THREE Tameside schools can see the signs of change after the merger of two academy trusts.
Copley Academy, on Huddersfield Road in Stalybridge, will now be called Dixons Pennine Academy after the move with Great Academy Education Trust.
Silver Springs Primary Academy, on School Crescent in Ridge Hill, will now go under the name Dixons Silver Springs Primary.
And Great Academy Ashton, on Broadoak Road and which was named after the trust, is being referred to as Dixons Ashton Academy.
The moves – and the erection of new signs bearing the revised names – follow the merger, which brings a total of four schools under the Dixons Academies Trust banner.
It now means the group boasts 20 schools and a college and it says it ‘brings together two trusts united by a shared moral purpose and a belief in deep, purposeful collaboration.’
It added: “Both organisations recognised that by formally joining together, they could accelerate improvement, share expertise more effectively and deliver even greater opportunities for the children and communities they serve.”
Luke Sparkes, school and college trust leader at Dixons Academies Trust, said:
“We made the decision to merge with Great Academies Education Trust because both our trusts are committed to making a difference where it matters most.
“We saw clear need and real opportunity in the communities we collectively serve, alongside a strong alignment of values and ambition.
“This merger is about strength through partnership. By bringing our schools together, we can invest more deeply in leadership, teaching and enrichment, share what works at pace, and ensure every child benefits from the collective expertise of a larger, high-performing family of schools.
“Ultimately, this is about children. It’s about ensuring that every young person, regardless of background, has access to an excellent education, joyful experiences and the opportunities they deserve.
“Together, we are stronger, and together we can go further.”