TWO schools in York will be the first in the city to become primary academies.

Robert Wilkinson Primary School in Strensall has opted out of local authority control from today and Haxby Road Primary School – which is sponsored by Robert Wilkinson as part of the Ebor Academy Alliance – will become independent on February 1.

The change means that both schools will be funded directly by the Government – joining city secondaries Manor CE and Archbishop Holgate’s CE, which both became academies in 2011.

The executive head teacher of both primary schools, Richard Ludlow, said the arrangement would allow them to share expertise.

Mr Ludlow said the change in status would be “a seamless transition” for the 575 pupils, and said the move would enhance teaching and learning, bringing greater benefits for the children.

As The Press reported in October, Ofsted, which put Haxby Road Primary in special measures earlier this year, revealed that eight members of staff including the acting head and assistant head, had left since April.

Ofsted previously found the achievement of pupils was inadequate at the school.

Its former head teacher, Mike Schofield, resigned last year after an investigation by the Qualification Curriculum Development Agency (QDCA) into how the school conducted its maths and English SATS tests.

But the watchdog said in its latest report that significant improvements had been observed during a monitoring inspection in September.

Mr Ludlow said: “Robert Wilkinson has a strong history of working collaboratively to improve and develop teaching strategies. “Becoming an academy alliance was the natural way forward – a group of schools working together towards a common purpose: the quest for excellence.

“Our alliance develops strong relationships and trust between staff, governors and parents to ensure the partnership can succeed.”

He said the academy alliance offered specialist teaching in music, PE, foreign languages, cooking and promoting outdoor learning.

The former chairman of governors at Robert Wilkinson, Peter Acaster, who will now become chairman of directors, said: “This is an amazing and exciting time for Robert Wilkinson and Haxby Road primary schools.

“The children are to have their educational opportunities dramatically enhanced when both organisatons become academies.”

Mr Ludlow said parents were consulted about the move to academy status and will this week get information explaining the Ebor Academy Alliance and the work going on at the two schools.

A City of York Council spokesman said: “The council works with every school according to its needs, and central to this is doing what is in the best interests of the children attending them.

In the case of Haxby Road and Robert Wilkinson, we have worked closely with the schools and their governing bodies over a number of months and are pleased that they have found a positive way forward for both schools as an academy alliance.”