A POPULAR Bracknell primary school is to become an academy.

The Governing Body of Crown Wood Primary School in Bracknell has confirmed that the school will become an academy and join the Greenshaw Learning Trust.

John Throssell, chair of governors, said: “We are very excited about the prospects for Crown Wood Primary School as an academy in the Greenshaw Learning Trust.

"The Greenshaw Learning Trust shares our values – it is already working in the community Crown Wood serves, running nearby Brakenhale School, and understands our pupils’ strengths and needs. Joining the Trust will enable Crown Wood to work more closely with like-minded schools – it will bring economies of scale and the support the school needs to continue on its journey of improvement.”  

Mike Cooper, chair of the Greenshaw Learning Trust, said: “We are delighted that Crown Wood Primary School will be joining our Trust. Crown Wood will both benefit from and contribute to the close collaboration with the other schools in the Greenshaw family.”

In November, after carefully considering the school’s future and its options, the governing body proposed that Crown Wood should become an academy as part of the Greenshaw Learning Trust and has consulted parents, staff and other stakeholders, seeking views and holding a series of consultation meetings.

The governing body applied to the Department for Education (DfE) and received approval for the proposal.

The governing body met on March 14 to receive a report on progress with the proposal and consider the responses to the consultation, and agreed to proceed to become an academy and join the Greenshaw Learning Trust.

If the process continues to progress as expected, the school will convert to academy status and become a member of the Greenshaw Learning Trust on June 1.