YourNews: New school in Chapeltown answers need for more school places

Dixons Academies Trust will open a new school in Chapeltown, Leeds, in September 2017. The first phase of Dixons Trinity Chapeltown, the new all-through school, will open with one reception class followed by the secondary school phase opening with Year 7 in 2018. The school will serve the Chapeltown and Harehills communities in Leeds.

Dixons Academies Trust already has a number of highly successful schools in Bradford. The new school will be modelled on Dixons Trinity Academy, an Ofsted Outstanding school currently with 10 applicants per place. The school is recommended by 100 per cent of its parents and 100 per cent of students report that they enjoy school. 2016 results at the Bradford school were 40 per cent above the national average and matched the very highest performing schools in Leeds.

Luke Sparkes, executive principal of Dixons Trinity Academy, Bradford, who will oversee the launch of Dixons Trinity Chapeltown, said: “We have very high expectations of each and every student and encourage them to articulate what impression they want to leave on the world. It’s a ‘no excuses’ culture that has created a happy, popular school where students achieve great things. We’re looking forward to bringing the same approach to Dixons Trinity Chapeltown, Leeds.”

Justine Oldham has already been appointed as head of primary at Dixons Trinity Chapeltown. Justine, originally from Sheffield, has extensive experience of working in disadvantaged inner-city London schools. Recently, she was Head at Ark Conway Primary Academy, the first primary free school to achieve outstanding status and the highest performing primary school in the country – including private schools – at KS1 for three years running.

Justine said:“Although Dixons Trinity Chapeltown will be a brand-new school with all the benefits that this brings, the Dixons Academies Trust has a proven track record that delivers the very highest standards. The new school is being well-received on the ground in Chapeltown and I’m looking forward to welcoming our first primary students in September.”

As a new school, Dixons Trinity Chapeltown was not included in the Leeds City Council Starting Primary School guide. For anyone interested in the new school, there are still places available to start in September 2017 and these can be requested by contacting joldham@dixonstc.com

Parents can find out more about Dixons Trinity Chapeltown by visiting http://www.dixonstc.com/