LATEST NEWS: Four Bradford primary schools become academies

FIVE Catholic primary schools in Bradford have joined the same academy group.

The schools, which have room to cater for 980 pupils altogether, are now members of The Blessed Christopher Wharton Trust.

The list includes: St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, in Heaton, St Francis Catholic Primary School, in Myers Lane, and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, in Bingley.

St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, in Clayton and Shipley, have also joined the trust as academies.

All the schools have kept their base names, but have "A Voluntary Academy" added at the end now.

They each converted to academy schools at the start of this month, on Friday, May 1.

Academies receive funding directly from the government rather than a local authority.

They have more control over how they do things than community schools.

This includes setting their own curriculum and setting their own term times.

The curriculum must still be "balanced and broadly based" and include English, mathematics and science.

An "academy conversion letter" published by Ofsted for each school says: "Under the Academies Act 2010, schools may apply to the Secretary of State to convert to academy status.

"Such schools are known as academy converters.

"Upon conversion to academy status the existing school closes and a new school opens in its place.

"Although little may have changed, the academy converter is a new legal entity."

Sarah Walsh, Head of School at St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy, said: "We are very pleased to be joining the Blessed Christopher Wharton Trust and to have this opportunity to formalise the strong partnership work that already exists between the Catholic schools in Bradford and Keighley.

"Our hope is that through membership of the trust, we can continue to share and celebrate the excellent practice that goes on in our group of schools so that they will continue to go from strength to strength."

There are already six other schools in The Blessed Christopher Wharton Trust, which was established in 2015.

This includes St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, St Anne’s Catholic Primary School and Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School, which are all in Keighley.

There is also, St Walburga's Catholic Primary School, in Shipley, St John the Evangelist Catholic Primary School, in Buttershaw, and St Winefride's Catholic Primary School, in Wibsey.

A spokesperson for the multi-academy trust said: "All the Catholic schools in Bradford have a long history of working together in partnership and this is another step in formalising that partnership and developing the opportunities to co-ordinate the work across the long established schools.

"A further five schools are also preparing to convert in the next few months."

One of the 11 academies in the trust already is a teaching school, which allows trainee teachers to qualify while working in the schools.

It also provides a full programme of development for staff in the trust.

The spokesperson said: "Staff from the different academies come together to share practice and learn from one another ensuring that pupils have the best experiences and opportunities not always available in smaller individual schools."

The Diocese of Leeds covers Bradford and seven other local authority areas.

Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds, has been keen to see schools work collectively as families of schools to serve pupils and their families.

Across the diocese there are five multi-academy trusts in total.