Leeds academy moves a step closer

PLANS to close Intake High School Arts College in Bramley , Leeds, and reopen it as an EACT academy have been approved by Leeds City Council’s executive board.

The decision means that the school will now officially close on 31 August 2009 and reopen as a new academy on 1 September 2009.

Councillor Richard Harker, executive board member for education at Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds City Council and Education Leeds believe this is the best way to achieve rapid and sustainable improvements. The proposals were also supported by the school’s leadership team. Transforming the schools into academies will mean improved provision in the city which will result in better outcomes for children, young people and the local communities.”

Commenting on the decision, EACT Director General Sir Bruce Liddington, said: “This is an important milestone as we prepare to open Intake as a new academy. As well as developing the entire curriculum we will be focusing on the specialisms in performing arts and English. We are also planning to move the school to a new state-of-the-art academy building in 2011. First and foremost, however, our aim is to support the smooth transformation of the school into an academy and ensure all students have access to excellent educational opportunities.”

Chris Edwards chief executive of Education Leeds, said: “We are committed to ensuring world-class outcomes for every young person in Leeds and believe that academies in this instance are the best way of achieving this. We are now looking forward to working with EACT to transform Intake so that all the young people who attend have an even greater opportunity to be happy, healthy, safe and successful.”

Sir Bruce Liddington, who will be overseeing the development of the new academy, is the former Schools Commissioner for England and was a key adviser to the Department for Children, Schools and Families during the development of the academies programme.

EACT is preparing to open up to eight new academies in England in September 2009, in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds. Also in September, EACT’s first academy, Trent Valley in Lincolnshire, will move to its new £33 million academy building.