John Smeaton Academy joined our trust on 1 September 2021 as a result of a divestment order from another multi-academy trust. In the years running up to 2021, John Smeaton Academy had become increasingly less popular with its community. Consequently, the school was significantly undersubscribed. Examination results prior to the COVID 19 pandemic placed the school as the lowest performing in the local authority. Its work with disadvantaged pupils was particularly weak.

The standard of education within John Smeaton Academy has now been transformed. There has been a significant improvement in standards across the academy, the popularity of the academy within the local community has improved and the number on roll is rapidly increasing each year. In April/May 2024 Ofsted visited the academy and recognised it as a ‘Good Provider’, referencing the hard work around transforming the school and it being a “Beacon for its community”.