Seven schools in new Multi-Academy Trust

SEVEN schools will be involved in a new Multi-Academy Trust which is to go live at Warrington from January 1st next year
The Omega Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) will consist of Great Sankey High School, Barrow Hall Primary, Burtonwood Primary, Callands Primary, Chapelford Village Primary, Park Road Primary and Westbrook Old Hall Primary.
The project has been held up by a number of factors – including the General Election – and was originally intended to launch in September.
But all primary partner schools have now received an Academy Order from the Department for Education to match the high school’s approval to convert from Single Academy Trust to Multi-Academy Trust.
The Orders are dated back to May, but the delay of purdah has meant that it is now too late for a September conversion as planned. It has been decided, therefore, that January and the start of the New Year, and a new term, would be the best and most logical time for the schools to convert.
The vision for the Trust is based on continuity of education for 14 years, taking children through both primary and secondary phases of education. It aims to provide the best opportunity for its local community.
Jon Wright, the chief executive officer designate said: “Our due diligence process has been considering all aspects of our schools, in particular checking buildings-related and financial risks. We know that to maximise the MAT opportunities and make the economies of scale we seek, in a world of shrinking budgets, will take time.
“Some things will change more immediately and the additional time next term will allow us all to trial some new provision and offer staff training for new systems and ways of working. We are keen to empower our staff to do the best possible job they can to achieve the best possible school experience for all of our pupils.”
The schools are currently consulting staff on the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment (TUPE), leading through to conversion. There will be no changes to staff pay and working conditions, but there are a number of additional, personal development opportunities, as the schools work together more creatively.
The members and trustees are now established and have met as a MAT Board to approve the schemes of delegation and structures for governance.
The new chairman of the board, Andrew Bent, said: “We are keen to work openly with all our local partners and the Local Authority to the benefit of all our pupils and staff across the schools and the local community through these developments. These are exciting times!”
Great Sankey High School’s growth, supported by Warrington Borough Council, will see the pupil admission number rise from 315 to 375 in September next and approval has been received from the Department for Education to proceed with plans for the school’s physical expansion into the vacant, adjacent site of the old Barrow Hall Primary School.