Academy plan to give school a fresh start
EDUCATION chiefs have welcomed as a ‘new start’ proposals for a Valley school to become an academy.
Fearns Community Sports College in Stacksteads and East-Lancashire based Star Academies have announced their intention to enter into a partnership.
The school, which has been in special measures since 2014, could become an academy from next February. Letters were sent out to homes on Monday about the proposals and a meeting for parents was due to be held at the school on Wednesday night. Parents and the wider community are invited to share their views as part of a consultation which opened this week.
Sue Styles, who chairs Fearns’ governing body, said the trust has been proven to deliver results.
She said: “They have a great track record of excellence. The governing body really feels that joining Star will give us an exciting opportunity to work with them to transform the school and the local community.”
Headteacher Helen Stead said she was ‘ very excited’ by the opportunities presented by the partnership.
She added: “Joining Star will give us additional capacity and expertise to accelerate the improvement programme that we’ve already begun. I am convinced that Star’s support will really help us deliver further improvements for our students.”
Star describes itself as working to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions.
Rossendale MP Jake Berry said the partnership would give the school the new start it needs.
He added: “They’ve got outstanding schools in Lancashire where they started and have gone from strength to strength running some of the best schools in the country.
“They truly are one of the best and most value-driven Trusts in the country and I’m delighted that they will be working with Fearns.”
In June Mr Berry called a public meeting at Newchurch Methodist Church to discuss concerns from parents about Fearns.
County Coun David Fox- croft, who also attended that meeting, said: “Star Academies will be a brilliant fit for the school, with a proven track record and a grounding in Pennine Lancashire.”
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