A QUARRY Bank school will convert to academy status at the start of 2024 after getting approval from Dudley Council.

Thorns Primary School will join the Excelsior Multi Academy Trust on or soon after January 1 after the authority’s education cabinet member, Cllr Ruth Buttery, confirmed a decision to release the school from council control.

The move was confirmed in October after the Department of Education gave its blessing earlier in the year.

In a joint letter to parents at the Thorns Road School, headteacher Rebecca Jordan and Excelsior Trust chief executive Hazel Pulley described the move as a great opportunity.

They added: “The school will be joining a multi-academy trust which focuses heavily on pupil outcomes. We would like to reassure you the unique identity of the school will remain.”

The school’s 32 staff will transfer from being employed by the authority to the Trust.

While the council will work to continue to provide services for the school when it moves over to the Trust there is a possibility the Trust will switch to private providers which will result in a loss of income to the authority.

The Excelsior Trust currently has a stable of six schools, Parkfield Community School in Saltley, Turves Green Primary in Northfield, Green Meadow Primary in Selly Oak, Colmers Farm Primary in Rubery, Heath Mount Primary in Birmingham and Highters Heath Primary in Warstock.