Member Article

Hummersknott Academy Pledges to Support Partner Primary

Hummersknott Academy in Darlington has formally entered into an agreement to ‘sponsor’ Skerne Park Primary School in Darlington.

The high-achieving school has pledged to provide further support to raise standards and strengthen links. Sponsorship will come under the remit of the Hummersknott Academy Trust, which also runs Hummersknott Academy. Under the terms of the sponsorship agreement, the primary will be re-named Skerne Park Academy.

Academy status means that a school is independent of local authority control and makes all decisions on how its budget is spent and how it implements the national curriculum. As an academy, it would be directly funded by central government and is independent of Darlington Borough Council. It will be required to teach core subjects, such as maths, English and science, but will get greater freedom in selecting other subjects to teach while also getting full control of its own budget.

The secondary school, which has been described by Ofsted as “good with outstanding features,” will work closely to develop the organisation, staffing, management and leadership of Skerne Park, and to raise standards in the new Academy.

Hummersknott Academy was recently ranked in the top 10% of non-selective schools in England for students achieving five A* and A grades, including English and Maths, in rankings released by the Schools Network (SSAT.) The school prides itself on a commitment to a broad education with a wide range of curricular activities both in and out of the academy.

Hummersknott had worked closely with previous Headteacher at Skerne Park, Di Teasdale, over a number of years to develop support for families and raise standards.

Since Easter, Hummersknott has worked with the Governors of Skerne Park to appoint its new Headteacher, Kate Chisholm.

Pat Howarth, Principal of Hummersknott Academy, commented: “This is an exciting time for us, as we feel that we have achieved so much from being a successful and thriving Academy ourselves. We are now keen to share that knowledge and experience to help a local primary school that has already made some very positive first steps.

“We would like to assist Skerne Park for the benefit of the pupils and of the local community. As sponsors, we will work closely with the new Academy to develop it on a number of different levels, including the staffing, management and leadership of the school.”

Kate Chisholm, the new principal of Skerne Park, commented: “Skerne Park Academy under the guidance of the Hummersknott Academy Trust will be assured of an excellent start as an Academy school. We have already benefitted from the Trust’s advice in terms of our new staffing structure and development, and we are looking forward to working with Hummersknott increasingly actively in the coming weeks and months.

“I am very pleased to take over at the helm of Skerne Park Primary, which will soon become Skerne Park Academy. The school has a bright and exciting future ahead under the guidance of Hummersknott Academy Trust. We are looking forward to sharing in the success of the Academy, and going on to achieve our own successes as a school.”

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