A popular and successful Barrow school has announced plans to academise and join South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.
Governors at Newbarns Primary and Nursery School resolved to join SCMAT from September 1st 2023.
The 424-pupil school, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted, has registered an expression of interest with the Department for Education in advance of the formal consultation process early next year.
Gary Birkett, who has been at the school since 1996 and Headteacher for the past nine years, said the move would further strengthen the school and its track record of collaboration with education partners.
“We have always actively promoted collaborative working across education for the good of all children and the framework offered through SCMAT will help us to continue to build on this in a positive and supported way.
“The SCMAT is the best option for our school and the governors recognised this following extensive due diligence about our options for academisation. Governors, staff and I have held several discussions with the senior team and are impressed by their professionalism and vision for a MAT that maintains the individual character and ethos of each school. Furthermore, the strong links with Furness College and Barrow Sixth Form College will offer opportunities to our pupils which are unique amongst academy trusts in the area.”
Chair of Governors Keith Wardle said: “When we started to look at the future of the school, we knew that converting to an academy was the right thing and the SCMAT is a perfect fit for us to achieve our aims.”
Newbarns will join Chetwynde, Ormsgill and Vickerstown schools in the Trust, which is led by Furness College and formed in September 2021.
SCMAT Chief Executive Professor Andrew Wren said: “We are delighted that Newbarns Primary and Nursery School has applied to join our Trust. It is a fantastic school with a proven record of excellence under the guidance of an established and very well-respected headteacher.
“The SCMAT has education at its heart and a focus on pupils achieving their full potential. To have a school of this calibre approach us to join our Trust really shows confidence in what we have done so far with our member schools and what can achieve working together.”
For further information about joining the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, visit the website www.scmat.org.uk or email info@furness.ac.uk with the heading SCMAT.
