Plans to turn Leighton Buzzard lower school into an academy

St George’s Lower School on East Street has entered talks with the Shared Learning Trust to join its group of academies in South Bedfordshire, with its name changed to ‘Rushmere Park Academy’.

A parent told the LBO that headteacher Marea Rawlings will present an outline of the plans to parents at 3.45pm tomorrow (Tuesday, September 18).

She said: “The first consultation event at the end of the summer term was led by The Shared Learning Trust which didn’t really set the right tone to introduce the whole ‘academy’ process...

“Miss Rawlings took on board all feedback, which is why the school governors are leading this event to provide an insight into why St George’s should become an academy.

“The biggest reactions may come from the proposed name and uniform changes, which hopefully won’t detract too much from the important details which need to be fully understood in relation to securing St George’s future.”

St George’s Lower School caters for 150 children between the ages of two to nine years of age. It has a ‘Good’ rating with Ofsted.

The Shared Learning Trust currently runs The Chalk Hills Academy, The Stockwood Park Academy and The Linden Academy in Luton, as well as The Vale Academy and the Vale Secondary School in Dunstable.

CEO of the Shared Learning Trust, Cathy Barr said: “I am very pleased to confirm that our Trust is currently in discussions with St George’s Lower School in Leighton Buzzard about the possibility of the school joining the Shared Learning Trust.

“We have met with parents and staff and talked through the benefits that come with being part of a Trust, with a particular emphasis on the advantages there would be for children at the school.

“We are still in the early stages of our consultation with all stakeholders. But I, along with the entire team at the Shared Learning Trust, very much hope that we can look forward to welcoming St George’s into our family of schools.”

The consultation closes on October 12, with documents online at www.stgeorgeslowerschool.co.uk/newletter.