THE head of an academy trust hopes to work with more Barnsley schools after the first joined its ranks.
Cudworth Churchfield Primary Academy becomes the first school in the borough to join the Waterton Academy Trust, a Wakefield-based group of 13 schools run by Monk Bretton-born Dave Dickinson.
Former headteacher Dave, who founded the trust in 2014 and this year received an OBE for his contribution to education, said moving into his hometown was always something he hoped to do.
“I’m a Barnsley lad, and I’ve seen what we’ve done for kids in Wakefield and thought we could do it here as well,” he said.
“It is a personal push from my part but there are obviously lots of discussions taking place behind these decisions that aren’t just down to me.
“Hopefully we can work with Barnsley’s educational community, whether it be local authority schools or other academy trusts. We’re a down-to-earth trust, everything goes into our schools.
“If anyone else does want to work with us, we welcome it with open arms.”
