Two Barrow schools at the heart of their communities will seek views on their plans to academise at a public consultation next week.

Greengate Junior School and Ramsden Infant School, which are federated, have applied to join South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

Members of the community are invited to give their views at a public consultation at Greengate Junior School at 4.30pm on Wednesday (May 15th).

Headteacher Sue Jackson said it was the right time to move the school forward to ensure excellence in education continued for generations to come.

“Greengate School celebrated 150 years of education last year and we have been looking at the future to ensure this school is successful for the next 150 years,” she said.

“Our decision to academise has followed a series of in-depth meetings with Trust leaders, governors and our staff and we unanimously think that there are significant benefits to our pupils of being part of this collaboration.

“In addition, the Trust’s commitment to each school’s individuality fits with our ethos of maintaining what is very special about Greengate and Ramsden schools.”

Mrs Jackson will be joined by Professor Andrew Wren, who is Executive Head Teacher and CEO of the Trust, for the consultation.

There will be a short presentation and the chance to ask questions from senior SCMAT representatives and current member school headteachers.

People can ask questions in person at the event or submit them to be asked at the meeting here: https://forms.gle/m3LEVwzv75d2cCpYA

Professor Andrew Wren, CEO of SCMAT, said the Trust was also seeking views on a proposal to merge Ramsden Infant School and Greengate Junior School to become one school after they have completed their transition into South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

“This would ensure that pupils have a seamless transition from infants to juniors, and would also remove the current requirements for parents and carers to apply for a place for their children who are heading into Year 3 at Greengate,” he said. “Parents and pupils would see little other change should this go ahead as the two schools are already federated under Sue Jackson, as Head Teacher, and one Governing Body. This would remain the case should the two schools formally merge.”

More information about South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust is available at www.scmat.org.uk