Sixth-formers now allowed in their sixth-form building

Christ the King College (CtKC), in Newport, has resolved a long-running legal and financial dispute surrounding its sixth-form building.

Governors originally entered into a 15-year hire contract with Built Off Site Hire (BOSHire) for the building in 2013. It was the start of a lengthy dispute for the school, not only with the supplier but also the Isle of Wight Council.

In 2016, the council issued a financial notice of concern, meaning the school was forbidden to build up any additional debt. Then leader of the council, Conservative, Dave Stewart, accused the governing body of entering into the leasing arrangement without “a clear and affordable business case”, and operating independently with poor financial management. However, it subsequently came to light that, in 2013, the council, under the leadership of fellow Conservative, David Pugh, had not only expressly authorised the leasing agreement but had even lent the school £30,000 to proceed with the planning application for the building.

As part of the contract with BOSHire, the building cost the school more than £650,000 a year. After the notice of concern was issued by the council, the school was unable to meet the terms of the contract and the contractor started legal proceedings.
In June 2020, the Isle of Wight Council and CTK announced they had won a court case against the contractor – potentially saving more than £10 million in service charges – when a judge ruled that the school had no legal authority to enter into the contract. He said the parties needed to reach an agreement between themselves. However, the company quickly appealed against the ruling and locked the school out of the building, and they have been unable to use it since then.

The lengthy legal process has now ended with headteacher, Kevin McDermott, confirming: “The legal dispute concerning the supply, installation and hire of the sixth-form centre at Christ the King College has now been settled between the parties.
“All parties are very pleased to be able to confirm the ongoing use of the building to benefit future generations of young people at the college. The terms of the settlement are confidential, and the parties have agreed not to make any further comment.”