Wren Academy teams up with private school (From Times Series)

Wren Academy teams up with private school

6:32pm Thursday 24th January 2008 in Advanced search By Rebecca Lowe

AN academy school set to open this year is one step closer after striking a sponsorship deal with a private school in Hertfordshire.

Berkhamsted Collegiate School (BCS) is the co-sponsor of the new Church of England Wren Academy in Barnet, due to open in September.

BCS chairman of governors Peter Williamson said: "We are delighted to participate in this initiative, which we expect to be mutually beneficial for both schools. Berkhamsted Collegiate is a highly successful, forward-looking school and we are confident we can play a part in making Wren Academy a great success."

Wren is to be one of at least five Church of England academies sponsored by the Diocese of London through its Board for Schools.

Board director Tom Peryer said: "This is excellent news for Wren. This joint sponsorship arrangement will bring to Wren a powerful combination of experience, tradition, enterprise and a commitment to the highest standards, which can only be good for the academy."

Wren Academy principal Michael Whitworth added: "I am looking forward to developing some innovative links and partnership with Berkhamsted. I am sure we will both learn much from each other which can only benefit all our students."

BCS is an independent, co-educational school for 1,500 day and boarding students between the ages of three and 18. It joins a growing number of independent schools that are sponsoring academies and developing partnerships with state schools.

The Government has a target of opening 400 academies, or publicly funded independent schools, by the middle of the next decade.

More than 100 are now open or in the process of development.