A DARWEN primary school’s conversion to an academy took a step closer last night when borough bosses approved the transfer of land to its new sponsor.

Sudell Primary School is to become an academy under the burgeoning Aldridge Foundation, which runs all the town’s secondary schools.

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And at a meeting of the Blackburn with Darwen Council executive board last night, (THURS) borough bosses approved a 125-year lease arrangement of the council-owned site, consisting of the hard standings and buildings.

They also agreed to enter into a commercial transfer agreement for all the existing operational contracts to be transferred to the Foundation.

Permission has also been given for the school to continue using the playing fields off Elswick Street.

Executive member for schools and education Cllr Dave Harling told colleagues: “On September 24, the council was formally notified that the Secretary of State had made an academy order in respect of Sudell Primary School, naming Aldridge North West Education Trust as the sponsor.

“The council is obliged to transfer by way of a 125-year lease arrangement the council-owned school site.

“Following negotiation, the Academy Trust wishes to enter into a separate licence agreement with the council to use the detached playing fields located to the north of the main school site.

“The transfer of the site will incur expenditure in terms of professional and legal fees incurred internally by the local authority.

“It is estimated that an allocation of £5,000 will be required to cover the council’s costs in respect of the transfer. These costs will be met within existing portfolio budgets.”

As reported in the Lancashire Telegraph, the move to an academy at Sudell has been welcomed by head teacher Laura Pooles, who retires at the end of term.

She said: “The school is going in the right direction.”

Her successor will be Kathryn Coiffait, who will arrive at the Sudell Road primary after more than seven years as head teacher at The Gates Primary School in Westhoughton.