Lawrence Sheriff to sponsor new Rugby primary school

In November it applied to become an academy sponsor and it has now been named as sponsor of the primary school planned for the Rugby Gateway site towards the M6.

It’s a move which will bring the new school access to all the expertise expected of a top grammar school – but at the same time does not mean its pupils will get a special advantage when it comes to the 11-plus and the allocation of secondary school places.

Headteacher Peter Kent told parents in a recent newsletter that getting academy sponsor status was not about the school wanting to empire-build and take over schools but rather to put on a formal footing the work it already does to share expertise.

He is a National Leader of Education and Sheriff is classed as a Teaching School.

He told the Advertiser: “The new school will have its own headteacher and governing body, but we will play a central role in appointing staff, establishing the ethos of the institution and overseeing its future direction.”

In terms of the relationship with Sheriff he added: “It will not be a designated feeder school and students who attend will have the same chance to progress on to LSS as students at every other primary.

“We are sharing values, not a short cut to Sheriff.”

He said the move was about looking to the future of the town and Government policy: “It is important that the development of education within the town is led by schools themselves – an idea that is central to the Government’s Education White Paper.

“We are excited to be able to play our part in responding to the success and growth of the town.”

The new school is due to open in September 2018.

When funding was announced for it last July by Warwickshire County Council, the estimated cost of construction was put at £3.15million, of which £1.8million has been collected from developers.