Following a wide public consultation, the Governors of Bentworth Primary School have agreed to go ahead with proposals for the school to become an academy in September 2012.
The new academy will be operated by ARK Schools which has a track record of success in the area. The education charity operates 11 schools across the country including the hugely popular and high achieving Burlington Danes Academy in the north of the borough and the recently opened ARK Conway Primary Academy in Wormholt.
ARK’s network includes several of the most improved academies in the country. Of the ARK academies so far inspected by Ofsted, three are rated as outstanding and all but one of the others have been rated good.
Chairman of Governors, Eugenie White says:
“We have been considering various options to raise the levels of academic achievement at the school and to establish a leadership and financial structure that is effective in the long term. We think this is best done through being part of an academy group and we have chosen ARK Schools because of its substantial and successful local presence.
"We are aware that not everyone has supported the proposals, but would urge parents, staff and the wider community to now work with us to ensure Bentworth provides the best possible education and a happy and enthusiastic environment for its children."
Governors believe that becoming an ARK academy, as part of a highly successful and well supported schools network with a strong local focus will provide essential stability and ensure the best possible future for current and future pupils. Bentworth Primary School staff will transfer automatically under their current terms of employment.
Other academies in the borough include Burlington Danes and the brand-new Hammersmith Academy, both of which have proved hugely popular with parents applying for school places next year.
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