YORK is to get its first primary and secondary academy trust as two city schools join forces.

From today Manor CE Academy and Poppleton Ousebank Primary School will form a multi-academy trust, the city's first. The announcement follows hot on the heals of South Bank secondary, Millthorpe, announcing its plans to combine forces with two of it's feeder primaries, Scarcroft and Knavesmire last month.

The Poppleton partnership will be called the Hope Learning Trust, York, and will mean the schools will work more closely together for the benefit of children and young people. As part of the process, Poppleton Ousebank became an academy, which takes it out of local authority control.

Both schools – classified by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’ – will keep their separate names and existing admission arrangements, but will share resources.

They will work more closely together to promote consistency in pastoral care and education, in particular the smooth transition from primary to secondary school. In due course, and with permission from the Department for Education (DfE), other schools may join the trust or be set up by them.

Estelle O’Hara, principal at Poppleton Ousebank, said: “This is a very exciting development in the history of Poppleton Ousebank Primary School. Education is changing and we are pleased to be among the front runners in setting the pace.

“From a child’s or parent’s perspective little will change, but behind the scenes we are putting structures in place which will ultimately benefit everyone connected with both schools.”

Brian Crosby, principal at Manor CE Academy, said: “Hope Learning Trust, York, will coordinate an holistic education vision in north west York for children and young people aged between three and 16. It will maintain and develop high standards across all schools in the trust and pool both resources and wisdom. I am delighted the DfE has given approval for the multi-academy trust and very much look forward to working with Poppleton Ousebank.”

The name ‘Hope Learning Trust, York’ was chosen as it contains a central theme to the Christian virtues of ‘faith, hope and love’.

“Hope speaks of excited expectation for the future – positive and affirming as we go forwards,” explained Mr Crosby. “There will be no logo as the founding schools both have strong existing identities.”

Governors of both Manor CE Academy and Poppleton Ousebank Primary School agreed that a move to a multi-academy trust was right for both sets of pupils and students, right for both schools in giving them more control over their own destiny and right for staff to enjoy working in a forward thinking environment.