Norden High to become academy

JON MACPHERSON

NORDEN High School is set to become an acad- emy.

The Rishton school will join the successful multiacademy trust United Learning - which runs Accrington Academy - from September this year.

Changes have already started following discussions with Lancashire County Council (LCC) and parents recently attended a meeting to question governors and United Learning.

Academies are independent, state-funded schools, which receive their funding directly from the government, rather than through a local authority. The headteacher or principal is overseen by individual charitable bodies called academy trusts.

As part of the move, the Stourton Street school will get a new name, with students, staff and parents involved in the process.

Elaine Lockwood, chair of governors, said: “As a governing body, we see the real and potential benefits of moving to academy status and believe that United Learning is a group of schools which is best placed to support us as we continue to build on the school’s strengths whilst driving improvement.

“As sponsor of Accrington Academy, the group already has a strong local presence and in-depth experience of providing significantly improved outcomes for students – a genuine asset and one that will bring invaluable strategic and educational support.

“Additionally, as part of a group of schools, our staff and students can look forward to a wider range of opportunities to collaborate and enrich their classroom learning.

“As Norden begins a new chapter as an academy, we are also working with those associated with the school to choose a new name – one which marks its move to academy status, its ambitions for the future and which also reflects the local area’s heritage.”

Norden will join United Learning on September 1, subject to final agreements with LCC and the Department for Education.

Janet Woods, director of academies north at United Learning, said they are ‘looking forward’ to welcoming Norden to the United Learning family and will be working closely with everyone at the school.

She said: “It is particularly pleasing that, in our conversations to date with staff, students and parents, there has been a very positive reaction to the proposals and genuine excitement.”