Dudley Council has given the go-ahead for a Halesowen primary school to leave the authority’s control to join an academy trust.

Newfield Park Primary School in Whittingham Road has been granted permission to join Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust with effect from April 1.

The school’s 66 members of staff will all transfer to the academy trust, around £20,000 in reserves will also be transferred to the new owners. In a statement on its website, a school spokesperson said:

“Governors looked at five different multi-academy trusts, all of which are based in the West Midlands and after several presentations, meetings and conversations our governors unanimously voted to join Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust. 

“Shireland very much stood out as their values seemed to align with what we are about here at Newfield. 

“We felt that they were a trust that could not only provide financial opportunity and stability for our school, but also and most importantly, provide a spark for our children and enable us to drive educational excellence.”

The Shireland trust was founded in 2011 when the Shireland School in Waterloo Road, Smethwick, went from a sponsored academy to a single academy trust. 

The organisation grew to become a multi-academy trust in 2017 and operates 12 centres across the Black Country providing education to more than 4,600 learners.

The trust has plans for further expansion which include opening a new primary school in the Coseley area of Dudley.

After joining the trust the Halesowen school will change its name to Newfield Park Primary Academy.

The school’s latest published Ofsted inspection took place in December 2021 when it was rated ‘good’. Inspectors said: “Newfield Park is a caring and happy school. Leaders know their pupils well. They put their interests at the heart of all decisions. 

“Parents and carers speak very highly of the school. They praise how teachers make learning fun.”