BRandH

Heighington Primary and Bishopton and Redmarshall Primary have been in a federation for four years and took the step together to become independent of the local authority.

 

Conversion to an academy gives them greater financial freedoms and the opportunity for the headteachers and governing bodies to run their own affairs.

 

The schools were supported through the process by local companies BHP Law for legal advice and Darlington-based Avec Partnership, who are experts in academy conversion.

 

Neil Parker, headteacher at Heighington Church of England Primary School, said: “The time was right for us to do this. The opportunity was there and it fitted in with our development plans and the potential we still have to take things further.

 

“In essence, there is not a lot of change but we are starting now to look at how the freedoms can benefit our children in terms of an enhanced curriculum. We have some very able children in our schools and we feel we can give them an even better experience.”

 

Mr Parker said the academy planned to invest more resources into training for staff.

 

“We have not been able to fund it in the past to the same degree but over the next few years we will be investing massively so that every child will see the benefit.

 

“Both schools are very successful and as a result are very full so we will be looking at how we meet that demand for places in the future,” he added.

 

The schools’ conversion was the first the Diocese of Durham had dealt with.

 

Elaine McLaine, a solicitor  who specialises in company law and academy conversions, said: “The process to convert was relatively smooth since the planning for conversion by the governors, ourselves and Avec Partnership was detailed and thought through.

 

“The diocese was involved in negotiations from the outset and was very supportive. It was a new area for them and they now have the systems in place which will benefit other Church of England primary schools converting in the future.”

 

Each school will keep its existing name but the new charitable company set up to run them as a single academy is known as BRandH Academy Ltd.

 

Mr Parker said: “It was absolutely essential for us to bring in professional advisors since converting was beyond the remit and the knowledge of our schools.

 

“What matters to us is retaining our village identities, being an important part of our communities and working closely together as two very fine schools.”