South Parade Primary school joins forces with Ormiston Maritime Academy
A GRIMSBY primary has joined forces with a "big school" in the hope that pupils enjoy a smoother transition between the two.
South Parade Primary School has joined forces with the Ormiston Maritime Academy to become an academy in its own right.
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Thumbs up: Sandie Holmes, principal of the Ormiston South Parade Academy, pictured with children from the school as they celebrate becoming an academy. Picture: Rick Byrne
Now known as Ormiston South Parade Academy, the school will have more control over its budget and be free from local authority control.
Head teacher Sandie Holmes was named as the academy's principal yesterday, cutting the ribbon at a special celebratory event.
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She said: "Partnership is the way forward, as I believe that both schools have something to learn from each other to improve.
"Despite having a partner, we actually have more autonomy with our budget.
"We are already an Ofsted good school and Ormiston will not tell us "how to be", but will provide us with support.
"We will also have taster days and work with Ormiston, so that children who want to go there – and they do not have to – will know exactly what to expect."
The two schools officially began their partnership yesterday but have been working together for months to devise a shared curriculum between years Five and Eight.
Teachers from both schools believe it will help students achieve more, especially during the transition between schools, when dealing with the upheaval can make teaching more challenging.
Darren Gelder, vice principal for Ormiston Maritime Academy, said: "We are the big school and coming here can be a very big step for some children.
"By working together, we can get an understanding of how each other operate and it could help us make that transition a little bit easier.
"If we can make education more of a continuation than a huge change, students could achieve more because we won't spend that time treading water when children are getting used to a new school."
Student Jack Stewart, 10, said he was "excited" about the change and Tom Pedersen, 9, said he liked the new jumper – with a newly designed SP (for South Parade). Pupils also enjoyed celebrations to mark the new partnership.
Ormiston Maritime Academy students performed parts of the musical Grease and catering students prepared a buffet for VIPs on the day.
And they were glad to help – many of them came to Ormiston from South Parade.
Performer Amy Fairbanks, 15, said: "We chose to perform because we wanted to show the younger pupils the kind of things that we can do here.
"I remember going here and the idea of going to secondary school was really scary.
"It would have really helped if I had a bit of an introduction like they are getting today."
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