SPECIAL schools in Thornbury and Yate have said they look forward to having “a louder, clearer voice in the education system”, after getting the all clear to form an academy trust.

New Siblands School in Thornbury and Culverhill School in Yate are set to partner in converting to academy status from July 1 “in order to shape the future” with their own values and vision”.

Enable Trust, as it will be known, will also take charge of the setting up and running of a new free special school on the Marlwood School site in Alveston, the result of a successful bid by South Gloucestershire Council.

The school, which will be the second of its kind in South Gloucestershire, has been named “Two Bridges Academy, offering 112 places over a three-year period for children aged two-to-19-years-old with severe learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder and with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Taking charge of the trust will be New Siblands head teacher Andrew Buckton, who will become CEO, with assistant head teacher Carrie Osmond being promoted to head teacher.

Culverhill will also be under new leadership as longs-serving head teacher Nicola Jones retires after 18-years in the role, to be replaced by deputy head teacher Sue Hewitt.

Mr Buckton said that while the schools are facing “a good deal of change”, at the same time they are being managed to ensure consistency for the pupils.

“It is a time of great promise for us as a multi academy trust,” he said.

“We believe that by being part of Enable Trust, our schools will sustainably achieve more for pupils and families than we could alone. This is through partnership and collaboration and the utilisation of wider networks that Enable Trust has access to.

“We believe we will have a louder, clearer voice in the education system for our pupils and will benefit from more opportunities for growth in professional expertise and pedagogy that will be at the forefront of better practise.”

He added that the restructuring would secure the best possible career growth opportunities for staff and that by anticipating the road ahead and “being pro-active and visionary”, it would ensure the best opportunities for pupils.

Ms Hewitt and Ms Osmond said they were "truly honoured" and "delighted to take on the headships as the school begins "a new and exciting journey" with the trust.

South Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Toby Savage, who is the council's cabinet member for schools, skills and employment, said: “My top priority is the drive to improve school standards for all young people across South Gloucestershire. We are pleased to work with all partners who share that commitment, including the Enable Trust.

"We work closely with all our schools, whether they are under council control or academies, to share experience and best practice, and to ensure we see positive change across the board.

"I am particularly pleased to see Enable’s commitment to supporting some of our most vulnerable pupils, because we want the benefits of continued improvement to be felt by all.”