A new governing body is being formed at Risedale Sports and Community College as a partnership which helped raise standards comes to an end
Northallerton College invited Risedale Sports and Community College, in Catterick Garrison, to join its ranks in 2009.
Since then the Northallerton and Catterick Federation has seen Risedale emerge from special measures to be ranked as good by Ofsted last year thanks to the sharing of expertise, ethos and learning culture.
From April 1 Northallerton School and Sixth Form College, as it is now known, and Risedale will go their separate ways to pursue different goals at a time of sweeping changes in education.
Colin Scott, Risedale principal, announced the end of the partnership saying it was with “sadness and regret, but with great excitement for the future”.
He added: “The federation governors agreed last month that the benefit of the partnership, seeing Risedale go from special measures to good by the support of Northallerton, has now run its course.
“Over time we have become two very different schools with very different needs for the future success of each establishment.
“The strong ties and partnerships we have established over the years will not be forgotten or lost. There will still be things we share with each other, as we do with other schools, and we look forward to continuing our partnership working in the positive ways we have always done.”
Five parents and staff of the school have already been elected to form a new board of governors responsible solely for Risedale.
They will hold their first meeting on Monday, April 3 where a further six governors will be co-opted to form the full governing body of 11 people.
He added: “I look forward to our future where our journey will be one of growth and academic success.
“I know I share with you our wish for Northallerton School and Sixth Form College to also see success in its future, wherever that may take it.”
Northallerton School and Sixth Form College head teacher Chris Byrne said: “This is very much part of the natural evolution of both schools.
We were delighted to support Risedale in its hour of need but now it is rated good the governors and leadership teams agree the partnership has run it course, though the links we have forged over the years will remain useful.”
Mr Byrne added that Risedale Sports and Community College was a unique school facing an exciting future serving the needs of a garrison town that was experiencing massive growth.
For us this provides the opportunity to explore different collaborations that would better suit the young people of Northallerton and the surrounding villages,” he said.
Plans for a reconfiguration have already been drawn up in Northallerton.
From September the bulk of students will move to the ‘college site’ in Grammar School Lane leaving the former Allertonshire School as a Year 7 centre to aid the transition from primary to secondary education.
This is about improving the quality of our provision and focussing our resources more effectively,” said Mr Byrne. “This will provide a more consistent experience for our young people.
“The dedicated Year 7 team will be able to bridge the gap better between Key Stages 2 and 3 and we are working hard with our feeder primary schools to avoid any stall in children’s education and learning experience.”
