A SHAKE-UP is planned at Portland’s troubled academy where some pupils look set to be transferred from the Osprey Quay site to join the main campus at Southwell on the other side of the island.

It comes as representatives from the Isle of Portland Aldridge Academy (IPACA) hold talks with a view to becoming part of the highly-regarded Aspirations Academies Trust from September to help get it back on track.

As previously reported, IPACA was put into special measures following a damning Ofsted report. Principal Joss Hayes then resigned.

IPACA has also been looking to make savings of £1.7m with the threat of job losses looming.

Leaders from the Aspirations Academies Trust have been on the island to discuss future plans for IPACA, which is set to be renamed Atlantic Academy Portland as it starts afresh.

They want to see pupils in one place rather than having distinct primary and secondary hubs.

This will lead to a “phased move of some year groups” from Osprey Quay – the main primary site – to Maritime House, Southwell.

It has been stressed the Osprey Quay campus – which IPACA only moved into in 2013 – will not be closed or sold off.

The trust will consult with parents and the wider community about its future use.

The campus brought together the former Brackenbury Infant School and Underhill Junior Schools. It also includes a nursery.

Dorset County Council made the buildings available for use for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) during the 2012 Olympics before they were then fitted out and handed over to IPACA.

Parents heard about the Osprey Quay plans at a recent school forum and concerns have been expressed on social media.

One parent from Underhill told the Echo he may consider moving his child to a Weymouth school if they had to attend the Southwell site as he and his partner both work off the island.

He said the hassle of driving to Southwell to drop off his child for school - compared to the present arrangement - would force him to think about school options.

"The Osprey Quay site was purpose-built for primary school kids and was part of the Olympic legacy. What's happened to that?" he said.

IPACA Acting Principal Gary Spracklen said: “Senior leaders from Aspirations Academy Trust are spending the summer term reviewing the systems currently in place at IPACA, as well as consulting on the changes that will be implemented to ensure that all children reach their maximum potential.”

He added: “The Trust have had an exciting week on Portland, meeting with staff and parents to discuss their vision for IPACA going forward.

“They have shared the new name for the academy, which will be Atlantic Academy Portland and the logo, which has been designed to reflect the academy’s geographical location near the sea and cliffs, as well as to complement the nature of the current academies within the south coast district.”

Claire Addis, Principal of Jewell Academy in Bournemouth, and Jonathan Heap, Senior Vice-Principal of Magna Academy in Poole have been working with Mr Spracklen and his senior leadership team.

Ms Addis said: “Ideas have been shared regarding streamlining the curriculum, carrying out building work to ensure the teaching spaces are fit for purpose and able to promote an all-through learning environment, rather than distinct primary and secondary phases.

"This will lead to a phased move of some year groups from the Osprey Quay site to Maritime House to enable the maximum number of pupils to benefit from the specialist facilities and teachers and to allow for consistency of teaching.”