A VILLAGE primary school has become the latest school in the district to join the Exceed Academies Trust.

Cottingley Village Primary School will officially become part of the successful trust on February 1 after receiving approval from Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Cottingley Village, rated Good by Ofsted, becomes the eighth school in the Exceed group.

Chair of Governors Dr Joanne Reynard tweeted: "As chair of governors I could not be more happy that Duncan Jacques and Exceed Academies are the future of our school."

In the letter from Gavin Williamson to Shipley MP Philip Davies, the Education Secretary said: "I am pleased to inform you that I have agreed to enter into a Funding Agreement to allow Cottingley Village Primary School to become an academy.

"The date of the conversion will be February 1, 2021, and I am writing to the local authority to instruct it to cease maintaining the school from that date.

"As you know, academies form an integral part of the Government's education policy to raise attainment for all children and to bring about sustained improvements to all schools.

"I am delighted that the school recognises the benefits academy status will bring."

Cottingley Village will join Appleton Academy, Bradford Alternative Provision Academy - Central, Copthorne Primary, Harden Primary, Holybrook Primary, Horton Grange Primary and Horton Park Primary as part of Exceed Academies Trust.