Bath & North East Somerset Council has launched a campaign to find sponsoring organisations to run two new primary schools for the local area.
The new primary schools are being built at the Somerdale site in Keynsham and Ensleigh site in north Bath alongside substantial housing developments.
Both are due to open their doors to their first pupils in September 2017.
The Council is inviting suitable sponsoring organisations to put their names forward, although the Secretary of State for Education has the final say in who is selected to operate each school.
Sponsoring organisations may include bodies such as existing academies, charities or organisations with educational expertise.
In order to submit an expression of interest to run a new school, the sponsoring organisation must be on the Department for Education’s approved sponsor list.
This includes national and regional groups as well as more local multi-academy trusts set up by nearby schools.
Councillor Michael Evans (Conservative, Midsomer Norton North), Cabinet member for Children’s Services said: “Investing in our area’s children and young people is one of the six main priorities of this administration.
“This includes creating new primary school places where they are needed so that as many parents as possible can send their child to a local school of their choosing.
“We also want to ensure that the right infrastructure, including new school places, is in place alongside new housing developments such as Somerdale and Ensleigh so as not to put pressure on existing nearby services.
“This is an exciting opportunity for a sponsoring organisation to be involved in the establishment of one of two brand new schools serving families in Bath and North East Somerset.
“We’re very fortunate to have mostly ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ schools here in Bath and North East Somerset, and will continue to support them to improve and promote educational excellence.
“We are looking for partners who share our high aspirations for local children to support the running of these schools.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council has an aspiration for all schools to be good or outstanding and currently 84% of primary schools and 97% of preschools/nurseries have achieved this.
Locally Key Stage 2 results for reading, writing and mathematics are significantly above the national average. Pupils’ progress is good and either in line with or exceeding expectations.
The new schools should expect to be judged by Ofsted to be at least good with a strong trajectory towards outstanding.
The Council has published documents setting out the details of each of the sites and its expectations of the new school operators.
Amongst other things, the new schools will be expected to:
- Provide a sustainable good or outstanding school with a broad and balanced curriculum that excites and inspires all children.
- Maintain a focus on educational standards and pupils’ welfare to ensure every child experiences success and achieve their full potential and reach or exceed national expectations.
- Ensure an inclusive learning environment in which all children thrive, including those with additional needs, so that they make at least good progress in their learning and development.
- Engage and involve parents and carers in working in partnership to support their child’s learning, development and welfare.
- Ensure the school plays a key role within the local and wider community.
- Work in partnership with the Council and other educational providers to contribute towards meeting a collective responsibility to secure the best possible outcomes for children in Bath and North East Somerset.
Sponsors need to apply by Friday 16th October 2015.
Further information can be found at: http://nowb.at/banesnewschool.
