Selby area school starts consultation to become an academy

Camblesforth primary want to join the York-based Ebor Academy Trust which already runs four schools and has another in the pipeline.

The trust runs Haxby Road Primary Academy and Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy in Strensall as well as the Ebor Academy Filey and Brotherton and Byram Community Primary Academy near Knottingley. In September they will open Staynor Hall Community Primary Academy in Selby.

Meanwhile, in York, both Hob Moor Oaks and Hob Moor School are also in the midst of a public consultation to consider joining Ebor.

Ian Fenton, Camblesforth chairman of governors, said: "The governors and staff firmly believe that this move is definitely in the best interests of the pupils and staff of Camblesforth and will help us to build solidly on our good Ofsted inspection last year.

"The governors and head teacher also intend that Camblesforth will continue to work with the local schools partnerships whilst ever they continue to add value to the school.

"We intend that, in the very near future, we shall hold open events for parents, at which you will be able to express your opinions, share any questions or concerns with us, and we or representatives from Ebor will do our best to answer them to your satisfaction.

"I know that the prospect of change can be worrying for many people but I want to reassure you that the governors have taken this decision after due consideration in the best long-term interests of the school."

Richard Ludlow, chief executive of Ebor Academy Trust, welcomed the two schools’ consultation.

He said: “I’m very excited at the prospect.

“Should Camblesforth join us, with Staynor Hall which opens in September, and Brotherton and Byram, we will have four schools within close proximity. This will form a ‘Selby hub’ to our trust. It will be vibrant and stimulating for participating schools and their staff and of genuine benefit to local communities.

“It will strengthen our belief that all children should be given the opportunity to achieve their best within a safe and caring school community.”

Mr Ludlow said that benefits for schools joining Ebor include collaboration, sharing expertise and learning from best practice for the benefit of pupils; more opportunities to explore a richer curriculum; more career opportunities for staff; the use of a centrally based corporate services team to support teaching and learning; and the opportunity to apply for capital funding from central government, exclusively for academies, rather than applying to the already stretched resources of the local authority.

Mr Ludlow said that an additional three or four schools in Selby would be a valuable addition to the Selby hub and invited head teachers and/or chairs of governors to contact him through the Ebor Academy Trust website for an informal conversation.