A THIRD Darwen primary school will convert to academy status after approval was granted by the Department for Education.

Sudell Primary, in Sudell Road, has chosen to break away from Blackburn with Darwen Council in a move that will see it sponsored by the Aldridge Foundation.

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Bosses at the school approached the foundation – which already runs Darwen Academy and Darwen Vale high schools and Darwen Enterprise Studio – earlier this year.

In a letter to parents, chair of governors Meg Casey said: “The conversion process will take several months so it isn’t possible, at the moment, to say exactly when all this will be completed but it is likely to be in the new year.

“Governors will be available at the parents’ evenings on Monday and and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, to respond to your questions, talk to you and tell you more.”

The school follows Darwen St James’s and St Barnabas in converting to academy status, although it becomes the Aldridge Foundation’s first primary in the town. An Aldridge spokesman confirmed the move and said it had always been the foundation’s intention to create a cluster of schools in the town.

Headteacher Laura Pooles said: “I think this is exciting for the future of the school. and can help us go from strength to strength. Becoming an academy will offer additional opportunities.

“Our high school down the road is part of the Aldridge Foundation and we liaise with them and this is partly about us expanding that.”

Sudell councillor Paul Browne said he hoped parents had been consulted over the move. He said: “If the parents are backing it then I will back it. When all is said and done, it is all about the children’s education.”