Rainworth school to become academy following lease negotiations with council

Heathlands Primary School, Ransom Road, Rainworth, had its requests to become an academy approved by the Government last year.

Academies are state-funded schools run independently from local councils, meaning they can decide on things like curriculums and school hours.

Heathlands is bidding to become the 22nd school run by the East Midlands Education Trust, which also runs nearby secondary school The Joseph Whitaker School.

However, letters on Heathland’s website indicate the plans were halted by “legal complications”, after Nottinghamshire Council’s initial proposals asked the school to maintain Ransom Road, its main access route, for the lease period.

The school said this was “unreasonable” and there was no budget to maintain the road for 125 years.

A letter to parents in September said the process was “on hold”, while the issue was negotiated, but the school has now confirmed those terms have been removed from the lease.

Shaun Walker, headteacher, said: “This leaves the school free to convert without this additional cost on the school budget or resources.”

The school says becoming an academyt opens extra funding streams and creates opportunities and training for staff, which will “inevitably benefit the children they teach”.

Mr Walker said: “The governing body and I believe this proposal is in the long-term interests of the school.

“[It offers] us the autonomy which we believe will help us continue to drive up educational standards for all pupils.”

The 125-year lease has now been signed off by Coun Keith Girling, council portfolio holder for economic development and asset management.