The Governing Body at Brent Knoll Primary School has said this week it is “exploring the opportunity of converting to academy status”.
The school says the purpose of the proposed move – which follows several months of discussions – is to support school improvements and is also “driven by the changing political landscape for the future of all schools.”
Brent Knoll Primary School is considering a partnership with the existing Wessex Learning Trust (WLT), which currently has a secondary school, a middle school, and six first schools within the Trust.
Brent Knoll’s headteacher, Chris Burman, told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Tuesday: “A major benefit in entering into a partnership with the WLT is that it is committed to a local focus and being modest in size. This will allow Brent Knoll Primary School to concentrate on educational improvement and to share the developmental skills offered by the WLT.”
He added: “WLT have a vision and values very similar to Brent Knoll Primary School, and there will also be scope for our good practice to be shared with WLT.”
“There will be no visual changes at Brent Knoll Primary School, with the school’s identity (uniform and school logo) being retained. Year 6 pupils will still continue to transfer to The King Alfred School, but there will also be an opportunity, from 2020, for the Year 6s to make the choice to transfer to Hugh Sexey Middle School’s Year 7.”
Hugh Mackay, Chair of Governors, added: “This is a great opportunity for all pupils and staff at Brent Knoll Primary School, and bearing in mind the current political context, allows us to be in full control of our future direction.”
“There will hopefully be some modest financial economies of joining the MAT, with direct revenue funding from the Government’s Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), along with access to capital grant funds for building improvements, which have been minimal in recent times from the County Council.”
