Skegby academy officially opened

The change means that the school is now a sponsored academy, and is run by the Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust (GDFT).

Staff, pupils and parents attended the special assembly held on Wednesday to mark the occasion, during which Barry Day, chief executive of the GDFT, formally welcomed pupils and staff to the Trust.

Afterwards each class planted a tree in the Academy’s sensory garden.

Mr Day said: “We are delighted to welcome the Skegby Junior Academy into our group.

“We are committed to the highest of standards and we expect outstanding levels of achievement in all areas of the academic and personal development of pupils.

“We will continue the excellent work already in place at the school in order to further raise achievement for children in the Skegby area.

“The Academy will receive bespoke support from the Trust’s primary consultants and will be able to benefit from the best practice developed by our other ten primary Academies.”

The Academy is operating from the existing building of the former school under the leadership of acting principal, Louise Fritchley, who was the deputy headteacher of Daneswood.

Lynda Valentine, senior executive principal at the GDFT, will monitor the progress of the new academy to ensure the highest quality of operation.

Skegby Junior Academy is also set to forge a special link with fellow GDFT academy, the Skegness Junior Academy. This relationship will be based around the fact that folklore suggests that a Danish Viking named Skeggi - which means ‘bearded one’ - settled in both of these areas and named the places after himself.