadership Academy, Bradford
- Oulder Hill Leadership Academy, Rochdale
- Small Heath Leadership Academy, Small Heath
- Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East, Saltley
- Starbank School, Birmingham
- Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School, Blackburn
- Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School, Blackburn
- The Valley Leadership Academy, Stacksteads
- Tong Leadership Academy, Bradford
References
[edit]- ↑ Diamond, Colin; Waters, M. (2022). The Birmingham Book: Lessons in urban education leadership and policy from the Trojan Horse affair. Crown House Publishing. p. 155. ISBN 978-1-78583-609-1. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- 1 2 "Star Academies". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Department for Education. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ↑ "Regulation of schools and academies with exempt charity status". gov.uk. Department for Education. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ↑ Robertson, Alix (22 July 2018). "Tauheedul rebrands as 'Star' as non-faith provision expands". schoolsweek.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ↑ Lundie, David (2022). School Leadership between Community and the State: The Changing Civic Role of Schooling. Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy. Springer International Publishing. p. 193. ISBN 978-3-030-99834-9. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ↑ Miah, Shamim; Sanderson, Pete; Thomas, Paul (2020). 'Race,' Space and Multiculturalism in Northern England: The (M62) Corridor of Uncertainty. Palgrave Politics of Identity and Citizenship Series. Springer International Publishing. p. 232. ISBN 978-3-030-42032-1. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ↑ Halliday, Josh (21 March 2022). "Headteacher defends plan for free 'Etons of the north' sixth forms". the Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ↑ Adams, Richard (22 October 2024). "Ministers pause plans to open 44 new state schools in England". the Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ↑ Camden, Billy (11 December 2025). "Eton gets go-ahead to develop 2 of 3 elite sixth forms". Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Middlesbrough's Eton Star Partnership free college scrapped". BBC News. 14 December 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ Hazell, Will (22 February 2019). "Star Academies school threatened with funding termination". Tes Magazine. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ↑ Allen-Kinross, Pippa (22 February 2019). "Star warned it could lose 'inadequate' academy". Schools Week. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ↑ "Letter to the school from Ofsted, 2 July 2019" (PDF) – via Highfield Leadership Academy.
- ↑ Chantler-Hicks, Lydia (19 November 2025). "Staff to strike over school's use of 'dystopian' virtual teacher". Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Valley Leadership Academy staff on strike over "virtual teacher"". BBC News. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Bacup school pupils to be taught maths by teacher 300 miles away". BBC News. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Are remote teachers and AI deepfakes the answer to recruitment issues?". BBC News. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ Lucas, Ruth (4 August 2025). "Virtual teachers: No plans for widespread rollout, says Star". Retrieved 4 April 2026.