Meols Cop High School in Southport and Bedford Primary School have taken a step closer to becoming Academies.
Both schools have notified Sefton Council of their intentions to join the Southport Learning Trust and the proposed academy conversion date for both schools will be 1st April 2023.
Recommendations for the proposals have been approved by Sefton Council’s Cabinet.
The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Director of Children’s Services (Education) which provided details of the decision by the Governing Bodies of Bedford Primary School and Meols Cop High School to convert to the Southport Learning Trust.
They sought authorisation for officers to sign the documentation required by the academy conversion process.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency has indicated that the date of conversion has still to be confirmed but the earliest this will be 1st April 2023.
A report by Sefton Assistant Director of Education said: “Conversion to academy status is ultimately the decision of the governing body, in consultation with school staff, parents and the local community.
“When converting to an academy there are two routes: Joining an existing academy trust; Establishing a new academy trust in collaboration with other schools.
“When making any decision about the future direction of the school, governors should always evaluate:
- What is in the best interests of the children and young people and the wider community
- What is in the best interests of the staff and leadership team of the schools to develop and sustain great teaching and leadership
- What the school can bring to the academy trust, and share with other schools, which would help them all to develop further
- What the school can gain from an academy trust, including what it needs to be able to sustain and improve educational outcomes and financial sustainability
“Any maintained school can join an existing academy trust. In doing so, the school chooses to be accountable to the academy trust board, which can help build improvement capacity and ultimately improve the overall quality of education.
“Many good schools also make the decision to join existing academy trusts, bringing their skills, expertise and resources to the wider academy trust. In most cases, the prospective school and the academy trust make a joint decision as to whether the school should join the academy trust.”
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