An academy trust has been given a notice to improve over an insurance issue that emerged after a massive fire largely destroyed one of its schools. The blaze tore through SS Simon & Jude CE Primary in Bolton last year, forcing 400 pupils to be taught at three different locations for three months. Seventeen fire appliances and 85 firefighters were called to the blaze, which destroyed almost all the school鈥檚 buildings. Micon Metcalfe But Vantage Academies Trust, which runs the school, was issued a notice to improve (NtI) after the incident highlighted a failure to secure adequate insurance for expansion work in 2022-23. The notice was . Micon Metcalfe, a school finance expert, said the case showed how severe the ramifications could be if insurance arrangements were incorrect. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e having contract works done, you need to have insurance in place that will cover you if anything goes wrong. 鈥淭o do that you probably need to get broker advice. Not having it and going ahead is a big risk.鈥 The trust is signed up to the Department for Education鈥檚 alternative insurance scheme, the risk protection arrangement (RPA). ‘Exceptional and challenging circumstances’ But the DfE said the RPA did not provide cover for contract works above 拢250,000. Members had to ensure third parties had an appropriate level of public liability cover or take out additional joint-names insurance with the contractor. In this instance, the necessary commercial insurance arrangements were not in place. The NtI said that it was issued to Vantage 鈥渙n governance grounds鈥 after 鈥渇ailing to take out adequate insurance cover鈥, which is a breach of the academy trust handbook. It recognised 鈥渢hat the trust has been under new leadership since September 1, 2023鈥 and the 鈥減ositive actions鈥 taken 鈥渢o address some of the governance and executive team issues identified by the fire鈥. It also 鈥渁cknowledged the exceptional and challenging circumstances the trust has been dealing with鈥 since the fire. A department spokesperson said Jill Messham, the trust鈥檚 new chief executive, 鈥渉as investigated the circumstances surrounding the failure in governance and leadership, has taken action to change finance systems and lines of accountability and has commissioned an external governance review鈥. Messham, who was appointed in September last year, said the matters were taken 鈥渧ery seriously. We have swiftly addressed many of the issues鈥. significant changes have been made to the leadership, governance and structure of the trust, strengthening governance, financial and estate management. 鈥淲e know, due to the nature of the breach, that none of these challenges have impacted our schools鈥 although the new structures and processes we have put in place will undoubtedly improve how we serve them all.鈥 Pupils are now being taught in temporary accommodation on an adjacent site while the school is rebuilt.