PERINS School and Sun Hill Junior School, in Alresford, are joining forces to become a multi-academy trust.

A multi-academy trust is one that is responsible for a collaboration to improve and maintain high education standards across a number of schools.

The multi-academy trust has overall responsibilities for governance and is responsible for the performance of each individual school, although each school still has its own local governing body.

Following an Ofsted review at Sun Hill Junior School last October, the school was placed under a “directed academy order” by the Department for Education. This requires Sun Hill Junior to become an academy and to be sponsored by an existing academy.

Perins School was approached by the Department for Education and received confirmation last Friday that it has been appointed as the preferred sponsor of Sun Hill Junior School.

This requires Perins School to form a multi-academy trust and Sun Hill Junior to convert into an academy and subsequently join the Perins multi-academy trust.

Steve Jones, headteacher of Perins School, said: “Becoming a multi-academy trust will help strengthen further links between Perins and Sun Hill Junior. We can develop opportunities for staff at both schools to gain cross-stage experience and can share resources, knowledge and expertise.

“Most importantly, we can work together as a community to offer all our students, from the age of seven through to 16, the best possible education and opportunities with a shared ethos and vision.”

The process of forming the multi-academy trust will take about six months, with the planned start date of full operation being September 1 this year.

Alison Mayne, chairman of governors at Perins School, said: “This is a very exciting time for both Perins and Sun Hill Junior.

“It will enable both schools to work together to build on the strengths within the community and to collaborate on offering the best possible teaching and learning opportunities for all students and staff within the multi-academy trust.”

Margaret Crowe, chairman of governors at Sun Hill Junior, added: “Sun Hill Junior governors feel strongly that there should be significant benefits for everyone here at Sun Hill Junior, including staff, students and parents, in joining the Perins multi-academy trust and look forward to working together on this venture.”

Perins parents and members of the community are invited to attend an information session today at 6pm in the main hall at Perins School. The headteacher and chairman of governors from both Perins and Sun Hill Junior will offer more information on the multi-academy trust conversion and answer questions.

A separate event was held for Sun Hill Junior School parents only at the school on Tuesday.