Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, has welcomed news that Cononley Community Primary School will convert to academy status on 1 January 2025. This transition follows the approval of a Funding Agreement by the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP.
Julian received confirmation of the news via a ‘Dear collegue’ letter from the Secretary of State, which can be read here.
Cononley Community Primary School, located in the village of Cononley near Skipton, provides education to children aged 5 to 11 and is currently rated 'Good' by Ofsted. The school will join the Yorkshire Collaborative Academy Trust, a move aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and resources for its pupils.
Julian commented: "I am pleased that Cononley Community Primary School is set to become an academy. This change represents a significant opportunity for the school to build on its existing strengths and to benefit from the support and collaboration that comes with joining the Yorkshire Collaborative Academy Trust.
“I am hopeful that this transition will further improve the educational provision for the pupils and contribute positively to the community."
The conversion to academy status is part of a broader initiative to provide schools with greater autonomy and access to shared resources.
