Green light for Park Lane academy plan

Park Lane Learning Trust at Exley is set to become an academy on September 1, 2016, after the Secretary of State issued the academy order which will mean that Park Lane will join Brighter Futures Multi-Academy Trust.

Brighter Futures is a local multi academy trust led by executive head, Lynda Johnson, consisting of Field Lane Primary, Rastrick; Luddenden Foot Academy and Siddal Primary, Halifax, all outstanding primary schools.

Many of the pupils from Siddal Primary School join neighbouring Park Lane in Year 7 so the new arrangement will help to strengthen their transition from primary to secondary school

The partnership with Crossley Heath School, an outstanding Halifax grammar school, will continue as Jonathan Brownlie stays on as headteacher.

Mr Brownlie said there are clear benefits in schools working in close partnerships with each other and sharing expertise to raise standards.

“This is a fantastic school with a supportive and caring ethos. The students here deserve the very best and all my staff are fully committed to making sure progress is excellent and aspirations are high.”

The school has said the news has been received favourably by parents, staff and governors of the school.

The governing body added that all the school leaders involved have expressed their commitment to the partnership for the benefit of everyone at Park Lane. Huddersfield University and Together Housing have expressed their continued support to the new trust arrangements and will continue to play an active role for the benefit of the students.

For the students, it will mean very little change although the school will be re-named as Park Lane Academy.

Academies are state funded schools which are run outside of local council influence with greater freedom over pay, conditions and what they teach.