Portsmouth schools unveil plans to join academy in boost to pupils

Meon Junior School in Southsea and Moorings Way School in the east of the city are aiming to join Thinking Schools Academy Trust from July 1.

Both schools have considered joining an academy for several months and 
say they will continue to work closely with parents and staff ahead of the move.

The trust has been working in Portsmouth for several years and already supports the Isambard Brunel Junior School, Newbridge Junior School and The Portsmouth Academy.

Sonia Nickerson, headteacher of Moorings Way Infants, said: ‘We’re looking forward to working closely with the trust and broadening our horizons to bring the greatest level of opportunity to our pupils, our staff and the community in Portsmouth.

‘Governors and the school’s leadership have thought long and hard about the best way forward in recent months and Thinking Schools Academy Trust shares our vision of delivering the very highest levels of educational attainment.’

Academy schools are funded by central government, but no 
longer under the control of the local authority.

The schools’ decisions to join the trust are in line with the government’s hope that every school in the country is an academy by 2022.

Luke Hanna, headteacher of Meon Junior School, said: ‘The support we will receive from the trust will bring substantial benefits and allow for collaboration and joint initiatives.

‘We will also be able to share best practice between the 
primary and secondary schools in the trust.’

Stuart Gardner, chief executive of Thinking Schools Academy Trust, said: ‘We are delighted at the prospect of welcoming Meon Junior School and Mooring Way School to our family of schools.

‘The trust is proud of its work to deliver the very best education for pupils across Portsmouth and helping them reach their full potential.’

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is made up of 11 schools in Medway and Portsmouth that work together to improve the life chances of all our children and young people.

The trust says it ‘shares a common mission to nurture successful children who are confident and can think and act independently’.