Member Article

Samuel Phillips helps Centenary School Secure Academy Status

An outstanding Seaham primary school has marked its centenary year by converting to Academy status, with the support of a team of legal and business experts from Samuel Phillips Law Firm.

New Seaham Academy, formerly New Seaham Primary School, converted to Academy status on Monday, 1stOctober, 2012. Head teacher, Miss Bernadette Dolan, said: “Academy status gives us the freedom to determine our own budgets, and to tailor the curriculum to the needs of the pupils. We are celebrating 100 years of education for Seaham children. At the same time, we are beginning a new and exciting era as an Academy.”

Miss Dolan has been working with a team from Samuel Phillips Law Firm since April 2012. As well as providing legal expertise in all relevant areas to secure a smooth conversion, Samuel Phillips Law Firm also provided project management and business development expertise to assist Miss Dolan throughout.

Miss Dolan added: “I would certainly recommend the services of Samuel Phillips Law Firm to any school investigating conversion to Academy status. They have consistently provided a service tailored to our individual needs, and have remained professional, helpful, and personable throughout the entire process.”

Ian Gibson, a specialist in Commercial Law with Samuel Phillips Law Firm, commented: “New Seaham is an outstanding school, led by an inspiring head teacher. With the backing of the board of Governors, Miss Dolan has committed a considerable amount of her own time and effort to secure the Academy status, thereby ensuring greater freedom for the school in the future and the flexibility to invest its resources to meet the needs of the school’s pupils. We hope that this greater freedom will allow New Seaham Academy to develop further as an outstanding school for the benefit of the children in Seaham.”

Robert Gibson, managing partner of Samuel Phillips Law Firm, commented: “Each school is unique, and it is vital that the legal practice working with the school to secure Academy status understands that, and can respond to the school’s individual needs. Working one to one with the Head Teacher, or school’s management team, is essential to ensure a smooth conversion, whilst the school is able to maintain its focus on the education of its pupils.”

Samuel Phillips Law Firm is based in central Newcastle. It offers a comprehensive range of legal services to business and private clients. For any further information, please see www.samuelphillips.co.uk.

For more information on New Seaham Academy, visit www.newseaham.org.uk.

Pic captions (see attached jpegs): (from l to r) Eric Southwick, Chair of Governors at New Seaham Academy, Bernadette Dolan, Head Teacher, and Ian Gibson from Samuel Phillips Law Firm – with pupils from New Seaham Academy.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Hignett, i2i Business Solutions .