AN academy in Darlington has announced an agreement to 'sponsor' a primary school.

Hummersknott Academy has linked up with Skerne Park Primary in an effort to raise standards.

The link will be managed by Hummerknott Academy Trust and will see the primary school renamed Skerne Park Academy.

Academy status means a school is independent of local authority control and decides how its budget is spent.

As an academy, it would be directly funded by central government and is independent of Darlington Borough Council.

It will be required to teach core subjects, such as maths, English and science, but will get greater freedom in selecting other subjects to teach while also getting full control of its own budget.

Students from Skerne Park will not automatically be eligible to attend Hummersknott, with the senior school’s admissions policy remaining unchanged.

Hummersknott was recently ranked in the top ten per cent of non-selective schools in England for students achieving five A* and A grades, including English and Maths, in rankings released by the Schools Network.

Since Easter, Hummersknott has worked with the governors of Skerne Park to appoint its new headteacher, Kate Chisholm.

Hummersknott principal Pat Howarth said: "We are now keen to share that knowledge and experience to help a local primary school that has already made some very positive first steps.

"As sponsors, we will work closely with the new academy to develop it on a number of different levels, including the staffing, management and leadership of the school.”

Miss Chisholm said: "Skerne Park Academy, under the guidance of the trust, will be assured of an excellent start as an academy school.

"We have already benefitted from the trust’s advice in terms of our new staffing structure and development, and we are looking forward to working with Hummersknott increasingly actively in the coming weeks and months."