Following the Department for Education’s announcement back in April 2017 that the Learning Academy Partnership, an established, successful Multi Academy Trust, had been approved to open a new Church of England Primary Academy, the Trust is now pleased to confirm that the location for the new free school has now been agreed.
The Department for Education has acquired the former Tower House School site, in Fisher Street, Paignton, on behalf of the Trust. The site will undergo a multi-million-pound refurbishment to provide state of the art facilities for the benefit of local children and the local community.
The new academy, will be called St Michael’s Church of England Academy and it will address the shortage of school places identified by Torbay Council.
This new, publicly funded academy will provide free, excellent education opportunities serving children between the ages of 2 – 11. The new school will have a Church of England designation and be fully inclusive, welcoming those of all faiths and those of none.
As part of the Trust’s Curriculum of Excellence Entitlement for all children, St Michael’s C of E Academy will provide the same high quality educational excellence that the Trust already delivers, for all its young people, across its high achieving family of schools. The new academy will work in partnerships beyond the classroom, embracing its geographical location to draw upon and develop a curriculum that is both unique and capitalises on its geographical context.
The opening date is still to be confirmed, and the Learning Academy Partnership are working closely with the Department for Education to finalise the details. Information will be published on our website once it becomes available: www.lapsw.org
Lynn Atkinson, Chief Executive of the Learning Academy Partnership, said: “Its seems such a long time ago that our Trust was successful in its application to build a new school in Paignton. We are delighted that a site has finally been acquired and we are looking forward to forging ahead with our plans to provide the children of Paignton with an exceptional, brand new Church of England nursery and primary school.
The mission of our Trust is to transform children’s life chances by eradicating educational disadvantage and raising achievement of all children, so that they can be the best that they can be, live life to the full and play a genuinely transformative role in society… Together we empower excellence!
Through an inspirational curriculum, built upon high academic success, community partnership and future aspirations, St Michael’s C of E Academy will be a place where children’s unique talents are nurtured, where expectations are exceeded and where children flourish and aspire to realise more than might ever be thought possible in life.
We know that this can be best achieved by working together, across our schools, with parents, our communities, the Diocese and with local school partners.
Together we can empower excellence and enrich communities so that more and more young people’s life chances are improved.”
John Searson, Director of Education at the Diocese of Exeter said: “I am thrilled to see that the new Church of England primary school for Paignton is moving a significant step closer. I am confident that the children will benefit from a superb learning environment which will provide them with the very best start in their learning. I know that this school will actively serve the local community for generations to come”.
Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay said: “It is great to hear the former Tower House School will soon be brought back to life, this time as a school located at the heart of the community it will seek to serve. The growth of pupil numbers in Paignton mean there is an urgent need for the places this new school will provide. Given the Learning Academy Partnership’s track record of success at Ellacombe, Warberry and Ilsham I know they will inspire Paignton’s next generation to succeed.”
The Learning Academy Partnership is a values led, highly successful family of exceptional schools. The schools work together within a Multi Academy Trust, currently consisting of 8 primary schools and a Teaching School Alliance, supporting school improvement across the South West.
Torbay primary schools in the Trust include Ilsham C of E Academy, Ellacombe C of E Academy and Warberry C of E Academy. The Spires College is due to join the Trust during the next academic year.
Beyond Torbay, All Saints Marsh C of E Academy in Newton Abbot, Thurlestone C of E Academy, Charleton C of E Academy and West Alvington C of E Academy, in the South Hams and Dunsford Community Academy are also part of the Learning Academy Partnership.
Schools in the Partnership work together to deliver more opportunities for children and to empower excellence for all young people and their families.