A new Primary School is to be built in South Leeds in a partnership between Wellspring Academy Trust and Leeds City Council.
The 420-place school, subject to planning approval and public consultation, will be located in the heart of Middleton on a currently undeveloped plot at Acre Mount.
The planning proposal is expected to go before the council’s planning committee shortly, with the school set to open in September 2018.
Elements Primary School, which will educate children aged four to 11, is being built in response to a shortage of school places in Leeds. Admissions through Leeds City Council are now open to children of Reception age in September 2018 and close mid January 2018.
The new school forms part of a wider £50m school building partnership programme between Wellspring Academy Trust and Leeds City Council. South Leeds Life recently reported on the topping out of the Springwell Leeds Specialist Academy being built on the former Merlyn Rees site on Belle Isle Road next to the South Leeds Youth Hub.
Wellspring Academy Trust, which operates 15 schools across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, has achieved notable successes that include Top 10 Most Improved Primary School in 2015 and Top 5 Most Improved Secondary School in 2017.
Sarah Horsbrough has been appointed by the Trust as the founding Principal at Elements. Sarah has an impressive track record as a Headteacher, most recently as an Executive Headteacher over two Bradford Schools.
Mark Wilson, Wellspring Academy Trust Chief Executive Officer said:
“Sarah brings considerable leadership experience and is a massive boost for Elements and for the Trust. An appointment of Sarah’s calibre demonstrates our intentions at Elements – to be an exceptional school, right from day one.”
Sarah said:
“I look forward to welcoming our first cohort of children into Elements in September 2018, I cannot wait to get started on this amazing opportunity for the area and for the city.”
Cllr Lisa Mulherin, Executive member for Children and Families at Leeds City Council said:
“We’re pleased to be able to provide these much needed school places for children in Middleton through the free school partnership with Wellspring.
“Investing in children’s futures will ensure we can meet the needs of children in this part of the city for years to come and leave a lasting legacy of high quality learning environments.
The team behind Elements Primary School has exceptional pedigree. Mark Wilson is former headteacher at nearby Robin Hood Primary, which he guided to OFSTED Outstanding status.
“As one of the newest schools in the Leeds region, Elements Primary School will have the newest technologies that will inspire our learners and help prepare them for life,” explained Mark. “Elements will have a unique identity and will be a source of pride for its community.
“This is a very exciting period for the Trust and for families in Leeds. We are transforming the life chances of young people in Leeds and will continue to do so when Elements opens its doors next September.”
To apply for a place parents need to complete an expression of interest form on Leeds City Council’s online admissions page.
Families should complete their common preference form using the online system, and tell the council in the notes of their revised preference order if they are including Elements as one of the preferences. More information about Middleton’s new primary school is available from the link above or www.elementsprimaryschool.co.uk
