Two schools in the Hillingdon borough will join to become a multi academy trust this weekend.
Ryefield Primary School, in Ryefield Avenue, Hillingdon, will team up with Vyners School, in Warren Road, Ickenham, to become the Vyners Learning Trust on Sunday (February 1).
The partnership will mean the two schools share the same legal entity. As academies, they will receive funding directly from central government, rather than from Hillingdon Council. A Ryefield spokeswoman said this would result in an increase in funding, although she could not say how much.
Already the schools have started working together. Teachers from Vyners lead PE and French lessons at Ryefield, the two schools share teacher training and Vyners students have taken on the role of peer teachers at a Languages Day run by Ryefield.
Vyners headteacher James Heale said: “We are delighted to formalise our partnership with Ryefield School. The new Multi Academy Trust enables us to work even closer together to continue to improve the educational experience of students at both schools, maximise joint professional development opportunities for staff and a focus on learning from three to 19 years.”
Academies were introduced in the UK in 2000 by Tony Blair's Labour government. They are able to set their own curriculums, term times and teachers' salaries. However, the Ryefield spokeswoman said there were no plans to change either of the schools' curriculums.
In Hillingdon, 13 of the borough's 67 primary schools, 16 of its 18 secondary schools and three of its six special schools are academies.
