Eaton Bray Academy awarded Primary School status

Posted on October 22, 2012

Press release from Eaton Bray Academy regarding their new Primary School status starting in September 2013.

We were delighted to be informed that our application to become a Primary School has been successful. Our School is in the village of Eaton Bray which is positioned between the two towns of Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. The School is in a wonderful setting along a quiet lane off the beaten track. Our children remain children for as long as possible and our School is still small enough for us to have good relationships with each other. Although we thoroughly enjoy our 'out in the sticks' location we make sure we keep in touch with what is happening around us.

Having been judged "Outstanding" by Ofsted in 2007, we became an Academy on 1st April 2010 – yes we chose that date deliberately - and now we have permission to change our age range and become a Primary School in 2013.

These are uncertain times for education in Central Bedfordshire. We opted for Academy status so that we could take what we know are the right decisions to determine the school's future, and always with the children and their future at the centre of that decision making. One of the first comments that usually arises about Academies is that becoming an Academy allows a school to be selective about intake - at Eaton Bray, this is firmly not the case and we have always been very inclusive, welcoming children of all backgrounds.

Our main reasons for the move to Primary are listed below:

• To raise standards and improve outcomes – children can maintain progress made at Eaton Bray Academy through years 5 and 6
• To provide stability, consistency and continuity for children in Key Stage 2 rather than disruption of a move to middle school at the age of 9 years - only one change rather than two as in the thee tier system
• To increase parental choice – offering greater options for children's future education, including offering the 11+ exam option to those who want it. We consulted our children and parents, and a strong majority want to stay beyond age 9 (year 4).
• To provide equal access for all pupils to primary school education inline with the rest of the country
• To ensure our School is based around our community and its needs, through our ethos, curriculum, and teaching and learning organisation

Our parents were fully consulted about becoming a Primary School. Here are some of their comments:

"I believe that the children would benefit from the stability of a primary school where their specific learning needs are already known and can be built on, rather than interrupted by having to move to towns some distance away."

"As a family we fully support both the School Governors and Mrs Hounslow. We think the school has already exceeded our expectations as a nurturing, encouraging and holistic educational establishment."

"I agree that Eaton Bray Academy should change its age range from 2-9 to 2-11. The school provides a unique environment for children's education and has room to provide more classrooms without impacting on the school's grounds. I am sure that many parents will be pleased for their children to remain at Eaton Bray until they are 11 and havecompleted Key Stage 2."

"Full support for this based on great success, and continued progress and improvement of Eaton Bray School. In consideration of changes in the county and district in general, I believe this would give stronger cohesion to the village community, greater parental choice, and, most importantly, improved educational outcomes for the children."

"I fully agree that Eaton Bray Academy should change its age range from 2-9 to 2-11. I cannot think of any better environment for children to be nurtured in!"

Our local Member of Parliament, Andrew Selous was also very supportive.

"As a successful school, I trust your judgement to know what is best for your children and parents." Andrew Selous 8th May 2012

The School will become a Primary in September 2013 so our current Year 4 children will have the opportunity to remain in their familiar setting and move into Year 5. The following year this same class will become our first Year 6 class.

The Trustees, staff and Governors of Eaton Bray Academy are dedicated to maintaining and improving standards for pupils who attend Eaton Bray Academy.

We believe that continuity of learning through Key Stage 1 and 2 is best achieved as a primary school. This change would bring us into line with the education system in the rest of the country.

We are of the opinion that it is in the best interests of our School and the village community to affect these changes as soon as reasonably possible, to avoid being "left behind" as inevitable changes take place within the educational system in central Bedfordshire.