A top performing Wigan school gains academy status
Top performing school, Hindley Junior and Infants, is beginning a new phase in its history after joining the Collaboration Trust
High-performing Hindley Junior and Infant School has joined North-West based Achievement through Collaboration Trust (AtC).
This follows the Department for Education’s Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper which reaffirmed the mission to ensure all state schools join high-quality school trusts.
With the addition of Hindley Junior and Infant School, the Achievement through Collaboration Trust (AtC) now includes two high-performing schools in Wigan, alongside a family of other great schools located across Blackpool, Blackburn, and Lancashire.
The Trust now encompasses four primary schools, two secondary schools, and an accredited Initial Teacher Education provider. Collectively, AtC now educates almost 4,000 children and employs nearly 600 staff, with plans for continued growth with other local schools.
To mark Hindley Junior and Infant School’s academy conversion, the Trust has launched a new school website (hindley.atctrust.org.uk), which features a new Headteacher’s welcome video linking the school’s 'Believe and Achieve' values with the Trust’s mission.
DfE Lead Officers Sarah Ballinger and Elizabeth Anoliefo also marked the occasion with a visit and tour of the school, meeting pupils and staff, and observing virtual collaborative calls between the children of Hindley’s classes and their counterparts across Achievement through Collaboration Trust schools with leaders from the Trust in attendance with the Headteacher and School Chair of Governors.
Jane Chambers, Chief Executive of AtC, said “We are delighted to welcome high-performing Hindley Junior and Infant School into the AtC family.
“Across all our schools, our children, staff, and families matter and they thrive through our culture of deep collaboration, where everyone feels they belong and is empowered to achieve their potential.
“We look forward to leveraging the expertise and best practice contributed by Hindley Junior and Infant School to enhance our collaborative model with colleagues across our Trust and the wider Wigan borough."
Craig Holden, Deputy CEO of AtC, added: "We are thrilled to have completed this process.
“Each school within Achievement through Collaboration retains its unique identity and own headteacher, rooted in the communities it serves, while gaining the collective strength and support of a larger trust network driven by the core values of Achieve, Belong, and Collaborate."
The values driving the Trust are:
● Achieve: Ensuring every child has the knowledge, skills, and character to succeed in their future.
● Belong: Uniting individual schools through a common purpose and shared values.
● Collaborate: Sharing best practices, supporting schools, and creating opportunities for pupils, staff, and communities.
AtC believes that every child should have expert teachers, leaders, and support staff who deliver an enriching education and embody a culture where all children achieve and thrive.
The addition of Hindley Junior and Infant School secures additional capacity for AtC Trust, driving efficiencies and improvements through a wider connected culture that respects and empowers staff expertise.
AtC is committed to investing in the professional development of all our staff and leaders at every career stage, respecting their expertise and autonomy as professionals.
By leveraging collaborative environments, we advance education in the public interest, ensuring every child benefits from expert staff and achieves the highest standards possible.
Dave Hollings, Chair of Trustees at AtC, said: “We are pleased to complete this process and believe this represents an exciting step forward.
“At AtC we are creating a sustainable future that will benefit current and future pupils and staff. We look forward to continuing to work with everyone at Hindley Junior and Infant School to deliver our ambitious plans.”
Graham Doubleday, Chair of Governors at Hindley Junior and Infant School, said: “Joining the Achievement through Collaboration Trust is an exciting step to ensure we protect, preserve, and promote the high standards of education at Hindley.
“The AtC Trust model ensures that the unique identity of our school is celebrated and its unique contribution is recognised.
“It also means that Hindley Junior and Infant School will not be left isolated in today’s rapidly changing and complex environment.
“Crucially, the move facilitates greater sharing of best practice and resources, adding strength and capacity to our system and ensuring all our schools are fully supported.”
Adele McKeever, headteacher of Hindley Junior and Infant School, said: ‘’We are proud that Hindley Junior and Infant School is becoming part of AtC Trust, marking an exciting new chapter for our school community.
“This next adventure with the trust is a wonderful opportunity for us to work collaboratively with like-minded schools, sharing expertise and best practice to further strengthen the high standards we already achieve.
“We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring for our pupils, staff and families, as we continue striving to provide the very best education while staying true to our core values.’’