Outstanding Hartlepool academy asked to help failing school

An outstanding Hartlepool academy is set to take a failing school under its wing.
Julie Deville, executive headteacher of Eldon Grove Academy in Hartlepool.Julie Deville, executive headteacher of Eldon Grove Academy in Hartlepool.
Julie Deville, executive headteacher of Eldon Grove Academy in Hartlepool.

Eldon Grove Academy in the town set up the Extol Multi-Academy Trust a few years ago and is set to welcome its first school on board to join it.

New Silksworth Infant School in Sunderland was placed in special measures a year ago and has since searched for a trust which it was keen to join.

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Phil Tye, chairman of governors at the Wearside school, said they are pleased to be joining Extol.

He said: “We were determined to chose the trust we wanted to be part of.

“We decided on the Extol because we think it will be the right fit for us.

“We wanted something we could go into as an equal.”

Julie Deville, executive headteacher at Eldon Grove, said: “It is an exciting time for us.”

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The Hartlepool school, which has been rated as outstanding by Ofsted bosses, has been a National Support School for a number of years, helping other schools in the region to improve and achieve.

She said it will be good for both schools to be able to share experience and learn from each other.

New Silksworth Infant School has already undergone a huge shake-up of the management team and, following a recent visit, Ofsted inspectors said it is taking effective action towards the removal of special measures and the action plan is fit for purpose.

The school’s neighbouring Silksworth Junior School is also in consultations about joining the Extol Multi-Academy Trust in Hartlepool.

Eldon Grove converted to Academy status on July 1 2013 and is part of Extol Academy Trust.

It is a National Support School and is aligned to Hartlepool’s Teaching School Alliance.