
A Barrow school has announced plans to join the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.
Governors at Newbarns Primary and Nursery School agreed to start the process of joining the trust from September 1 next year.
The 424-pupil school, rated outstanding by Ofsted, has registered an expression of interest with the Department for Education in advance of the formal consultation process early next year.
Gary Birkett, who has been at the school since 1996 and headteacher for nine years, said the move would further strengthen the school and its track record of collaboration with education partners.
He said: “We have always actively promoted collaborative working across education for the good of all children and the framework offered through SCMAT will help us to continue to build on this in a positive and supported way.
“The trust is the best option for our school and the governors recognised this following extensive due diligence about our options for academisation.
“Governors, staff and I have held several discussions with the senior team and are impressed by their professionalism and vision for a trust that maintains the individual character and ethos of each school. Furthermore, the strong links with Furness College and Barrow Sixth Form College will offer opportunities to our pupils which are unique amongst academy trusts in the area.”
Chair of Governors Keith Wardle added: “When we started to look at the future of the school, we knew that converting to an academy was the right thing and the trust is a perfect fit for us to achieve our aims.”
Newbarns will join Chetwynde, Ormsgill and Vickerstown schools in the Trust, which is led by Furness College and formed in September 2021.
Trust chief executive Professor Andrew Wren said: “We are delighted that Newbarns Primary and Nursery School has applied to join our trust. It is a fantastic school with a proven record of excellence under the guidance of an established and very well-respected headteacher.”