ST Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Barnoldswick has become a voluntary academy and joined the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust.

The school, in West Close Road, which has 123 children on its roll, from four to 11 years old, accepts pupils of all faiths, or non at all, as well as Catholic children, and at its last Ofsted inspection in 2023 was graded 'good'.

Anne Wood, Chair of the Governing Body at St Joseph’s, said: “We’re pleased to be joining the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust. We would like to thank our dedicated team of staff, our parents and carers, and wider parish community for their continued support. We look forward to realising the benefits of being part of the Trust and, seeing our school continue to go from strength to strength.”

And the school's headteacher, Natalie Wood, added: “Our school has benefitted from the high level of support and care we have received throughout the conversion process. We look forward to the future - working collaboratively with colleagues across the trust will enable our school to continue providing an excellent Catholic education for our children."

Diane Gaskin, chair of Bishop Wheeler Trust Board, said “I am very glad that St Joseph’s has joined our successful and growing Catholic education partnership. The good education that the school provides, their high standards and their enthusiasm for education of the whole child, are a pleasure to see and support.”

And Darren Beardsley, chief executive of the trust, said that academisation is fulfilling Bishop Marcus Stock’s vision of a ‘family of schools’ supporting each other, maintaining education standards and raising them further, and realising the benefits of sharing resources and expertise.

The Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Marcus Stock set out his vision for the Catholic schools in his diocese in 2018, saying: "The strength of any family is in the quality of its relationships. This is evident when its members, respecting the dignity of each, work together for the good of one another and in the service of the common good. This too will be our strength in the years ahead if, as a diocesan family of schools, we are able to build relationships, forge solidarity and develop a collaborative framework of family groups of schools that is resilient to present and future challenges, and provides us with the confidence to take advantage of new opportunities.’

The Trust is one of five multi-academy trusts across the Diocese of Leeds.