After careful consideration, the governing body of Lakeview School are seeking to convert to an academy. We have been granted an academy order by the Department for Education, giving permission to start this process.

In seeking to convert to an academy, our priority is to ensure we continue to provide a high­ quality education for our pupils. We believe joining an academy trust will provide the freedom to make effective financial decisions, securing our future and driving improvement.

The proposal is for Lakeview School to become part of Pioneer Learning Trust. Pioneer Learning Trust is a primary specialist multi-academy trust, who already have strong links with both Bedford Borough local authority and Lakeview school.

As a school, we have been working with Pioneer for the past 18 months. We have taken on a number of initiatives to improve our school, building on practice we have observed within the Trust schools. We have also introduced Values-based Education (VbE) as a result of our work with Pioneer. The strengths and expertise of Pioneer will enable Lakeview to continue to grow and improve standards whilst still remaining autonomous and providing an educational choice as a school within Wixams.

Additionally, the Trust has a dedicated Director of Education and the CEO is a National Leader of Education, both of whom facilitate practitioner and leadership development within their trust schools and beyond. There is a significant level of support, capacity and capability to hold the school to account and to provide effective development to raise standards and further improve our school.

The Trust continues to demonstrate strong partnership working and is contributing significantly to the local educational landscape in Bedford Borough. With this strong relationship with the Local Authority, who are in full agreement with the academisation, this will only be of benefit to us moving forward.

Before proceeding with the conversion, there will be a formal consultation in which we invite you to share your views and ask any questions you may have. There are a number of ways you can take part in this consultation.