Wordsley school to join academy trust after urgent transfer from dudley council

WORDSLEY SCHOOL TO JOIN STOUR VALE ACADEMY TRUST FOLLOWING URGENT TRANSFER OF CONTROL TO MEET GOVERNMENT DEADLINE MARTYN SMITH Local Democracy reporter and MARTYN SMITH, LOCAL DEMOCRACY

REPORTER 12:31, 20 May 2025 A school near Stourbridge will convert to academy status at the start of June following an urgent transfer of control from Dudley Council. The Wordsley School on

Brierley Hill Road was given the green light to join Stour Vale Academy Trust by the former Dudley Council cabinet member for children's services, Cllr David Stanley, prior to his

departure from the role in a reshuffle. The school, which has around 950 pupils, will close and reopen under control of the Trust during the first two weeks of June. READ MORE: SCRUTINY DEAL

AT MIDLAND COUNCIL TO FREEZE OUT INDEPENDENTS DENIED READ MORE: DUDLEY COUNCIL COMMITTEE DEBATE SHUT DOWN BY INCOMING MAYOR In a joint letter launching a consultation process in September

2024, chair of governors, Nicky Cooper and headteacher, Ashley Weatherhogg, explained why they supported the change. Article continues below The letter said: "We aim to offer the very

best education we can for the children and community we serve. "To ensure we continue to develop we will always explore opportunities where we can work with others to ensure the pupils

at our school can access the very best education possible. "I feel that Stour Vale Academy Trust offers many opportunities to The Wordsley School as we continue our improvement

journey." The Stour Vale Trust was founded in 2017 and currently has 13 member schools including Stourbridge's Redhill School and Ridgewood High School. The Worsley School has 199

employees which includes 66 teaching staff, all members of staff will transfer to the Trust under TUPE legislation. The transfer to academy status was pushed through the council as a matter

of urgency to meet a Department for Education requirement to complete the change by June 1. The speedy transfer required permission from the Mayor of Dudley and the chair of the

council's Children's Services Select Committee. WANT THE LATEST HEADLINES AND BREAKING NEWS EMAILED TO YOUR INBOX? SIGN UP HERE, IT’S FREE. School bosses assured parents they would

remain in control of many aspects of how the campus operates after the transfer. Article continues below The September 2024 letter said: "Our school ethos, values and vision will

remain under the control of the school, there will be no change of uniform, curriculum or policy in terms of admissions, behaviour or other aspects of students' experience."