Schools to merge with sixth form college
A GROUP of seven Birmingham schools is set to merge with Solihull’s Sixth Form College in a pioneering new deal.
The combined Ninestile Academy Trust and college will be one of the first organisations in the country to offer education for children aged three all the way through to 19.
If approved by the Department for Education, the merger will go through in August 2017 and see Solihull College plus Ninestiles Academy, Erdington Hall Primary School, Lyndon Secondary School, Pegasus Primary School, The Oaklands Primary School, Yarnfield Primary School and Cockshut Hill School run by a single management.
There are no redundancies planned merger.
Ninestiles chief executive Martyn Collin said: “Collaborative working is integral to the Trust as we continue to grow, prosper and build a network providing an integrated and strong education offer to children and young people in south east Birmingham and Solihull.
“By joining forces with the Sixth Form College Solihull, we would be able to offer children the unique opportunity of accessing a learning pathway which will lead them on a journey remaining within one network of educational establishments from the first day of their academic experience aged three right up until they as a result of the are 19-years-old. This new chapter in our Trust’s development also further enables us to continue to create opportunities to support social mobility, as well as academic and economic success in our communities.”
The proposed merger would see the Trust expanding to cater for more than 7,500 pupils and students and 800 staff, and would create an opportunity to expand its capacity further still to support other primary and secondary schools and colleges.
Paul Ashdown, principal at the Sixth Form College Solihull, said: “It will enable us to create an organisation with strong community, education and business links which will allow our students to prosper, flourish and achieve their aspirations.”
Both organisation’s boards voted through the merger this week and will now apply to the Department for Education. There will also be a period of consultation.