A CITY-BASED trust now has 18 academies on board after York's Hob Moor schools joined their ranks.

Hob Moor Oaks special school and Hob Moor Primary Academy formally joined Ebor Academy Trust on 1 May.

Ebor’s chief executive, Richard Ludlow, said: “We are delighted that the unique federation of Hob Moor Oaks and Hob Moor Primary are joining us and are the schools that make up our ‘coming of age’ milestone.

"Staff and parents at the Hob Moor schools know what a very special environment this is and we look forward to working alongside them.”

Senior executive head with Ebor, Gail Brown, who has been working with the Hob Moor schools on an interim basis for a year, said: “I have had the privilege of leading Hob Moor schools through this transition period and have seen amazing care, dedication and commitment shown by staff on a daily basis.”

Mrs Brown will continue to be in overall charge at Hob Moor in her ongoing role as Executive Headteacher leading the York hub of schools.

Jane Guilfoyle, chairman of governors, said: “Ebor has strength and expertise that will benefit both the children and our staff – we are pleased to be part of this forward-thinking organisation.”

Children and parents of Hob Moor Oaks Academy and Hob Moor Community Primary Academy, as they are now known, will see little difference on a day-to-day basis, but behind the scenes there will be a range of benefits. A central team will run many of the back office business functions.

Ebor was established in 2013 when Robert Wilkinson Primary School was asked to help Haxby Road Primary. Both schools becoming academies was the best way to make that happen. Since then, small village schools, large urban schools, schools in challenging circumstances and those which have capacity to support others have all joined the trust. As well as in York, Ebor now has schools in Selby, the East Riding and The Humber and on the Yorkshire Coast.

In York, with the Hob Moor schools, Ebor consists of Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy, Haxby Road Primary Academy, Park Grove Primary Academy and Lakeside Primary Academy. Osbaldwick is due to follow in July.

Mr Ludlow said: “We are a collaborative trust, sharing best practice to ensure the best outcomes for our children and providing developmental opportunities for staff.

“We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual setting and share skills and resources, where appropriate, across our group. Staff at schools in Ebor Academy Trust have a sense of responsibility for each other, building caring, strong professional relationships.”