Hugh Bayley has hailed a pioneering partnership between two schools in York.

Hob Moor Primary School and Hob Moor Oaks School have formed a federation under the leadership of Federation Principal, Angela Charlton.

The federation, the first of its kind in the country, will see increased opportunities for inclusive learning across both schools. It is not unusual for two or more school governing bodies to combine to form a single governing body, but Hob Moor is the only one where two schools share the same facilities such as the hall, library and play spaces.

There are 309 pupils at Hob Moor Primary School and 73 at Hob Moor Oaks who will all benefit from the shared inclusive education.

Mr Bayley said: “The federation at Hob Moor is a first. It is good to include children with disabilities as far as possible in mainstream education.

“This arrangement provides the best of both worlds: the special attention that special needs children require together with a partnership with Hob Moor pupils.”