10 Suffolk primary schools convert to academies
Helmingham Primary School is one of the schools in the converter pipeline for sponsored academies. Picture: GREGG BROWN
Ten Suffolk primary schools are the latest to have been approved for converting to academies –with two established trusts already confirmed as on board.
Shotley Community Primary School is being converted to an academy. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN
Helmingham Community Primary School, Shotley Community Primary School, Stutton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School and All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School in Newmarket have all been approved by the Department for Education for sponsored conversions, and are now in the pipeline for sponsors.
Latest DfE data has revealed that All Saints will join the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust while Stutton will be run by ASSET Education.
The All Saints conversion marks the diocese trust’s 15th Church of England school, while ASSET Education, which was previously known as Ipswich Primary Academies Trust, already runs eight primary schools in the county.
Trusts for Helmingham and Shotley have not yet been disclosed.
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The confirmation means that Stutton is likely to officially begin as an academy in June, while All Saints will be run as an academy from July.
August is the proposed date for Shotley to be run as an academy.
In February, Shotley Community Primary School was given an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted, with inspectors citing the unwillingness of school leaders and governors to work together as one of the key reasons.
Alun Davis, a self-described school improvement consultant was installed as interim head shortly after.
Helmingham Community Primary School was also given an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted that month.
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A further six Suffolk schools – which are rated either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ which opted to convert to academies of their own accord have also officially completed conversion this week.
It includes four Church of England schools – Stradbroke, Fressingfield, All Saints in Laxfield and St Peter and St Paul in Eye, as well as Wortham Primary School on the Suffolk/Norfolk border and Woods Loke Primary School near Lowestoft.
Academies are funded directly by central government and do not have any involvement with the local authority, and have more freedom over their curriculum and school hours.
