Bradford Girls’ Grammar School looks set to partner with Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust following agreement by the Department for Education to a merger between the two Bradford education Trusts.
This will mean Bradford Girls’ Grammar School becomes the 19th Academy to join the well-established BDAT family of schools, in a voluntary transfer, proposed to take place early in 2023. The school will join the existing group of four secondary academies and fourteen primary academies.
The exciting and well thought through merger proposal is a result of nearly 12 months of conversations between the two parties to make sure this was a strong partnership based on a shared educational vision for the students of the school. Both parties have worked closely together throughout the early parts of 2022, road testing the relationship and are confident that by joining together the increased collaboration and peer school-to-school support will set Bradford Girls’ Grammar School in good stead for the future and maximise opportunities for children across the city.
Following DfE approval in late July the school will now be embarking on conversations with parents and staff to explain the process in the Autumn term.
Speaking of the rationale for the move, Chair of Governors at Bradford Girls’ Grammar School, Alison Cooper said “Governors spent a number of months exploring the options for joining a Trust, taking external advice and talking with potential partners. We firmly believe the move to joining a larger Trust, which shares our values, our ethos and our ambitions for our children is the right next step for the future of Bradford Girls’ Grammar School. We have had educational and operational support from BDAT over the last 12 months and we look forward to more collaborative working within the Trust family.”
Carol Dewhurst, OBE, Chief Executive Officer of BDAT says, “We are really pleased to welcome Bradford Girls’ Grammar School staff, students, parents and community into the BDAT family. BDAT is a Trust which is proud to work with a number of diverse and special schools across the City, each unique in its own identity and dedicated to the community it serves, but which benefits from being part of a collaborative schools family committed to making each other stronger. We look forward to meeting with and getting to know the Bradford Girls’ Grammar School community better in coming months”.
Clare Martin, Principal of Bradford Girls’ Grammar School also commented, “Having traversed the challenges of a national pandemic, started on our OFSTED improvement journey and celebrated a great set of GCSE results for 2022, now seems the perfect time to consider joining a strong, local group of schools. Having worked with the BDAT heads, central team, Trustees and support staff in recent months, I am confident that this proposed merger is right for the staff, right for the students and will ensure the school continues to flourish”.
In addition to the support of the Department for Education, the merger also has the support of local leaders and Councillors.
Cllr Imran Khan, Deputy Leader for Bradford City Council has been a supporter of the merger from the start of conversations. Cllr Khan commented “I know BDAT and the Bradford Girls’ Grammar School well and I wish them well as they move forward together. I have witnessed how BDAT supports and develops schools while retaining their unique character, so I look forward to seeing them working together with the whole school community so that both parties will be strengthened by this match.”
Naz Shah, MP, also positively commented on the match stating “My priority has always been to support children, parents, and schools in my constituency on a local and parliamentary level. It is great to hear that students, parents, staff, and the community will continue to be a priority for BDAT and Bradford Girls’ Grammar School, and I’m excited to see the school flourish.”
BDAT is a Diocesan based Academy Trust which supports both Church and non-Church schools who share a common ambition and ethos. The Trust has grown steadily since 2012 and is now one of the largest and longest established Trusts in the City. Following a period of consolidation to review and road test operations the Trust is now considering a further phase of careful expansion.