Dudley schools granted permission to join new academy trust
More Dudley borough schools have been given the go-ahead to convert from council control to academy status.
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The Woodsetton School will make the change from June 1 by joining the Ascent Multi Academy Trust.
Dudley Council will transfer the special school’s assets to the Trust and grant a 125 year lease for the school site at a peppercorn rent.
The Tipton Road school has a total of 70 employees including 13 teaching staff who will all transfer to the Trust under TUPE employment law.
The school was rated as ‘good’ during its last Ofsted inspection in 2023, inspectors said: “Staff understand their pupils incredibly well. They know what works best to make sure pupils are ready to learn.
“Staff work effectively with parents to make sure that pupils use the same behaviour and communication strategies at school and at home. This helps pupils settle in school well and work hard.”
The Brier School in Kingswinford is also set to sign up to the Ascent academy trust from June 1.
The Bromley Lane special school has been working in partnership with The Woodsetton School since 2022 and the move to form a multi academy trust is the next step.
A consultation document on the academy trust plan published by The Brier School in January 2025 said: “The proposal is about formalising this partnership for the future. By establishing a multi academy trust we are creating a trust that other schools could join in the future
“Well managed growth would us to extend advantages, in particular regarding curriculum collaboration and developing career paths for teaching and support staff so helping us recruit, develop and retain the best staff.”
The Brier’s 99 employees, including 25 teaching staff, will transfer to the new trust and the council will grant a 125 year lease for the school site at a peppercorn rent.
In 2023 Ofsted rated the school as ‘outstanding’, inspectors said: “This is a school where there are the highest expectations and where barriers are broken down.
“Consequently, pupils thrive as happy and confident learners ready for further education and life in modern Britain.”
